Michigan Cooperative Agreement to Improve Local 988 Capacity - Michigan is strengthening 988 as a trusted, statewide entry point to crisis support, connection, and hope. Through this project, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) will sustain strong in-state call response, expand chat and text capacity, improve referral and follow-up quality, and strengthen partnerships that connect Michiganders experiencing crisis to the right support at the right time. MDHHS will use this grant to strengthen and sustain Michigan's statewide 988 crisis response system. Since the national launch of 988, Michigan has built a strong foundation that includes contracted 988 centers, in-state call coverage, the Behavioral Health Customer Relationship Management system, referral and follow-up infrastructure, and crisis-system partnerships. Michigan has maintained at least a 90% in-state answer rate for 988 calls, but continued capacity building is needed to sustain call performance, support workforce readiness, implement in-state chat and text, strengthen referral pathways, and improve coordination with crisis, behavioral health, substance use, Tribal, peer, public safety, and community-based partners. Grant activities will reach the entire state, including urban, suburban, rural, frontier, and Tribal communities. The population of focus includes Michiganders of all ages who contact 988 for themselves or others, including individuals experiencing suicidal ideation, thoughts of self-harm, emotional distress, mental health or substance use needs, overdose-related crisis, or barriers to timely crisis care. Services will continue through Michigan's contracted 988 centers, which provide crisis support, assessment, de-escalation, referral, follow-up, and connection to appropriate resources. Through this project, MDHHS will increase capacity by overseeing contracted centers, completing chat/text readiness activities, strengthening Michigan-specific protocols, and improving referral, care coordination, and follow-up. MDHHS will also strengthen substance use and overdose-related referral pathways, review 911/988 coordination, develop Tribal Nations cultural-responsiveness training, improve data and evaluation, support technology and cybersecurity readiness, and complete sustainability planning. Project goals include maintaining timely access to 988; improving referral quality, follow-up, and continuity of care; strengthening data and evaluation; supporting Tribal engagement and culturally responsive care coordination; improving substance use and overdose-related crisis response; strengthening technology and cybersecurity; supporting community partner engagement; and advancing financial sustainability. Measurable objectives include maintaining at least a 90% in-state call-answer rate, creating standardized referral pathways, increasing referrals and wellbeing follow-ups by 10% above validated baselines, completing a collaborative data analysis, implementing Tribal Nations training, strengthening 911/988 coordination protocols, and completing the required 988 Sustainability Plan.
