ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced Howard County Government will immediately provide $260,000 in emergency funding to the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center to address an emergency budget gap resulting from the loss of federal government contract funding as a designated National Back-Up Center for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (988 Lifeline) (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). This funding will ensure Grassroots’ Crisis Center doors remain open by helping cover overhead costs, including rent, for the remainder of the fiscal year, while Grassroots develops a long-term stabilization plan. Photos of the event can be found on the Howard County Government’s Flickr website.
Grassroots Crisis Intervention is a critical part of Howard County’s behavioral health safety net, providing lifesaving crisis services to residents when they are at their most vulnerable. When federal contracting decisions undermine the resources available to organizations like Grassroots, the consequences are felt right here in our community, not just by the dedicated professionals who lose their jobs, but by the people who rely on 988 and other crisis services when they need help the most.
On Monday, August 3rd, Vibrant Emotional Health, the nonprofit administrator of the 988 Lifeline for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, informed Grassroots it had not been selected to continue as a designated 988 Lifeline National Back-Up Center. Grassroots has served as a National Back-Up Center since 2022. In this role, Grassroots responds to national 988 chats and texts when call volumes are high and local centers are not able to respond in a timely manner, ensuring that individuals in crisis receive a quick response. During the time that Grassroots has served as a National Back-Up Center, its staff of 62 dedicated professions, including crisis counselors, supervisors, program managers, and navigators have answered more than 140,000 chats and texts, saving countless lives and helping individuals of all ages through some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
Moreover, Grassroots has continuously met and exceeded all quality-related performance metrics since becoming a National Back-Up Center. In fact, one of the hallmarks of Grassroots' tenure as a National Back-Up Center has been its consistent and high-quality improvement (QI) ratings of 85 percent each quarter, well above the 70 percent minimum, with 100 percent of its staff meeting the 70 percent or higher overall average QI score, and answer times averaging nine to 10 seconds. Grassroots has maintained this high level of quality service through staff training, regular supervision, real time chat monitoring, chat transcript review, and a dedicated quality assurance team.
Grassroots is extremely grateful for County Executive Calvin Ball's impactful contribution of $260,000 to support our operating expenses for FY27 following the discontinuation of our 988 National Back Up Call Central contract. This helps assure that the doors of our crisis center can remain open for all who need crucial crisis, mental health, substance use, suicide prevention and homeless services in Howard County and Central Maryland. Grassroots has been a vital part of our community for 56 years, and we are so fortunate to have the support of partners like County Executive Ball, as well as our many elected officials, donors and volunteers. We remain committed to our neighbors and ensuring that no one has to go through crisis alone.
This contract accounts for $5.7 million of Grassroots’ annual program revenue. In addition to the employment impacts on the 62 staff of the National Back-Up Center, the loss of this funding has resulted in an immediate budget gap for the organization, causing Grassroots not to have enough funding currently to cover its expenses. This includes covering its rent for its Crisis Center, where Grassroots operates its 24-hour hotline and provides free, 24-hour walk-in crisis services, substance use program, Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, Mobile Crisis Team, intake for homeless services, and 24-hour food and hygiene pantry.
As a result, Grassroots will be forced to lay off its National Back-Up Center employees effective Tuesday, September 29th. Grassroots will use the emergency funds provided by the County to stabilize the organization and ensure that the Crisis Center remains open while Grassroots develops a long-term sustainability plan.
While this loss of federal funding will mean that Grassroots will no longer serve as a National Back-Up Center of 988 Lifeline, Grassroots will continue to serve as a 988 Lifeline local crisis center for residents of Howard County and Central Maryland. There will not be an impact to crisis services for Howard County residents and community members who call 988 when they experience a crisis. Grassroots will continue to operate their local 988 response and crisis services.
In Fiscal Year 2027, the County provided $1,890,792 in Community Service Partnership Program grant funding to Grassroots to support its services and core operations, representing a five percent increase from the previous fiscal year.
Affected Employee Assistance
During his press conference, Ball announced steps Grassroots and the County’s Office of Workforce Development (OWD) are taking to assistance affected employees. Internally, Grassroots will work with affected employees who wish to apply for open positions within the organization, such as its 988 local crisis center operations.
In turn, OWD will coordinate with the Maryland Department of Labor, Maryland Health Connection, and Grassroots to provide Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Rapid Response services and additional local workforce support, including job assistance and career counseling services, to affected employees. This includes coordinating employee information sessions, on-site or virtually, to help affected workers understand their options and connect to services before and after separation. These sessions will include information about:
- Unemployment Insurance – Maryland Department of Labor information on filing, eligibility, and the claims process;
- Health Coverage – Maryland Health Connection information about coverage options that may be available following loss of employer-sponsored insurance, including enrollment assistance;
- Workforce Services – OWD information on career counseling, job-search assistance, resumes, interviewing, job matching, labor-market information, training, and supportive services;
- WIOA Dislocated Worker Services – Screening for eligibility and connection to individualized career and training services for eligible workers; and
- Employment Opportunities – Information about current job openings and employers seeking workers with relevant skills and experience. OWD will provide a direct point of contact for employees who want to move from the group session into individualized services.
"No one should have to navigate unemployment insurance, health coverage, and a job search all at once and on their own," said Stephanie Adibe, Administrator, OWD. "We are bringing the Maryland Department of Labor, Maryland Health Connection, and our own career services together in one place, and every employee will have a direct point of contact who can support them with individualized help. We will ensure that all affected employees have access to career counseling, job matching, training, and supportive services during this difficult time."
About Grassroots
A private, non-profit 501(c)3 charitable organization serving Howard County and Central Maryland, Grassroots was founded in 1969. In its nearly six decades, Grassroots has evolved from an all-volunteer organization to a professionally staffed multi-service crisis intervention center. The organization is funded by the County, State and Federal Grants, private foundations, and contributions from individuals, community groups, the faith community, and local businesses.
Grassroots provides free 24-hour crisis intervention, mental health, substance use disorder, housing support, and suicide prevention services. This includes a free crisis hotline, responses to 988 calls/chats/texts (Maryland and nationally), a free 24-hour substance use disorder stabilization program, a family and individual emergency shelter, and Howard County’s Mobile Crisis Response.
Last fiscal year, 1,546 individuals walked into Grassroots’ crisis center. Since moving to its new location at 8990 Old Annapolis Road, Suite A in Columbia, Grassroots has seen a significant increase in the demand for its services, especially from those in mental health and homelessness crises. In addition, 50 percent of individuals who walk into its center are also experiencing food insecurity and receive items from the food pantry.
To learn more about Grassroots and how you can support this organization, visit https://grassrootscrisis.org/.