Shaping Crisis Response Spotlight Series
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The National Association of Counties (NACo), in collaboration with The Pew Charitable Trusts and RAND, hosted a series of conversations with county leaders to understand the progress, challenges and lessons learned from 911/988 interoperability across various models, including embedded clinicians, call transfer and co-located response. This series will spotlight the work of five of the innovative counties shaping crisis response systems.
Douglas County, Kan.
- County Seat: Lawrence, Kan.
- Population: 118,785
Douglas County, Kan. exemplifies how investment in local systems and human service partnerships can streamline behavioral health care within communities.
Durham County, N.C.
- County Seat: Durham
- Population: 324,833
Durham County leverages a strategic partnership with the City of Durham to create a community-driven vision for public safety and crisis response.
Los Angeles County, Calif.
- County Seat: Los Angeles, Calif.
- Population: 10,014,009
Los Angeles (LA) County is the most populous county in the United States, with over 10 million residents, 70 public safety answering points (PSAP) centers and 80 law enforcement agencies, making the integration of 988 and 911 a challenge.
Travis County, Texas
- County Seat: Austin
- Population: 1,290,188
Travis County’s commitment to transforming behavioral health care into a readily available emergency resource is apparent the minute 911 dispatchers ask, “Are you calling for police, fire, EMS or mental health services?”
Pima County, Ariz.
- County Seat: Tucson, Ariz.
- Population: 1,043,433
Pima County serves as a leader in crisis response by becoming one of the first communities in the country to embed clinicians within their 911 operating system.
Webinar
Building and Supporting Comprehensive Behavioral Health Crisis Response Systems
In this panel discussion, experts and county leaders will discuss the role of 988 in building and supporting comprehensive behavioral health care systems.
HRSA Releases Final Reentry Care Guidelines Following NACo Input
On November 29, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released their final Policy Information Notice (PIN) with policy guidance for health centers who support transitions in care for justice-involved individuals reentering their communities.
Congress advances Second Chance Act reauthorization
On December 4, the Senate passed the Second Chance Reauthorization Act (S.4477) by unanimous consent, a major milestone for supporting county reentry programs. NACo supports this legislation, which would reauthorize funding for Second Chance Act programs for five years.
CMS finalizes Medicare rule with key improvements for justice-involved populations
On November 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a final rule that, in a major advocacy win for counties, will improving access to Medicare for justice-involved individuals who are in pre-trial status or who are reentering the community.
Six years of the SUPPORT Act: Ongoing behavioral health policy priorities for counties
On October 24, 2018, the bipartisan SUPPORT Act was enacted. It represented the largest Congressional investment in overdose prevention at the time, aiming to strengthen the nation's response to the substance use crisis.
County Countdown – Oct. 22, 2024
Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership.
FCC adopts geo-routing requirements for the 988 Hotline
On October 17, the FCC adopted a Report and Order implementing new geo-routing requirements for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Featured Initiative
NACo Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing
Counties increasingly handle direct mental health services, acting as the safety net for vulnerable residents and operating crisis lines, hospitals and detention centers. NACo’s Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing unites county leaders to address the mental health crisis through four key policy priorities.
