Monday, June 5, 2023
6/5/2023
The Maryland Department of Health's Behavioral Administration (BHA), in partnership with jurisdictions and Maryland Lifeline crisis centers, will build local 988 capacity with the two-year, $1,972,989 988 State and Territory Cooperative Agreement funds (SAMHSA 22-015). This project will increase staff capacity at eight Lifeline centers, allowing them to respond, intervene, and provide follow-up to individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Maryland's life line call volume is projected to increase to 101,700 handled contacts in the first year of 988 implementation. Grant funds will be used by Maryland Lifeline crisis centers to maintain and expand their workforce to respond to this expected increase in Lifeline call, chat, and text volume. During the project, BHA will be working with Lifeline crisis centers and other stakeholders to: Monitor and improve: crisis call, chat, and text answer rates; Increase follow-up services; Ensure appropriate linkages for veterans; Train the workforce on engaging with populations at higher risk of suicide in our communities; Monitoring and improving the handling of contacts that require emergency rescue, involve suicide attempts in progress, and mobile crisis outreach referrals. Ensuring strong linkages between 988 services and the state's suicide prevention plan; and Improving coordination between 988 and 911 services. The state will measure its project success using the following key performance targets: 90% or more of calls, chats, and texts originating in Maryland will be answered by Maryland Lifeline crisis centers. 95% of Maryland 988 calls will be answered within 20 seconds, with 90% of these calls answered within 15 seconds. Less than 5% of calls received are disconnected prior to answer by a Maryland Lifeline crisis center.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
