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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.

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

Date

How to join

Meeting materials

Wednesday, February 15

 

View the meeting agenda

View the meeting presentation

View the meeting summary

View the meeting recording

CRIS Updates Newsletter (February 2023) 

Written public comments (as of February 8, 2023) 

Wednesday, March 22

 

View the meeting agenda

View the meeting presentation

View the meeting summary

View the meeting recording

CRIS Updates Newsletter (March 2023) 

Written public comments (as of March 22, 2023) 

Wednesday, April 26 

 

View the meeting agenda

View the meeting presentation

View the meeting summary

View the meeting recording

CRIS Updates Newsletter (April 2023) 

Written public comments (as of April 19, 2023) 

WA DOH Youth behavioral health impact report 

WA DOH COVID-19 behavioral health forecast summary 

HCA Access to behavioral health report 

Tuesday, May 16

 

View the meeting agenda

View the meeting presentation

View the meeting summary

View the meeting recording

CRIS Updates Newsletter (May 2023) 

Written public comments (as of May 10, 2023) 

CRIS Subcommittee report (April 2023) 

Tuesday, June 20

 

 

In-person option: There is now also an in-person option for this meeting. Please join us in the Sue Crystal A/B Conference rooms on the first floor of the main HCA building. Check in with reception. Directions are available on the HCA contact page.  View the HCA contact page for directions and parking information. 

View the meeting agenda

View the meeting presentation

View the meeting summary

View the meeting recording

CRIS Updates Newsletter (June 2023) 

Crisis stabilization services: root cause analysis 

Written public comments (as of June 21, 2023) 

CRIS Subcommittee report (May 2023) 

Monday, July 17

 

View the meeting agenda.

View the meeting presentation.

View the meeting summary

View the meeting recording

CRIS Updates Newsletter (July 2023) 

Behavioral Health and First Responder workgroup updates

Mobile Crisis Response for Adults and Youth 

Written public comments (as of July 11, 2023) 

CRIS Subcommittee report (June 2023) 

Tuesday, August 29 

 

In-person option: There is now also an in-person option to access the Zoom for this meeting. Please join us at the Pat Steel Building, 325 9th Ave Seattle, WA 98122, Conference room PS 5022 (5th floor). 

View the meeting agenda

View the meeting presentation

View the meeting recording

CRIS Updates Newsletter (August 2023) 

Crisis System Synthesized Gaps  

Written public comments (as of August 29, 2023) 

CRIS Subcommittee report (July 2023) 

Crisis Care Centers Initiative presentation 

Tuesday, September 19 Join the meeting via Zoom. 

Meeting focus: This meeting will focus on prioritizing recommendations to address gaps in Washington’s crisis response service continuum. The CRIS Committee discussion will inform the Steering Committee’s recommendations to be included in the 2024 committee progress report.

In-person option: Please join us at the DoubleTree by Hilton Seattle Airport, 18740 International Blvd. Seattle, WA 98188.

View the meeting agenda

View the meeting presentation

View the meeting recording

Someone to call: Synthesized Gaps and Opportunities

Someone to come: Synthesized Gaps and Opportunities 

A Safe place to be: Synthesized Gaps and Opportunities 

Written public comments (as of September 20, 2023) 

Tuesday, November 7
Noon to 3 p.m.
   
Steering Committee

Date

How to join

Meeting materials

Tuesday, June 6

 

View the meeting agenda

View the meeting summary

View the meeting presentation

View the meeting recording

Tuesday, September 26  

This meeting has been cancelled. 

Monday, December 18
1 to 3 p.m. 

   
Lived Experience Subcommittee
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.

View the meeting agenda

View the meeting presentation

Monday, March 13

 

Meeting focus: Legislative update and sharing Lived Experience perspectives on the “Someone to Come” crisis response models  

View the meeting agenda

View the meeting presentation

Monday, April 10

 

Meeting focus: Youth Crisis Response System and Key Considerations for Improving 

View the meeting agenda

View the meeting presentation

Monday, May 8

 

Meeting focus:

  • Crisis dispatch protocol review 
  • Discussion of first responder collaboration 
  • Feedback on crisis stabilization services and gaps in Washington 

View the meeting agenda

Monday, June 12

 

Meeting focus: the Washington Health Care Authority (HCA), its role in 988 and Behavioral Health Crisis Response, and how lived experience input is being incorporated into system changes.

View the meeting agenda

View the meeting presentation

Monday, July 10 

 

Meeting focus: your perspective on the CRIS process. What has engaging in this process been like for you? What helps you continue showing up? Are you feeling seen/heard and respected when you share? 

