Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Centers
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Centers supports Arkansas 988 centers with staffing, accreditation, and quality improvement to strengthen timely, confidential crisis assistance by phone, chat, and text.
Funder: Arkansas Department of Health
Due Dates: October 30, 2026, noon Central Time (Questions) | November 6, 2026 (Anticipated answers) | November 30, 2026, 2:00 p.m. Central Time (Application)
Funding Amounts: Maximum funding of $325,000 for two recipients; anticipated period December 30, 2026–September 29, 2027
Summary: Supports staffing, accreditation maintenance, and quality improvement at established Arkansas 988 centers answering calls, chats, and texts.
Key Information: Applicants must have current approved accreditation and at least one year of continuous 988 operations across all three modalities.
Description
The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) funds established Arkansas-based 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline centers to expand staffing, maintain accreditation, and strengthen quality assurance. Administered by the Substance Misuse and Injury Prevention Branch, the program supports timely, localized, confidential assistance for people experiencing suicidal, mental health, or substance-misuse-related crises through calls, chats, and texts.
Funded work includes hiring and training dedicated full-time crisis counselors, improving in-state answer rates, and maintaining service continuity as contact volumes fluctuate. Counselor training addresses suicide risk assessment, crisis de-escalation, collaborative safety planning, trauma-informed care, and documentation. Centers must meet SAMHSA and Vibrant Emotional Health operational, reporting, and performance requirements. The program also emphasizes staff wellness, consistent response quality across modalities, and coordination with ADH.
