Cincinnati, OH – The Cincinnati Emergency Communications Center (ECC) is participating in the Ohio cohort of Clear Pathways' 911-988 Interoperability Technical Assistance Project, a national initiative designed to strengthen coordination between 911 public safety answering points (PSAPs) and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. 

ECC is one of five PSAPs in Ohio selected for the project, which aims to improve collaboration between local 911 centers and 988 providers, ensuring individuals experiencing mental health, substance use, or emotional crises are connected to the most appropriate resources as quickly and safely as possible. The project will help participating agencies develop and enhance protocols for transferring eligible callers from 911 to 988, while improving communication and coordination between emergency communications professionals and crisis specialists. 

The ECC already utilizes a protocol-based call-taking system that helps telecommunicators determine the most appropriate response for each caller. Through this partnership with Clear Pathways, the agency will further refine its procedures to better identify situations in which callers may benefit from specialized support through the 988 crisis lifeline. 

"We're excited to get started with our next cohort of communities. They will help us learn more about what it takes to connect people with the right care at the right time, and we look forward to contributing to their 911-988 partnerships," said Cal Jenkins, MS, Assistant Director of Research and Systems Innovation at Clear Pathways. 

"Our partnership with Clear Pathways and Talbert House represents an important step in ensuring people in crisis receive the most appropriate level of care," said Interim ECC Director Karli Piper. "By strengthening connections between 911 and 988, we can better support those experiencing behavioral health crises while still delivering the most appropriate emergency response resources for every situation." 

While 911 telecommunicators are trained to handle a wide range of emergency and crisis situations while coordinating rapid emergency response, 988 crisis counselors specialize in providing support for mental health, emotional, and substance use crises. In circumstances where a caller can be safely assisted without a 911 response, transferring the caller to 988 can provide access to specialized care while allowing 911 call-takers and emergency responders to remain available for other urgent public safety needs. 

ECC's mission has remained constant over the past 95 years, delivering the best emergency telecommunications services for the City of Cincinnati. This initiative with Clear Pathways continues that mission, equipping call takers with another resource to serve callers in need.