Shaping Crisis Response Spotlight Series
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The National Association of Counties (NACo), in collaboration with The Pew Charitable Trusts and RAND, hosted a series of conversations with county leaders to understand the progress, challenges and lessons learned from 911/988 interoperability across various models, including embedded clinicians, call transfer and co-located response. This series will spotlight the work of five of the innovative counties shaping crisis response systems.
Douglas County, Kan.
- County Seat: Lawrence, Kan.
- Population: 118,785
Douglas County, Kan. exemplifies how investment in local systems and human service partnerships can streamline behavioral health care within communities.
Durham County, N.C.
- County Seat: Durham
- Population: 324,833
Durham County leverages a strategic partnership with the City of Durham to create a community-driven vision for public safety and crisis response.
Los Angeles County, Calif.
- County Seat: Los Angeles, Calif.
- Population: 10,014,009
Los Angeles (LA) County is the most populous county in the United States, with over 10 million residents, 70 public safety answering points (PSAP) centers and 80 law enforcement agencies, making the integration of 988 and 911 a challenge.
Travis County, Texas
- County Seat: Austin
- Population: 1,290,188
Travis County’s commitment to transforming behavioral health care into a readily available emergency resource is apparent the minute 911 dispatchers ask, “Are you calling for police, fire, EMS or mental health services?”
Pima County, Ariz.
- County Seat: Tucson, Ariz.
- Population: 1,043,433
Pima County serves as a leader in crisis response by becoming one of the first communities in the country to embed clinicians within their 911 operating system.
Webinar
Building and Supporting Comprehensive Behavioral Health Crisis Response Systems
In this panel discussion, experts and county leaders will discuss the role of 988 in building and supporting comprehensive behavioral health care systems.
Podcast: Counties fight social isolation
As awareness of social isolation spreads, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Loudoun County, Va. Chair Phyllis Randall discuss the role of government in combatting the problem.
NACo submits recommendations on the 2026 National Drug Control Strategy
On June 20, NACo submitted formal comments to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to help shape the development of its 2026 National Drug Control Strategy. This strategy serves as the nation’s blueprint for reducing illicit drug use, and the ONDCP plays a central role in coordinating federal drug policy across government agencies.
U.S. House of Representatives introduces legislation to expand Medicaid coverage for behavioral health treatment facilities
On June 20, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced the Increasing Behavioral Health Treatment Act in the U.S. House of Representative. This bill aims to improve access to behavioral health care nationwide by removing long-standing Medicaid funding restrictions for behavioral health treatment in certain facilities, providing new flexibility for states and counties to meet growing behavioral health needs.
U.S. House reintroduces legislation to address the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy with NACo support
Two bipartisan bills aimed at addressing the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP) were recently reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.
U.S. House of Representatives re-establishes Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus with NACo support
On May 7, members of the U.S. House of Representatives appointed new leadership to the Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus, reaffirming their commitment to addressing the nation’s mental health crisis through cross-party collaboration.
House passes SUPPORT Act reauthorization
On June 4, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025 (H.R. 2483) by a strong bipartisan vote of 366–57. The bill, which reauthorizes billions of dollars for critical programs that target overdose prevention, now heads to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, where a version of the bill was overwhelmingly advanced with bipartisan support in the 118th Congress.
Featured Initiative
NACo Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing
(2023-2024) Counties increasingly handle direct mental health service. NACo’s Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing developed reports and united county leaders to address the mental health crisis through key policy priorities.
