SPTHB 988 2.0 Program - Project Abstract Southern Plains Tribal Health Board Oklahoma 988 Tribal Response FY 2026 SAMHSA Support for 988 Tribal Response Cooperative Agreements (FG-26-003) The Southern Plains Tribal Health Board (SPTHB) proposes to strengthen 988 crisis response services for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) individuals throughout Oklahoma. Building on its FY 2023 SAMHSA Tribal 988 Response Cooperative Agreement, SPTHB will expand statewide Tribal crisis response capacity by strengthening partnerships with Oklahoma's 988 crisis centers, improving referral and follow-up systems, expanding culturally responsive crisis response practices, increasing 988 utilization, and increasing coordination among Tribal, state, and community partners. SPTHB is a tribally designated organization representing 43 federally recognized Tribes across Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. The project will focus on Tribal jurisdictions throughout Oklahoma, where AI/AN communities experience elevated suicide risk, behavioral health workforce shortages, transportation barriers, and limited access to culturally responsive crisis services. Oklahoma is home to the nation's third-largest Native American population, with AI/AN individuals representing approximately 14% of the state's population. Despite recent progress, gaps remain in Tribal caller identification, standardized referral pathways, warm handoff protocols, and timely access to culturally appropriate follow-up care. The project will strengthen formal partnerships with Oklahoma's 988 crisis centers, Tribal behavioral health programs, Tribal focused non-profits, schools, first responders, and other community partners; expand culturally responsive training; improve Tribal caller identification and referral processes; support Peer Recovery Support Specialists providing post-crisis followup; enhance data collection and SPARS reporting; develop a Tribal 988 communication strategy; strengthen the statewide TR988 Workgroup; and create a Tribal Crisis Response Best Practices Toolkit to improve statewide coordination and consistency. Project goals are to: (1) ensure AI/AN individuals have access to culturally competent, trained 988 crisis center support; (2) improve coordination, navigation, referral pathways, and follow-up care between 988 crisis centers and Tribal behavioral health services; and (3) strengthen collaboration among Tribal nations, Oklahoma's crisis response system, and community partners while respecting Tribal sovereignty. Expected outcomes include expanded culturally responsive crisis response capacity, improved referral success rates, stronger statewide partnerships, increased utilization of 988 services by AI/AN communities, enhanced performance monitoring, and sustainable infrastructure supporting long-term improvements in Tribal behavioral health crisis response. Grounded in Tribal leadership, evidence-informed practices, and more than 50 years of experience serving Tribal communities, SPTHB will leverage established partnerships and lessons learned from its previous Tribal 988 award to strengthen Oklahoma's statewide crisis response system and improve behavioral health outcomes for AI/AN individuals and families.
