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Board approves three case managers for 988 crisis line; $222,000 allocated for FY2025
Summary
Johnson County commissioners authorized three full‑time case manager positions funded by a state contract to staff 988 crisis-line services, approving up to $222,000 in FY2025 reserves for partial‑year costs.
The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a request April 24 to add three full‑time case manager positions for the 988 national suicide prevention lifeline and to reallocate up to $222,000 from county reserves for fiscal year 2025 to pay the partial‑year costs.
Tanner Fortney, speaking for the Johnson County Mental Health Center, told commissioners that calls, texts and chats routed to local crisis services already number in the tens of thousands and that expanding case management will help provide timely responses and follow‑up. Fortney confirmed the funding for the three positions comes from a state of Kansas contract with community mental health centers.
During public comment, Leo Kyatt raised concerns about county legal communications and broader system issues; Charlotte O'Hara asked the board to note that the $222,000 number represents only salaries for part of the year and that benefits can add roughly 30 percent to employee cost. Fortney and county staff clarified the FY2025 figure covers roughly nine months of funding because the positions will begin partway through the year and that benefits are included in the total cost for the positions.
Commissioner Becky Fast asked whether text and chat services are handled by humans or automated tools; Fortney said the county uses a combination of clinicians and case managers on text and chat and does not rely on artificial‑intelligence bots for clinical response. Commissioner Ashcraft noted the state currently supports 988 with a $10 million general fund line item and that there is not a Kansas cell‑phone fee dedicated for 988 at this time.
Commissioner Hanslick moved approval; Commissioner Fast seconded. The roll call was unanimous (Commissioners Fast, Myers, Brewer, Hanslick, Ashcraft and Chair Mike Kelly voting aye). The authorization directs the mental health center to hire three case managers and return any required reporting to the board.
