[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6354677,"mediaKeyId","2219747-434e78096c714347c2f88906420b6633","parentId",2219747,"title","Tennessee mental health agency reports 988 usage, crisis diversion and school programs","audioSeconds",1522,"startMs",2975000,"endMs",4497000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2219747-434e78096c714347c2f88906420b6633&start=2975&end=4497","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2219747-434e78096c714347c2f88906420b6633/thumbnail_2975000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6354677/Tennessee/Tennessee-mental-health-agency-reports-988-usage-crisis-diversion-and-school-programs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6354677-b55157b5c8af74a5957ac9b84f26a40a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775403108&Signature=aEqunnBevV7E0LhJXG4msG7S7XP2EY2dnin0bI~x~700xvWAQxpKxqsNwl-wZEW-sKlnCJmBMqF1PvFksgxgOLg1KoDECX4WfEJou1Js42xpy64TvAo7EUFdjZsah3jzpHcKOruTyPoTuhOAj31fI0QgHKhNutC64vDYKPM2hA3XC8uKneTYho7LKgcbov6fEnCXDzGyDctANiTyLYflbHwhrNMirHo5M-5nRbPhPu76tK1GKQqVh1KUUw3IHs4i9oMqjNCYtyDhet3~LHxpT~WODJ-YTwjMZB2iCewFNnVwgT9kc7kQGOmtgdb1Tn3ToYhPOsOprrquxM1YuPEZ0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","TN State Legislature","date","2025-02-04T00:00:00Z","article","At a practice meeting of the House Population Health Subcommittee, leaders from the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse summarized crisis services, 988 lifeline usage and investments in community and school-based behavioral health programs.

A department presenter (identified in the transcript as the department commissioner’s office) described the department’s mission and noted data showing widespread need for services: officials said 43,000 calls to the 988 lifeline came from Tennessee numbers in fiscal year 2024, along with about 9,000 texts and chats. The department also reported roughly 17,000 crisis-line calls through other statewide crisis numbers; officials said the combined contacts approach 70,000 and that crisis assessments led to diversion from inpatient hospitals in about 63% of completed assessments.

Deputy Commissioner Matt Yancey, who the presenter identified as overseeing community behavioral health programs, said the state had implemented mobile crisis teams, crisis stabilization units and walk-in centers in partnership with TennCare and that Tennessee was prepared when 988 launched nationally. “In FY 24, September, just in calls, received over 43,000 calls from Tennessee numbers,” Yancey said. He added that texts and chat are important for reaching young people who are more likely to use non‑voice channels.

The department described a crisis continuum that includes same-day assessments and mobile responses; officials said about 63% of crisis assessments were diverted from hospitals, which the department characterized as a cost and access benefit compared with inpatient stays.

Officials also described school-based behavioral health liaison positions funded by the state: the department said roughly 390 funded liaison positions are colocated in school settings and are employed by community mental health centers; those liaisons provided direct services to students, support for families, and training for teachers and staff. The department said fill rates for those positions were roughly 88% before the most recent expansion and about 75% including the expansion that began in July.

Speakers outlined other initiatives the department oversees or supports: the Creating Homes Initiative (CHI), which the department said has leveraged significant private and public investment to create housing options; Tennessee Recovery Courts (expanded from 49 to 92 courts); Project Rural Recovery mobile units that served more than 4,600 unique clients with nearly 11,000 visits; certified peer recovery specialists; faith-based recovery initiatives; regional overdose prevention specialists; and recovery navigators who connect overdose survivors in hospitals to treatment and local recovery supports.

Representative John Gillespie asked about repeat callers to 988 and whether the state can track callers who do not follow recommended next steps; officials said the department is building reporting capabilities and can track provider-level repeat contacts but does not yet have a comprehensive statewide report on repeat callers. Representative Ron Travis asked how homelessness-related mental health needs are being addressed; the department pointed to PATH-funded outreach (a federal program administered through local providers), crisis services and the Creating Homes Initiative as parts of the response and urged local legislators to contact provider CEOs when they see people in need so providers can respond directly.

Officials said the opioid abatement funds are routed through the department to community programs but that the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council determines local allocations. The department reported a decline in overdose deaths in recent data from the Department of Health and credited combined prevention, naloxone distribution and treatment investments. On school mental health, officials and members said anxiety and depression are the leading concerns and that social-media use and smartphones are contributing factors, particularly among adolescents.

