LGBTQIA+ Youth and Young Adult Crisis Line
LGBTQIA+ Youth and Young Adult Crisis Line supports a crisis-service provider in expanding New York youth’s access to affirming crisis care and training 988 counselors to better support LGBTQIA+ young people.
Funder: New York State Office of Mental Health
Due Dates: October 1, 2026 (Questions) | November 12, 2026, 2:00 PM EST (Proposals)
Funding Amounts: One five-year award: $1.8 million in year one, including $600,000 for training, then $1.2 million annually for four years
Summary: Supports New York-specific access to an existing LGBTQIA+ youth crisis line and specialized training for New York State 988 counselors.
Key Information: Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits already operating a 24/7/365 LGBTQIA+ hotline covering all 50 states and territories.
Description
The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) seeks an established LGBTQIA+ crisis-service provider to expand affirming, culturally responsive support for New York youth and young adults, including individuals exploring their identities. The selected organization will adapt its existing call, chat, and text service with dedicated New York routing, statewide outreach, New York-specific referrals, and reporting on New York contacts.
The program combines continuous, free, confidential crisis counseling with specialized training and technical assistance for New York’s 988 network. Training will reach approximately 600 employed and volunteer counselors across fourteen 988 Contact Centers, with asynchronous resources for future counselors. The initiative complements 988 by strengthening specialized crisis intervention, safety planning, referrals, and follow-up for LGBTQIA+ young people.
