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3w ago

L.A. County Moves to Restore 988 ‘Press 3’ LGBTQ+ Youth Line With Local Pilot

The board authorized a pilot that still requires outside approvals before callers can reach specialized counselors.

LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn gestures about a pilot program to reinstate the Press 3 Option on the crisis support 988 line for LA County voters, with co-author Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, right, and Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez next to Horvath. They were part of a rally held in downtown L.A. on Tuesday, Dec. 9, to support the motions to create an LGBTQ+ option through 988, and to support bills in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. (photo by Steve Scauzillo/SCNG)

Overview

  • Supervisors unanimously directed the Department of Mental Health to design an L.A. County–specific pilot and pursue federal sign-off to reinstate the dedicated option.
  • Launching the pilot hinges on a formal request from California’s Health and Human Services Agency, federal approval, technical routing by 988 administrator Vibrant, and county contracting and funding for providers.
  • A county-led review found that more than 14% of 5.1 million 988 callers used the LGBTQ+ ‘press 3’ route in the year before it was eliminated.
  • SAMHSA defended removing the dedicated routing by saying services should not be siloed and that the lifeline should focus on serving all callers.
  • Separately, the 988 LGBTQ+ Youth Access Act from Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi would require specialized services and reserve at least 9% of lifeline funds, and it is pending in the House Energy and Commerce Committee.