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
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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.
2024
- CRIS Committee
-
Date
How to join
Meeting materials
Thursday, April 18
1 to 4 p.m.
In person: Spokane Convention Center Ballroom 111A, 334 W Spokane Falls Blvd, Spokane, WA
Virtual: Join via Zoom
Meeting focus: This meeting will focus on identifying remaining gaps in the discussion of system performance metrics, specifically considerations for individuals with substance use disorder and rural and agricultural communities.
Tuesday, June 18
1 to 4 p.m.
Tuesday, July 16
1 to 4 p.m.
Tuesday, September 24
1 to 4 p.m.
Wednesday, November 13
1 to 4 p.m.
- Steering Committee
-
Date
How to join
Meeting materials
Tuesday, May 14
2 to 4 p.m.
Tuesday, December 10
1 to 3 p.m.
- Lived Experience Subcommittee
-
Date How to join Meeting materials Monday, May 13
1 to 3 p.m.
Monday, June 10
1 to 3 p.m.
Monday, July 8
1 to 3 p.m.
Monday, August 12
1 to 3 p.m.
Monday, September 9
1 to 3 p.m.
Tuesday, October 15
1 to 3 p.m.
Tuesday, November 12
1 to 3 p.m.
Monday, December 9
1 to 3 p.m.
Past meetings
- 2024
-
Committee
Date
Meeting materials
Lived Experience Subcommittee Monday, April 8 - View the meeting agenda (04/08/2024).
- View the meeting presentation (04/08/2024).
- Meeting focus: Updates on the Washington 988 communications campaign and 988 Contact Hub rulemaking, as well as discussion of Substance Use Disorders and Crisis Response.
CRIS Committee Thursday, March 28 - View the meeting agenda (03/28/2024).
- View the meeting summary (03/28/2024).
- View the meeting presentation (03/28/2024).
- Department of Health suicide prevention listening session flyer
- View the March 2024 updates.
- View the discussion and input on system performance metrics.
- View the meeting recording (03/28/2024).
Lived Experience Subcommittee Monday, March 11 Meeting focus: Continuing discussion of ways to elevate lived experience voices to improve Washington’s behavioral health crisis system, as well as highlighting behavioral health crisis bills in the 2024 legislative session and providing an update on the CRIS February 2024 meeting.
CRIS Committee Tuesday, February 27 Meeting focus: Articulating a future state of performance metrics for the crisis response system.
- View the meeting agenda (02/27/2024).
- View the meeting presentation (02/27/2024).
- View the meeting summary (02/27/2024)
- CRIS Updates newsletter (February 2024)
- Youth MRSS metrics example
- CRIS Committee progress report
- Crisis System metrics examples (NASMHPD)
- Written public comments (as of February 21, 2024)
- View the meeting recording.
- Breakout Group 1 recording
- Breakout Group 2 recording
- Breakout Group 3 recording
Lived Experience Subcommittee Monday, February 12 Meeting focus: Continue the discussion of ways to elevate lived experience voices to improve Washington’s behavioral health crisis system, as well as highlight behavioral health crisis bills in the 2024 legislative session and provide an update on the CRIS January 2024 meeting.
CRIS Committee
Wednesday, January 31 Lived Experience Subcommittee Monday, January 22 Meeting focus: Key behavioral health crisis bills for the 2024 legislative session, state agency crisis system improvement focus areas, and discussion of ways to elevate lived experience voices to improve Washington’s behavioral health crisis system.
- 2023
-
- 2022
-
Committee
Date
Meeting materials
Lived Experience Subcommittee Wednesday, December 21
Meeting focus: Reflecting on 988 in Washington in 2022 Steering Committee Thursday, December 15
CRIS Committee Tuesday, December 13
CRIS Committee Tuesday, November 15
Steering Committee Tuesday, October 25
Lived Experience Subcommittee Monday, September 26
CRIS Committee
Tuesday, September 20
Lived Experience Subcommittee Monday, August 15
Steering Committee Wednesday, July 20
Lived Experience Subcommittee
Wednesday, July 13
CRIS Committee
Tuesday, July 12
Lived Experience Subcommittee
Tuesday, June 7 Steering Committee
Thursday, May 19
CRIS Committee
Tuesday, May 10
Lived Experience Subcommittee Monday, April 18
Steering Committee
March 24
Lived Experience Subcommittee March 21
CRIS Committee
March 15
Steering Committee February 10
CRIS Committee
February 1
- 2021
-
CRIS Committee
Date
Meeting materials
November 16
September 30
Steering Committee
Date Meeting materials November 9 October 12 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 2023 Subcommittee report.
View the 2022 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 Nicola Pinson, by noon one business day before the meeting. In addition, if you would like to submit a written comment, please email HCA Program 1477.
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: Third legislative progress report, including recommendations in 13+ areas outlined by the legislation.
- Federal and State legislation
- HCA / DOH reports
-
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.