This 60 min webinar will discuss implementation of the 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the Native and Strong Lifeline in Washington State.

ABOUT THIS EVENT

Please join us for an informative and interactive discussion as we hear about efforts in Washington State to support implementing the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline as well as the first Native and Strong Lifeline in the country.  Learn and share ideas to support the workforce, lessons in implementation and current resources. 

Washington State Representative Tina Orwall will describe passing legislation to improve the state’s suicide and behavioral health crisis response system implementing 988, which is strengthening Washington’s behavioral health crisis system. You will hear what is currently in progress as well a continuing vision to strengthen the crisis response system in Washington State, and hear what is happening locally and nationally.

Presenters Lucilla Mendoza (WA Health Care Authority) and Rochelle Williams (Volunteers of America Western Washington) will describe the recently launched Native and Strong Lifeline which is the Nation's first crisis line dedicated to serving American Indian and Alaska Native communities and is staffed by Native crisis counselors.

Related Resources from the MHTTC Network

• 988 Special Edition Newsletter from the Northwest MHTTC
• Document: A Guide to 988: America's Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline
• Recorded Webinar: 988 National Crisis Number - A Tribal Outreach Approach
• Recorded Webinar: 988 Suicide and Crisis Care Transformation

Additional Resources

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
• Article: House passes Orwall’s 988 lifeline for suicide prevention and crisis response
• Article: Nation’s first Native and Strong Lifeline Launches as Part of 988
• Article: Washington State’s 988 Legislation Includes a 988 Tribal Crisis Line
• Washington Indian Behavioral Health Hub and Native & Strong Lifeline Information

SPEAKERS

Tina Orwall, MSW

Washington State Representative, 33rd District

Tina has represented the 33rd district since 2009. Tina has worked with all levels of government to help embrace best practices to better serve the community. Her 20 years of experience working in the public mental health system, as well as her expertise in strategic planning in workforce development and affordable housing have established her as a valued legislator and community leader. See her full bio.

Lucilla Mendoza, MSW, CPP

Lucilla works with the Washington State Health Care Authority as a Tribal Behavioral Health Administrator in Tribal Affairs, which provides support and communication with tribes and tribal-related organizations for American Indian and Alaska Native health care. Lucilla is involved in a myriad of Tribal activities, meetings and collaborations with organizations like Volunteers of America Western Washington, the Tribal Centric Behavioral Health Advisory Board, the American Indian Health Commission, the Washington State Department of Health, the Tribal 988 Crisis Response Improvement Strategy Subcommittee, the Washington Monthly Tribal Meeting, and the American Indian and Alaska Native Opioid Response Workgroup.

Vicki Lowe

Vicki Lowe, Executive Director of the American Indian Health Commission for Washington State (AIHC) since July 2015, is a Jamestown S’Klallam descendant. She has also worked in the Health Department of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe since December of 1996. Through their Purchased and Referred Care (PRC) Program, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe purchased insurance for their Tribal Members without access to any other coverage since 1995. Ms. Lowe has seen this program through many changes in the private insurance world as well as Medicare and Medicaid.  She participated on the Basic Health Sponsorship Workgroup, negotiated a Tribal Member only plan with a commercial carrier, initiated contracting with commercial carriers at the Jamestown Family Health Clinic, participated in the creation and implementation of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe Employee Plan, a self-funded plan, worked with Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’s newly created Human Resources Department to review and update benefits for the employee’s plans - benefits including Life, AD&D and LTD, Long Term Care Coverage, Self-Funded Worker’s Compensation and Wellness benefits. She also worked on implementation of the Indian provisions of the Affordable Care Act into the Employee Benefits and PRC programs. 

Rochelle Williams, MS

Rochelle is the Tribal Operations Manager with Volunteers of America Western Washington. She is an enrolled member of the Ehattesaht First Nation and a descendant of the Tulalip Tribes. Rochelle helps run the recently-launched 988 Native and Strong Lifeline as well as the Washington Indian Behavioral Health Hub, a central resource point for those affiliated with the Native American and Alaska Native Communities.