Wednesday, May 1, 2024
5/1/2024
The Mississippi Department of Mental Health's (DMH) FY 2022 Cooperative Agreements for States and Territories to Build Local 988 Capacity grant is designed to increase state response to 988 calls, chats, and text by ensuring all contacts originating in Mississippi are answered by an instate Lifeline crisis call center. Mississippi has 24/7 primary and backup coverage for all 82 counties in the state. The state maintained an average in-state answer rate of 90% for July - December 2021. Mississippi has continuously improved its capacity to handle Lifeline calls statewide. Over the past several years, the state has increased its answer rate percentage from 46% to now 90%. DMH's partnership with Mississippi's two Lifeline crisis centers, CONTACT The Crisis Line and CONTACT Helpline, will allow the state to achieve the following goals. (Goal 1) Increase the capacity of the Lifeline Centers to meet crisis contact demand for the projected volume of calls and follow-up for the first year of 988 implementation. (1.1) By August 31, 2022, CONTACT The Crisis Line will hire eight new staff; (1.2) By August 31, 2022, CONTACT Helpline will hire four new staff; (1.3) By August 31, 2022, CONTACT The Crisis Line will purchase technology funded by this grant to increase capacity; (1.4) By August 31, 2022, CONTACT Helpline will purchase technology funded by this grant to increase capacity. (Goal 2) Maintain 24/7 primary and backup coverage within the state to ensure all calls originating in the state are first routed to a Mississippi Lifeline Center. (2.1) By September 30, 2022, staffing and technology funded by this grant will be in place to meet the increased demand of call volume to ensure sufficient capacity to maintain 24/7 in-state coverage of all Lifeline calls originating in the state; (2.2) By the end of the first year of the grant, the Centers will have maintained an average 90% or higher in-state answer rate for Lifeline calls; (2.3) By the end of the second year of the grant, the Centers will have maintained an average 90% or higher in-state answer rate for Lifeline calls. (Goal 3) Increase collaboration among Mississippi Lifeline Centers and crisis system partners to unify 988 response. (3.1) By the end of the first year of the grant, at least 70% of the Community Mental Health Centers will enter a formal agreement with CONTACT The Crisis Line and CONTACT Helpline; (3.2) By August 31, 2022, DMH will have developed a training curriculum addressing referral protocols, resources, and crisis response; (3.3) By the end of the first year of the grant, DMH will have trained 50% of 988, Mobile Crisis Response Teams, and Crisis Stabilization Unit staff on referral protocols, resources, and crisis response; (3.4) By the end of the second year of the grant, DMH will have trained 100% of 988, Mobile Crisis Response Teams, and Crisis Stabilization Unit on referral protocols, resources, and crisis response. CONTACT Helpline and CONTACT The Crisis Line will receive funding through contracts from the Mississippi Department of Mental Health to maintain and expand the workforce to respond to increased Lifeline call volume due to 988 implementation.
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).
