The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) is seeking $2,246,946 to expand the local 988 capacity through the Oklahoma Comprehensive Crisis Response (OCCR) program. This additional funding will provide Oklahomans with greater access to mental health crisis services when needed and create a single statewide call system for emergency services. The plan emphasizes a full continuum of crisis services, from providing immediate help to those in need to link different crisis resources for the most appropriate housing option along the continuum of care. ODMHSAS will also create crisis coordination toolkits to support law enforcement, jails, courts, private hospitals, private practitioners, and other related organizations with step-by-step processes for responding to mental health crises. We target these investments to decrease the risk of suicide, homelessness, mental health issues, and providing robust support for the recovery process.
ODMHSAS has outlined five goals to build the state capacity to provide comprehensive services to those in need. The goals supplement the funding already put into place. The five goals are: (1) Coordinating housing placement for those leaving crisis, local hospital, and outpatient services; (2) Increasing housing and transition support for people leaving inpatient and crisis facilities; (3) Strengthening statewide crisis staffing knowledge and skills; (4) Developing crisis coordination toolkits; and (5) Providing outreach to 988 callers not engaging in treatment services.
Objectives include expand the full housing continuum to improve the quality of life of individuals admitted to or discharged from mental health facility; establish processes and rates to provide supportive services such as job training, education, and counseling to encourage community integration and reduce homelessness by at least 50%. Integrate three current SAMHSA TTI projects targeting crisis workforce capacity and increase behavioral health crisis and outreach capacity with Oklahoma City Police Department, Oklahoma Sheriffs Office, Oklahoma City and Tulsa 911 PSAPS, courts, private hospitals, and private practitioners. Improve the outreach and access of frequent 988 callers and transportation vendor users to treatment services offered by mobile crisis teams.