Forum on Geolocation for 988

May

2022

Forum on Geolocation for 988

9:30 am - 4:00 pm EDT

Online Only

In coordination with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the FCC convened this forum on the challenges and opportunities related to geolocation for 988, the three-digit number designated for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. This forum was presented by and included state and local stakeholders, suicide prevention and mental health experts and advocates, communications industry leaders, and technical experts. Stakeholders presented and participated on panels on a number of geolocation topics including 988 geolocation challenges, highlighting those on the front lines of suicide prevention and mental health crisis services. The forum also featured discussions by industry and technical experts on the technical challenges of transmitting location information with a call to 988 and possible solutions.

This event was open to the public via live feed from the FCC’s web page at www.fcc.gov/live. Audience members participated by emailing questions for the panelists to livequestions@fcc.gov. The forum moderators incorporated as many email questions as possible that were relevant to the panel.

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Agenda

9:30 AM
Welcome

Speakers:

Trent Harkrader, Chief of Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB), FCC
David Furth, Deputy Chief of Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB), FCC

9:40 AM
Opening Remarks

Speakers:

Jessica Rosenworcel, Chairwoman, FCC
Xavier Becerra, Secretary of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Steven Lieberman, Deputy Under Secretary for Health, Performing the Delegable Duties of Under Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

9:55 AM
Presentation: Location Information Evolution

Speaker:

David Furth, Deputy Chief, PSHSB, FCC

10:25 AM
Presentation: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline & Geolocation Needs

Speakers:

Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), HHS
Etan Raskas, Chief of Staff for 988 Team and Behavioral Health Crisis Coordinating Office, SAMHSA, HHS
James Wright, Chief of Crisis Center Operations, SAMHSA, HHS
John Draper, Executive Vice President, National Networks, Vibrant Emotional Health

11:00 AM
Break – 5 minutes

11:05 AM
Panel: 988 Frontline Challenges Without Geolocation

Moderator:

James Wright, SAMSHA, HHS

Panelists:

Dale Adair, Chief Psychiatric Officer and Medical Director, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
Bart Andrews, Chief Clinical Officer, Behavioral Health Response
Sandri Kramer, Director of Community Relations, Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services
Lisa Kearney, Executive Director, Veterans Crisis Line
Lora Ueland, Executive Director, Valley Communications Center, Regional 911 Center, Kent, Washington
Adam Wasserman, State Enhanced 911 Coordinator, Washington State Emergency Management Division, Washington Military Department

12:05 PM
Lunch Break – 30 minutes

12:35 PM
Remarks

Speakers:

Brendan Carr, Commissioner, FCC
Geoffrey Starks, Commissioner, FCC
Nathan Simington, Commissioner, FCC

12:50 PM
Presentation: Frontline Challenges Without Geolocation on Other Essential Services

Speakers:

Sara Kinsman, Director, Division of Child, Adolescent and Family Medicine, Health Resources and Services Administration
Michael Lynch, MD, FACMT, Medical Director, PA Dept. of Drug and Alcohol Programs; Medical Director, Pittsburgh Poison Center; Medical Director, UPMC Health Plan Substance Use Disorder Services; Director, UPMC Medical Toxicology Telemedicine Bridge Clinic; Associate Professor, Division of Medical Toxicology, Dept. of Emergency Medicine, Divisions of Adolescent and Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Dept. of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Julie A. Weber, RPh, CPSI, Director, Missouri Poison Center at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital; President, American Association of Poison Control Centers
Josh Pedersen, Interim Senior Director, 211, United Way Worldwide
Kristin McCloud, Executive Director, Pathways of Central Ohio

1:10 PM
Panel: 988 Consumer Considerations With Geolocation

Moderator:

Richard McKeon, Chief, Suicide Prevention Branch Center for Mental Health Services, SAMHSA, HHS

Panelists:

Shelby Rowe, Director, Suicide Prevention Resource Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
David Jobes, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Board of Directors and Chair of the National Public Policy Council
Keris Jän Myrick, Co-Director, The Mental Health Strategic Impact Initiative/ S2i
Madhuri Jha, Director, Kennedy-Satcher Center for Mental Health Equity, Satcher Health Leadership Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine
Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer, National Alliance on Mental Illness

2:10 PM
Presentation: 911/988 Interactions

Speakers:

April Heinze, 911 and PSAP Operations Director, NENA: The 911 Association
Brandon Abley, Director of Technology, NENA: The 911 Association

2:20 PM
Break – 5 minutes

2:25 PM
Remarks

Speaker:

Christen Linke Young, Deputy Director, White House Domestic Policy Council for Health and Veterans

2:30 PM
Presentation: Lifeline Technology and Location Data Usage – Current & Future

Speaker:

Grant Riewe, Chief Technology Officer, Vibrant Emotional Health

2:45 PM
Panel: Identifying Technical Challenges & Solutions

Moderators:

Heather Hendrickson, Deputy Chief of Competition Policy Division (CPD), WCB, FCC
Christi Shewman, Special Counsel, CPD, WCB, FCC

Panelists:

John Snapp, VP of Technology, Intrado Life and Safety
Kelly Springer, Director of Labs, Compliance Program, AT&T
Christopher Cox, Distinguished Engineer, Systems Engineering, Verizon
Rosemary Leist, Senior Numbering Policy Manager, Legal Government Affairs, T-Mobile USA, Inc.

3:45 PM
Wrap-up & Closing Remarks

Speakers:

James Wright, SAMHSA, HHS
Trent Harkrader, WCB, FCC
David Furth, PSHSB, FCC

3:55 PM
Adjourn

Emcee: Pam Arluk, Chief of CPD, WCB, FCC

Forum on Geolocation for 988