Solari Crisis and Human Services briefs Senate panel on 988, 211 and mobile crisis work in Arizona

Justin Chase, CEO of Solari Crisis and Human Services, gave a wide-ranging briefing to the Arizona State Senate Health and Human Services Committee on the nonprofit's statewide crisis and social-support operations.

Chase told the panel that Solari operates the state's 24/7 crisis hotline and 988 operations, a 24-hour peer-run warm line, the 211 information-and-referral service, a housing-crisis hotline, a domestic-violence support line, and the Be Connected Veterans Support Line. He said the organization dispatches more than 5,000 mobile crisis teams per month statewide and provides virtual case management and seasonal heat-relief transportation to cooling centers.

The presentation included usage and outcome figures. Chase said Solari handled about 518,000 crisis-line calls last year; diverted almost 11,000 calls from 911 and PSAP operations; the domestic-violence line received more than 35,000 calls; the warm line took about 156 calls; and 211 handled more than 522,000 calls. He also described a flexible housing-fund program that he said steers short-term payments to prevent eviction, and reported a 90% housing retention rate six to nine months after engagement for those served with flex funds.

Why this matters: Committee members heard the briefing as part of the committee's early-session orientation to providers and programs that intersect with the state's behavioral-health, emergency-response and social-service systems. Solari's description of 988 operations, 911 diversion and mobile crisis response outlined how calls that once went to emergency responders are now being routed to behavioral-health teams.

Chase highlighted coordination across health plans and state agencies and said Solari publishes a public dashboard that is updated daily and covers 30-day performance metrics. He emphasized prevention and upstream engagement, saying many crisis calls reflect underlying social needs such as housing, food and utilities and that 211 and crisis services overlap in callers' needs.

Committee members did not request significant follow-up during the presentation. Chair Karen Warner opened the item and moved the agenda forward to the subsequent bill hearings after Chase's remarks.

The presentation did not result in formal committee action; it was received for information.

The committee will consider related statutory or budget items later in the session if members decide to pursue changes to crisis funding or system design.