Crisis Response Improvement Strategy (CRIS) committees
In 2021, the Washington State Legislature passed HB 1477, establishing the Crisis Response Improvement Strategy (CRIS) Committee and Steering Committee. These committees will develop recommendations to support implementation of the national 988 suicide prevention hotline and the statewide improvement of behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention services.
On this page
Learn more about this work. Register to receive CRIS committee announcements.
Crisis response improvement strategy overview
The Washington State Legislature passed House Bill 1477 which directs the Health Care Authority (HCA), the Department of Health (DOH), and the Behavioral Health Institute (BHI) at Harborview Medical Center to create the Crisis Response Improvement Strategy (CRIS) Committee and Steering Committee. Both committees include legislatures, providers, consumers, and partner agencies.
Read more about the committee members.
Meeting schedule and materials
Learn about public comments at CRIS meetings.
2023
- CRIS Committee
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Date
How to join
Meeting materials
Wednesday, February 15
View the meeting presentation.
Wednesday, March 22
3:30 to 6:30 p.m.Join the meeting. Wednesday, April 26
2:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 16
12 to 3 p.m.
Tuesday, June 20
1 to 4 p.m.Tuesday, September 19
1 to 4 p.m.Tuesday, November 7
12 to 3 p.m. - Steering Committee
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Date
How to join
Meeting materials
Tuesday, June 6
12 to 2 p.m.
Tuesday, September 26
12 to 2 p.m.December
Date to be determined - Lived Experience Subcommittee
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Date How to join Meeting materials Tuesday, January 3
Meeting focus: Opportunity for individuals and families with lived experience to share behavioral health crisis system perspectives and priorities directly with Washington Legislators. In addition to Sen. Dhingra, Sen. Warnick, Rep. Orwall, and Rep. Dent who are on the 988 CRIS committee, many other legislators on both sides of the aisle will be at this meeting to listen to your feedback. Monday, February 13
Meeting focus: Share lived experience perspectives on gaps in the crisis system continuum.
Monday, March 13
Meeting focus: Legislative update and sharing Lived Experience perspectives on the “Someone to Come” crisis response models
Monday, April 10
1 to 3 p.m.
Monday, May 8
1 to 3 p.m.
Monday, June 12
1 to 3 p.m.
Monday, July 10
1 to 3 p.m.
Monday, August 14
1 to 3 p.m.
Monday, September 11
1 to 3 p.m.
Monday, October 16
1 to 3 p.m.
Monday, November 13
1 to 3 p.m.
Monday, December 11
1 to 3 p.m.
Past meetings
- 2022
-
Committee
Date
How to join
Meeting materials
CRIS Committee
February 1
CRIS member written comments on the initial assessment (as of 1/21/22)
Steering Committee February 10
CRIS Committee
March 15
Lived Experience Subcommittee March 21
Steering Committee
March 24
Lived Experience Subcommittee Monday, April 18
CRIS Committee
Tuesday, May 10
View the meeting presentation (5/10/2022)
CRIS draft vision and guiding principles
Steering Committee
Thursday, May 19
View the meeting presentation (5/19/2022)
Revisions of draft vision and guiding principles
Lived Experience Subcommittee
Tuesday, June 7 CRIS Committee
Tuesday, July 12
View the meeting agenda (7/12/2022)
View the meeting presentation (07/12/2022)
View the meeting recording (07/12/2022)
Crisis services best practice summary
High-level work plan (July status update)
Lived Experience Subcommittee
Wednesday, July 13
Steering Committee Wednesday, July 20
View the meeting agenda (7/20/2022)
Lived Experience Subcommittee Monday, August 15
CRIS Committee
Tuesday, September 20
View the meeting agenda (9/20/2022)
View the meeting summary (9/20/2022)
Lived Experience Subcommittee Monday, September 26
Steering Committee Tuesday, October 25
View the meeting agenda (10/25/2022)
View the meeting summary (10/25/2022)
CRIS Committee Tuesday, November 15
View the meeting agenda (11/15/2022)
CRIS Committee Tuesday, December 13
View the meeting agenda (12/13/2022)
Steering Committee Thursday, December 15
View the meeting agenda (12/15/2022)
Lived Experience Subcommittee Wednesday, December 21
Meeting focus: Reflecting on 988 in Washington in 2022 - 2021
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CRIS Committee
Date
Meeting materials
September 30
November 16
Steering Committee
Date Meeting materials October 12 November 9 Subcommittees
Name of meeting
Date
Meeting materials
All-subcommittee kickoff
December 2
Committee members
CRIS Committee and Steering Committee
Members represent a diverse range of perspectives and serve in committee seats outlined by HB 1477. View the CRIS Committee and Steering Committee roster.
CRIS subcommittees
The Steering Committee formed seven CRIS subcommittees:
- Credentialing and Training Subcommittee
- Technology Subcommittee
- Cross-System Crisis Response Subcommittee
- Confidential Information Compliance and Coordination
- Rural and Agricultural Communities
- Lived Experience (open to all individuals and families with lived experience; subcommittee will not be limited in size)
- Tribal 988 Subcommittee (facilitated through the Tribal Centric Behavioral Health Advisory Board)
Subcommittees will help support implementation of the new 9-8-8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and help develop recommendations for an integrated behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention system in Washington. The CRIS Steering Committee selected subcommittee members for their diverse community perspectives and professional expertise.
For information about subcommittee work, please see the HB 1477 Subcommittee report.
Public comment
All CRIS Committee and Steering Committee meetings are public meetings. Members of the public are welcome and encouraged to share input. All public comments, whether submitted during or outside of committee meetings, will be considered by CRIS Committee and Steering Committee members.
How do I make a public comment?
There is an opportunity at each CRIS and Steering Committee meeting to share comments, and members of the public who wish to do so can email Brittany Thompson, by noon one business day before the meeting. In addition, if you would like to submit a written comment, please email HCAprogram1477@hca.wa.gov.
Reports and documentation
- Legislative reports
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January 1, 2022: First legislative progress report, including result of a comprehensive assessment of the current behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention services system, and preliminary recommendations related to funding of crisis response services from the Statewide 988 Behavioral Health Crisis Response and Suicide Prevention Line Account (Account).
January 1, 2023: Second legislative progress report
January 1, 2024: Final legislative report, including recommendations in 13+ areas outlined by the legislation.
- Federal and State legislation
- HCA / DOH reports
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HCA reports
- 988 system draft technical and operational plan to legislature
- 988 system final technical and operational plan to legislature
DOH documents
- Washington State 988 Implementation Plan
- Washington 988 State Volume and Cost Projections Report Vibrant Emotional Health
- DOH WA 988 Planning Grant project narrative
- Lifeline 988 State Planning Grant RFA
- Overview of Lifeline Network and Universal Platform
- Preparing for 988 Implementation
- Template 988 Implementation Plan
- User Guide 988 Implementation Plan
- Core Area Instructions — 988 Implementation Plan
- Coverage Area Schedule Worksheet for 988 Implementation Plan
DOH/Vibrant technical details
- 988 Implementation Coalition
- Technical details on Unified Platform
- Unified Platform benefits and implementation schedule
- Unified Platform public final press release
DOH presentations
- Resources
Committee charters
Review the CRIS Committee charter and CRIS Steering Committee charter to learn more about their charge, roles and responsibilities, meeting guidelines, and more.
Contact
Email: HCAprogram1477@hca.wa.gov