View the meeting agenda

View the meeting presentation

Monday, August 14 

 

Meeting focus: "Someone to Come." This meeting will include a presentation of the synthesis of recommendations being considered by the CRIS and Steering Committee, with the intention of ensuring that we have incorporated lived experience perspectives.

View the meeting agenda. 

View the HMA presentation recording

Monday, September 11

 

Meeting focus: The meeting will focus on a discussion with Washington State Department of Health and Washington Health Care Authority, and upcoming opportunities for Lived Experience input, including informing the 988 media campaign and other opportunities.

View the meeting agenda

View the meeting presentation

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

 

Meeting agenda (2/1/2022)

Meeting summary (2/1/2022)

Initial assessment (12/31/21)

CRIS member written comments on the initial assessment (as of 1/21/22)

CRIS high-level work plan (draft) 

View the meeting recording (2/1/2022)

Steering Committee

February 10

 

Meeting agenda (2/10/2022)

Meeting summary (2/10/2022) 

High level work plan (2/10/2022) 

View the meeting recording (2/10/2022)

CRIS Committee

March 15

 

Meeting agenda (3/15/2022)

Meeting summary (3/15/2022) 

View the meeting presentation (3/15/2022)

View the meeting recording (3/15/2022)

Lived Experience Subcommittee

March 21

 

Meeting agenda (3/21/2022) 

Meeting summary (3/21/2022) 

Steering Committee

March 24

 

Meeting agenda (3/24/2022) 

Meeting summary (3/24/2022) 

View the meeting presentation (3/24/2022) 

View the meeting recording (3/24/2022) 

Lived Experience Subcommittee

Monday, April 18

 

Meeting agenda (4/18/2022) 

CRIS draft vision and guiding principles 

Join the meeting 

CRIS Committee

Tuesday, May 10

 

Meeting agenda (5/10/2022)

Meeting summary (5/10/2022)

View the meeting presentation (5/10/2022) 

CRIS draft vision and guiding principles

Comments on CRIS draft vision and guiding principles 

View the meeting recording (5/10/2022) 

Steering Committee

Thursday, May 19

 

Meeting agenda (5/19/2022)

Meeting summary (5/19/2022)

View the meeting presentation (5/19/2022) 

Revisions of draft vision and guiding principles 

Comments on draft vision and guiding principles

View the meeting recording (5/19/2022) 

Lived Experience Subcommittee

Tuesday, June 7  

Meeting agenda (06/07/2022)

View the meeting presentation (06/07/2022)

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)

Learn more about adult crisis response services

Learn more about youth crisis response services 

Lived Experience Subcommittee

Wednesday, July 13

 

View the meeting agenda (7/13/2022) 

View the meeting presentation (07/13/2022)

Steering Committee

Wednesday, July 20

 

View the meeting agenda (7/20/2022)

View the meeting presentation (7/20/2022) 

View the meeting recording (7/20/2022) 

Lived Experience Subcommittee

Monday, August 15

 

Join the meeting

View the meeting agenda (8/15/2022) 

CRIS Committee

Tuesday, September 20

 

Join the meeting

View the meeting agenda (9/20/2022) 

View the meeting summary (9/20/2022)

View the meeting presentation (9/20/2022)

View the meeting recording (9/20/2022)

Lived Experience Subcommittee

Monday, September 26

 

Join the meeting

View the meeting agenda (9/26/2022)

Print the NAMI worksheet 

Steering Committee 

Tuesday, October 25

 

Join the meeting

View the meeting agenda (10/25/2022) 

View the meeting summary (10/25/2022) 

View the meeting presentation (10/25/2022) 

View the meeting recording (10/25/2022) 

CRIS Committee

Tuesday, November 15

 

Join the meeting

View the meeting agenda (11/15/2022)

View the meeting presentation (11/15/2022) 

View the meeting recording (11/15/2022) 

CRIS Committee

Tuesday, December 13

 

View the meeting agenda (12/13/2022)

View the meeting presentation (12/13/2022)

View the meeting recording (12/13/2022) 

Steering Committee

Thursday, December 15

 

View the meeting agenda (12/15/2022) 

View the meeting presentation (12/15/2022) 

View the meeting recording (12/15/2022)

Lived Experience Subcommittee

Wednesday, December 21

  Meeting focus: Reflecting on 988 in Washington in 2022 
2021

CRIS Committee

Steering Committee

Subcommittees

Name of meeting

Date

Meeting materials

All-subcommittee kickoff

December 2

Meeting agenda (12/2/2021)

Meeting materials (12/2/2021)

Watch the Kickoff meeting (12/2/2021)

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

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

HCA reports

DOH documents

DOH/Vibrant technical details

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