The department closed by thanking the committee for prior investments and said it will follow up with committee members on specific local data and provider contacts.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Population Health Subcommittee\tFeb 4, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Officials from the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse told the House Population Health Subcommittee that 988 and the crisis continuum are routing tens of thousands of Tennesseans to care, with mobile crisis, crisis stabilization and school-based liaisons credited with reducing hospitalizations.","taxTitle","Health, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Tennessee","taxId",35345,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6354682,"Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging presents programs after July 2024 merger",595,1742000,2337000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2219747-434e78096c714347c2f88906420b6633&start=1742&end=2337","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2219747-434e78096c714347c2f88906420b6633/thumbnail_1742000.jpg","/articles/6354682/Tennessee/Tennessee-Department-of-Disability-and-Aging-presents-programs-after-July-2024-merger","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6354682-6e4ac144648a63222c1618ed80adf921/orig.mp4?Expires=1775403108&Signature=LkEnICdqTAfswd5gQIiSTxadkamPUitf~qgMLYBhQlL9YOvzMlhDU0S2EwWKGUyVz4Q46yijdEG5Y98zHV~amyMwzVVJyMyF7y0lpQCGQ5rrAaqa8tt409069~RD4oW6tpFeLEK-d4~McE3~mrdaBC-MgPBmCr~YN4yvFeusNDT2UNIl7IV8efosHjH9HYdv0LJlcbwomTOrzfxKQd1lhqtlUyHM9~viBZpOgMIQgpBBihFS651-4Ik8Oss0YcGJMCOvjDlZaHQ6JGbhrtHF-2QSMgjnTeMYM10gjDM7k3kG~f3Ik40wMLBxMjgCK2adkCnAqFLsMH7eMPDkboZB0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a practice meeting of the House Population Health Subcommittee, Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging leaders summarized services, grants and program changes following the merger that took effect July 1, 2024.

The department’s commissioner, Brad Turner, told members the merger combined functions previously performed by the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability and created a single cabinet-level department intended to improve efficiency and service access. “Why DDA? … adults 65 and older are actually the fastest growing demographic in the state of Tennessee,” Turner said, and he described housing, caregiver support, transportation and independence as shared priorities for older adults and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Turner outlined major programs administered by the department, including the Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS), the Katie Beckett waiver, Medicaid home- and community-based waivers (including 1915(c) and ECF choices for IDD), the Options program for older adults, a long-term care ombudsman program, a statewide seating and positioning clinic with three regional locations plus a mobile clinic, Meals on Wheels and a family support grant program that operates in all 95 counties.

Turner also highlighted several grant programs the department says it has used to increase inclusion and access: senior-center grants under the GRAMA program, adult-size changing table grants for businesses and municipalities, Tennessee Believes postsecondary inclusion grants, respite grants for faith-based organizations and nonprofits, and an inclusive-playground grant that drew more than 80 applications. “DDA provides various grants to communities and businesses to spur inclusion and access,” Turner said.

Representative Sabida Kumar asked specifically about the Katie Beckett waiver’s status in Tennessee. Turner replied the waiver is “fully functional” and said “we have north of 4,000 families that are able to benefit from that program,” adding the program was designed to give parents flexibility to purchase supports — for example, home modifications or fencing when a child is at elopement risk — that private insurance may not cover. On waiting lists, Turner said there is not one “right now” but that demand could create some waiting in the future and that DDA coordinates with TennCare and the governor’s office to minimize wait times.

On TEIS, Turner said Tennessee is unique in serving children through early intervention up to kindergarten age, which he described as helping children arrive at school with stronger foundational skills. He said anyone can make a TEIS referral — medical providers, family members or neighbors — and that the department has worked with local school districts to coordinate transitions into kindergarten.

Turner described the long-term care ombudsman program as an independent advocacy service for residents of long-term care facilities and said DDA is coordinating with the state ombudsman and the Department of Health to support residents who lack family advocates. He said the department maintains a new, consolidated website and that the department’s goal is a “no wrong door” approach to accessing services.

The committee took an initial practice vote using a new electronic voting system to confirm the meeting format; the clerk recorded 8 ayes and 1 nay. Committee members then questioned department staff on program details and next steps for outreach and implementation.

The department said it will provide additional materials and contact information to committee members after the meeting and invited members to request follow-up briefings on specific programs or local provider capacity.

Less critical details: Turner said the Disability and Aging Act was signed into law in April 2024 and became effective July 1, 2024; he also described the department’s seating and positioning clinic, nutrition and benefits counseling programs, and a long-standing family support grant that has operated for more than 30 years.","Department leaders told the House Population Health Subcommittee the merged Department of Disability and Aging will provide expanded supports — including the Katie Beckett waiver, Tennessee Early Intervention System and community grants — and outlined services and grant programs for people with disabilities and older Tennesseans.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Tennessee mental health agency reports 988 usage, crisis diversion and school programs

Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging presents programs after July 2024 merger