988 Cohort 3 - The Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), in partnership with the 988 Enterprise, proposes the Colorado Crisis Continuum Capacity Expansion Initiative to strengthen Colorado's statewide behavioral health crisis system. Through expanded public awareness, care navigation, 988/911 interoperability, workforce development, quality management, and independent evaluation, the project will improve access to timely, coordinated behavioral health crisis services while strengthening Colorado's statewide crisis continuum. Problem Statement: Colorado's 988 system serves as the foundational entry point for the state's behavioral health crisis continuum, providing 24/7 access to trained crisis specialists across all 64 counties. While the system maintains high performance standards, including a 96% answer rate, increasing call, text, and chat volumes, totaling more than 368,000 contacts in 2025, have exposed critical capacity gaps. Current challenges include managing growing referral volumes, navigating complex care transitions, and addressing behavioral health workforce shortages, particularly in rural and frontier communities. Expanding statewide infrastructure is essential to sustain high-quality service delivery and effectively serve priority populations, including youth and veterans. Proposed Goals and Objectives: The project will: (1) increase awareness, accessibility, and utilization of the 988 Colorado Mental Health Line; (2) strengthen care navigation, referral management, continuity of care, and 988/911 interoperability across Colorado's behavioral health crisis continuum; and (3) implement a statewide quality management, workforce development, and evaluation framework that supports continuous quality improvement and long-term system sustainability. Implementation Approach: In alignment with SAMHSA 988 State and Territory Local Capacity Building requirements, BHA will leverage established partnerships with the 988 Enterprise, Solari Crisis & Human Services, and The Evaluation Center at the University of Colorado Denver. Implementation will focus on infrastructure development, workforce excellence through recruitment and retention, and rigorous independent evaluation to support continuous quality improvement (CQI) and long-term sustainability. Expected Outcomes: This initiative will transform Colorado’s crisis system into a more responsive, coordinated, and accountable continuum of care. By strengthening 988 operations and interoperability with 911, the project ensures that individuals experiencing behavioral health emergencies receive timely access to the most appropriate level of support, effectively advancing SAMHSA’s vision of ensuring everyone has someone to contact, someone to respond, and a safe place for help.
