Close to 100 people face layoffs as Bloomingtons PATH loses state grant to run 988 suicide prevention call center [Video]

BLOOMINGTON (25News Now) – Board members for the PATH Crisis Center in Bloomington said they are “disappointed and deeply saddened” that it did not receive a $9.5 million grant to continue operating Illinois’ 988 suicide and crisis prevention call center.

Close to 100 PATH employees who staffed the call center will lose their jobs after state officials chose southern Illinois-based Centerstone to provide the service.

Choosing the grant recipient was a competitive process, and Centerstone was the highest scoring applicant, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) said in a statement released to 25News.

IDHS says its Division of Mental Health was in charge of the selection process, and “multiple people” were involved in scoring the applicants.

“Centerstone is a call center in other states, with extensive experience in the 988 system, and also serves as a national backup call center. They are also an established community mental health center in Illinois, providing mobile crisis response services and other behavioral health supports …