Executive Summary–LifeSpring Health SystemsLifeSpring is the state designated Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) operating in eleven southern Indiana counties. LifeSpring is accredited by the Joint Commission and its program are licensed, certified or approved by the Indiana Division of Mental Health and AddictionServices. LifeSpring maintains offices in all eleven counties, with the main campus located inJeffersonville. LifeSpring provides mental health and substance abuse services and offers a comprehensive array of behavioral health services that include education, prevention, information, assessment, intervention, and treatment.

We provide integrated care services (primary and behavioral health care) to individuals at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and the homeless population regardless of their ability to pay. In 2015, LifeSpring was awarded FQHC status and opened their first FQHC site inJeffersonville at the Integrated Treatment Center. FQHCs provide comprehensive primary healthcare services in medically underserved areas and populations. Today LifeSpring operates11 FQHC clinics across our catchment area offering primary care services, in addition to mental and behavioral services; as well as two mobile health clinics, which allows for convenient access to general medical care, nutrition services, laboratory services, and more. In 2021, school-basedFQHC clinics were added at New Albany High School in New Albany and Bradie Shrum Elementary School in Salem.

In 2020, LifeSpring was awarded federal funding to transform clinic locations in Floyd andHarrison County into a Certified Community Behavioral Health Center (CCBHC). Through various programs and initiatives, similar to CCBHC, LifeSpring works directly with partners in our community to address the many needs of its citizens and their mental care needs.To enhance our behavioral health services and continue serving individuals, and reduce barriers to access, LifeSpring proposes a training and development project to implement a crisis callcenter. Crisis call lines are utilized across the country to increase accessibility to services and decrease the stigma of reaching out for help. Calls could range from basic information and referral needs, to crisis counseling and de-escalation of severe distress, to an “active rescue”where two staff may be required to locate a caller at imminent risk of suicide or harm, coordinate emergency services and transportation, support the caller, and follow-up to ensure safety.

The overarching goal of a crisis call line is aimed at reducing an individuals’ crisis states, psychological distress, and risk of suicide. LifeSpring’s efforts will also include enhancing access and facilitating connections to behavioral health care and the services available in the Clark,Floyd, and Harrison counties. In order to address the variability and proper assessment of calls,LifeSpring will train five paraprofessionals on crisis interventions, other potential interventions, and the utilization of an established model of call flow that includes establishing rapport with the caller, asking about immediate risk of suicide, listening to the caller’s story, collaborating with them on a safety plan, and offering follow-up as needed.

These funds will enable LifeSpring to meet the community need as a resource for both local and potential 988 calls, by receiving and processing initial calls that will be triaged and may be routed to the CCBHC Mobile Crisis Response team. The crisis call center will help current LifeSpring clients and residents of Clark, Floyd and Harrison counties that may have a potential for a crisis find an alternative and accessible pathway to treatment and reduce the possible gap in crisis call and response services for our area.