COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Engaging diverse communities across our state has been an essential aspect of rolling out 988 in Georgia and a key directive of SAMHSA’s nationwide rollout. For the Georgia 988 Steering Committee, this includes consistent and transparent reporting of the data surrounding 988, and regularly sharing materials from the Community Partners and Planning Coalition meetings, featured below.

Community Partners

As DBHDD plans to successfully rollout 988, we also seek to optimize access and inclusion of services to meet the unique needs of high-risk and diverse groups. The 988 Community Partners Workgroup was established to engage community members representing diverse and at-risk populations to help us plan for a rollout of 988 that is effective and equitable. The workgroup's perspective is critical to building a crisis system for everyone, everywhere, every time.

The 988 Community Partners are charged with sharing their perspectives on Georgia's behavioral health crisis system and helping to project the unique needs of their constituents with DBHDD. The workgroup has convened regularly to discuss and offer feedback on the 988 rollout, including sharing perspectives on marketing and public messaging, training and quality of care, accessibility of crisis services, and linkages to community crisis services and local resources.

Meeting Agendas and Materials

At the initiation of 988 planning, DBHDD identified stakeholders to serve as members for the Georgia 988 Planning Coalition. Members were identified based on the categories of key 988 stakeholders provided by Vibrant Emotional Health, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline administrator, in addition to identifying stakeholders, partners, and subject matter experts critical to Georgia’s current crisis system and planning for the future system. The membership of the Georgia 988 Planning coalition includes providers, individuals with lived experience, law enforcement, emergency services, and advocacy organizations.

The Georgia 988 Planning Coalition was assembled and convened regularly to inform planning efforts. During these sessions, coalition members presented on the current state, challenges, and opportunities for enhancements across their respective components of the crisis continuum (e.g., current Lifeline call center, 911 centers, mobile crisis teams, crisis stabilization, and peer services). The Coalition has explored our existing crisis system or important considerations when planning for 988, including workforce, stakeholder coordination, training, processes, and public education and awareness.

Meeting Agendas and Materials

Planning Coalition

Questions or Interest

If your organization is interested in joining the Community Partners Coalition please contact the Georgia 9-8-8 Steering Committee.