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Sedgwick County seeks state 988 operational grant; staff say center answered more than 10,000 calls since 2022
Summary
County staff briefed commissioners on a KDADS-funded 988 operational grant that would help fund supervisors and call specialists for the local crisis line. Staff said the center has handled more than 10,000 calls since July 2022 and that 988 calls make up about 8% of the county's crisis workload.
Sedgwick County staff informed commissioners they plan to submit a state operational grant to support the county’s 988 lifeline operations, reporting that the local call center has answered more than 10,000 calls since the service began in July 2022.
Why it matters: The operational grant would fund supervisors and call specialists who operate the local 988 line and support mobile crisis response. Staff said the state fiscal note for the grant is about $1,157,124. Commissioners asked about staffing levels and call volume as part of the briefing.
County staff said the grant would help cover the supervisor and the call specialists assigned to 988. A staff member identified as John told commissioners the call center includes eight full-time and five part-time specialists plus a supervisor, about 10.5 full-time equivalent positions. John said the program has answered “over 10,000 calls since it initiated in July 2022.”
Commissioner questions focused on whether the grant carries a local match and how 988 call volume compares to other crisis calls. Staff said the grant does not cover the full cost of mobile crisis response and that other grant funding is being sought for that activity. The staff member said 988 calls account for roughly 8% of the county’s crisis calls; the bulk of crisis calls still come through the local crisis number.
Joan, another county staff member who had circulated backup materials, told the commission the grant covers positions that answer the 988 lifeline and that the county also fields local crisis calls through a separate line. Commissioners requested additional operational data, including recent call-volume trends, to inform any local budget decisions.
Less-critical details: staff noted one embedded 911 worker appears in a separate grant and is not counted in this 988 grant application.
Staff will include the 988 operational grant in the consent agenda for the upcoming BOCC meeting and supply requested follow-up figures on call volume and staffing.
