UWCT Grant for Crisis Aftercare Linkage and Monitoring (CALM) Care Network - United Way of Connecticut, Inc NOFO FG-26-004 Project Abstract Summary The United Way of Connecticut’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Center (UW CT 988-SCL) proposes to establish the Crisis Aftercare Linkage and Monitoring (CALM) Care Network, a coordinated statewide follow-up system designed to strengthen continuity of care for individuals who contact 988 or are referred after a behavioral health, suicide, overdose, or substance-use-related crisis. UW CT 988-SCL is Connecticut’s sole designated 988 Lifeline provider and serves the entire state, 3.6 million residents across urban, suburban, and rural communities, with priority attention to areas of highest demonstrated need, including the Hartford Capital, South-Central New Haven, and Naugatuck Valley regions. Populations of focus include 988 callers assessed at low, moderate, or high suicide risk; individuals discharged from hospitals following suicidal ideation or suicide attempts; people experiencing substance-use-related crises or overdose risk; high utilizers of 988; and individuals referred by hospitals, emergency departments, EMS, law enforcement, 911/Public Safety Answering Points, mobile crisis teams, and community providers. The project will also support children, youth, young adults, families, adults, older adults, veterans, and individuals involved with behavioral health, child welfare, juvenile justice, criminal justice, health care, and social-service systems. CALM Care will provide timely, person-centered follow-up by phone or text; ongoing suicide and overdose risk reassessment; collaborative safety planning; peer support; warm handoffs; linkage to crisis stabilization, crisis respite, mobile crisis, outpatient, substance-use, recovery, and community-based services; and monitoring for three to twelve months based on individual need. To increase statewide capacity, UW CT 988-SCL will add a Project Director (.15 FTE), Data Administrator (.10 FTE), CALM Care Network Peer Support Coordinators (2 FTE) and Peer Support Mentor and Consultant; implement standardized evidence-based follow-up protocols; formalize referral pathways and memoranda of understanding with crisis-continuum partners; coordinate with 23-hour crisis stabilization programs, 24-hour crisis respite services, mobile crisis outreach teams, hospitals, EMS, law enforcement, and community providers; and build a unified data system, dashboard, and continuous quality improvement process. The project’s measurable goals are to reduce suicide attempts and repeat crisis contacts through enhanced follow-up, strengthen coordination across crisis and behavioral health systems, and improve data quality and performance monitoring. Key objectives include offering follow-up within 24 hours for 80% of eligible crisis encounters; reducing repeat 988 contacts among high utilizers by 10% by Year 2 and 20% by Year 3; establishing formal referral pathways by month six (6); increasing successful warm handoffs to outpatient care by 20% by Year 2 and 30% by Year 3; implementing a unified tracking system by month four (4); producing required six-month and quarterly reports; and developing a follow-up performance dashboard to guide ongoing improvement by month ten (10). (Page 1 of 51)
