Clear Pathways has released a new Crisis Response Brief that details our 9-1-1/9-8-8 Interoperability Strategy. This brief, “Clear Pathways’ 9-1-1—9-8-8 Interoperability Strategy,” is the first in a three-part series exploring the strategy, lessons learned, and recommendations.
Since 2022, Clear Pathways has developed and continuously refined an Interoperability Strategy focused on facilitating warm transfers from 9-1-1 to 9-8-8. By supporting 9-1-1 public safety answering (PSAPs) and 9-8-8 call center coordination, we are working to ensure that people experiencing behavioral health crises have a path to help across Ohio and the nation.
Our Interoperability Strategy began with a statewide scan of behavioral health call centers. We found that behavioral health call centers transferred calls to 9-1-1 but rarely received calls from 9-1-1. National evidence-based practices informed the strategy, centered on SAFECOM’s interoperability continuum principles.
In August 2023, we began a 12-month pilot of the Interoperability Strategy across 5 diverse Ohio sites. Each site included a PSAP, a 9-8-8 call center, and an Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health board (i.e., county or regional behavioral health authority). Sites co-developed criteria for transferring calls from 9-1-1 to 9-8-8. Mathematica evaluated the pilot and shared recommendations for improvements to future interoperability processes based on feedback and lessons learned from the five pilot sites.
The brief shares recommendations, strategy improvements, and anticipated benefits for communities working to improve interoperability. The following five recommendations were presented:
- Provide continued support and accountability.
- Enhance tailored support and interoperability goals.
- Prioritize peer learning and call center visits.
- Provide guidance on when and how to include other partners.
- Plan for a longer interoperability development time frame.
The publication is a valuable resource for communities working to integrate 9-8-8 with established emergency response systems. Subsequent briefs in the series will be released later this year.
The first brief will be discussed in detail at the upcoming Clear Pathways Lunch and Learn, “Clear Pathways’ 9-1-1 and 9-8-8 Interoperability Strategy,” scheduled for April 24, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. ET. This session will review the strategy and share insights from the pilot project that tested it. Attendees will hear from pilot participants sharing their firsthand experiences and lessons learned from pursuing 9-1-1/9-8-8 interoperability in their communities.
