MS FY2026/27 988 State and Territory Local Capacity Building - The Mississippi 988 State and Local Capacity project will expand 24/7/365 voice, chat, text service access statewide, increase trained digital crisis counselors, strengthen referral/follow-up infrastructure, improve data interoperability, and advance timely, coordinated, person-centered, recovery-oriented crisis care statewide by strengthening geographic coordination among the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Centers and behavioral crisis continuum partners. Project Name: Mississippi 988 State and Local Capacity. Geographic area. All 82 Mississippi counties. Population size in the service area: An estimated 2,954,160 individuals reside in Mississippi; 22.9% >18 years; and 18% Adults 65+, with a substantial proportion at risk for or experiencing suicide risk, overdose risk, SED/SMI; or other behavioral health conditions. Number served. Estimated 25,000 adults, children, youth, young adults will be served annually, totaling more than 75,000 in 3 years. The age range & distribution of population served. Children/youth/young adults served will be aged 0-21 (10% ages 0-5; 75% ages 6–17; 15% ages 18–21); 51% male; 49% female; 2% military/veteran. Clinical characteristics of the population served. Adults/Children/youth/young adults served will be at high risk of suicide or overdose fatalities, including individuals who meet DSM 5 criteria for SMI/SED and are involved in, or at risk of involvement in child welfare, juvenile justice, schools, crisis systems, and other cross-serving systems. Common conditions include depression, anxiety, trauma, PTSD, ADHD, disruptive behavior disorders, early substance use risk, suicidality, and functional impairment across homes, schools, and communities. BH provider shortages, transportation barriers, poverty, uninsured rates, housing instability, limited access to community-based crisis care, resulting in delayed treatment, fragmented services, and an overreliance on emergency and crisis systems. Strategies/Interventions. 988 voice call, chat, text, response to ensure access/availability, referral coordination, follow-up care, crisis system integration, continuity of care, outreach, training, 988 communication, training, 988 capacity building with 988, 911, tribal partners and BH crisis continuum of care partners, cyber security, data collection, performance measurement, quality assurance and CQI reviews of KPI requirements. Core interventions will include standardized screening/assessment for suicide/overdose risk, trauma, and promote 988 post-follow-up, referrals and linkages to crisis continuity of care. Goals/Objectives. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Centers will achieve a 90% in-state answer rate for all 988 calls, chats, and texts routed to MS through enhanced recruitment, hiring, onboarding, training, supervision, and retention of the 988 workforce to expand 24-hour, 7-day-per-week voice, chat, and text capacity; and increase access to care coordination, crisis services, and recovery supports; 100% implementation of quality assurance, CQI; standardized protocols, cyber security; monthly performance monitoring of KPIs, DMH standards of care.
