Webinar: Launching 988 Was the First Step. What’s Next for Crisis Care?
When 988 launched in 2022, it marked a historic milestone for mental health crisis care in the United States. For the first time, people experiencing a mental health, substance use, or suicidal crisis could access support through a simple, easy-to-remember three-digit number.
But launching 988 was only the beginning.
Today, crisis centers across the country answer millions of calls, texts, and chats each year. These organizations provide life-saving support at some of the most vulnerable moments in a person’s life. Yet many face ongoing questions about staffing, technology, community awareness, and perhaps most importantly, sustainable funding.
How can states ensure 988 services remain available and accessible? What policies have successfully supported crisis services? And how can advocates help strengthen the future of crisis care in their communities?
These are the questions we’ll explore in our upcoming webinar featuring policy experts from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
The Promise of 988 Depends on More Than a Phone Number
The vision behind 988 extends well beyond answering a call.
Mental health leaders often describe effective crisis systems as having three essential components:
- Someone to call
- Someone to respond
- A safe place to go
Creating and maintaining all three requires thoughtful planning, strong partnerships, and long-term investment.
While 988 was established through federal legislation, much of its implementation happens at the state level. States play a critical role in determining how crisis services are funded, how they coordinate with emergency response systems such as 911, and how communities build the infrastructure needed to support people in crisis.
As a result, policy decisions can have a direct impact on the effectiveness and sustainability of crisis services.
Why Is Funding Such an Important Conversation?
For many crisis service organizations, the challenge isn’t proving the value of their work. Every day they help save lives, connect people to care, reduce strain on emergency departments, and support healthier communities.
The challenge is ensuring they have reliable resources to continue doing that work.
Questions many organizations are asking include:
- How can states create sustainable funding streams for 988 services?
- What legislative approaches have been successful in other states?
- How can advocates communicate the value of crisis services to policymakers?
- What role do public awareness campaigns play in strengthening crisis systems?
- How can 988 and 911 work together to provide appropriate responses for people in crisis?
Learning from states that have successfully addressed these challenges can help organizations and advocates identify opportunities within their own communities.
Learn from NAMI’s Policy Experts
To help answer these important questions, we’re pleased to host a webinar on Thursday, August 13 at 1pm Eastern featuring two members of NAMI’s State Affairs team.
As the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization, NAMI has long been a leading voice for people affected by mental illness and their families. Through advocacy, education, and public policy initiatives, NAMI works to improve access to mental health care and strengthen support systems across the country.
Stephanie Pasternak
Stephanie Pasternak serves as Director of State Affairs at NAMI National, where she leads the organization’s state legislative and policy efforts. Her work focuses on identifying opportunities to advance policies that improve outcomes for people affected by mental health conditions. Prior to joining NAMI, Stephanie worked on federal policies aimed at expanding and strengthening community-based mental health and addiction treatment services.
Kathryn Gilley
Kathryn Gilley serves as Senior Manager of State Affairs at NAMI National. She monitors legislative trends across the country, works with national advocacy partners, and supports NAMI state organizations in their legislative and advocacy efforts. Kathryn brings extensive experience in healthcare policy and government relations, including previous leadership roles involving state and federal health policy.
Together, Stephanie and Kathryn bring deep expertise in mental health policy, state advocacy, and legislative strategies that are helping shape the future of 988 and crisis care.
Why iCarol Is Hosting This Conversation
At iCarol, we’re privileged to support many of the organizations answering 988 contacts every day.
We see firsthand the incredible impact these crisis services have on individuals, families, and communities. We also understand the challenges centers face as they work to meet growing demand while securing the resources needed to sustain their operations.
That’s why we’re committed to sharing conversations that go beyond technology and address the broader issues affecting the future of crisis response. By bringing together leaders, advocates, and experts, we hope to help strengthen the services that millions of people rely on each year.
Join Us
Whether you’re part of a 988 center, a crisis line, a behavioral health organization, or simply interested in strengthening crisis services in your community, this webinar will provide valuable insights into the policies and advocacy strategies driving progress across the country. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to join iCarol and NAMI’s policy experts to learn how states are advancing 988, securing sustainable funding, improving coordination, and building stronger systems of care.
Register today to gain practical strategies you can use to support the future of crisis response in your state and community.