(CHCC-CGC) — As recovery efforts continue following Super Typhoon Sinlaku, the CHCC Community Guidance Center reminds the community that behavioral health support remains available through the 988 Behavioral Health Crisis Lifeline and ongoing outreach services throughout the CNMI.
The 988 Behavioral Health Crisis Lifeline has returned to its regular operating hours of Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All after hours calls are directed to the national hotline to ensure continuous access to support whenever needed. In addition to crisis response, 988 also serves as an access point for behavioral health support and outreach, where trained staff conduct wellness checks, assess needs, coordinate referrals, and connect individuals and families with appropriate services and resources to support recovery.
CGC remains committed to supporting typhoon survivors, frontline workers, older adults, families, children, and other vulnerable populations. Recovery is not only about rebuilding physical infrastructure — it is also about addressing the emotional and psychological impacts that disasters can leave behind.
Since the storm, CGC staff have conducted extensive behavioral health outreach efforts through shelters, aid distribution sites, home visits, and wellness check-in calls. These efforts have resulted in more than 1,300 community encounters, including 309 shelter encounters, 523 aid site encounters, 85 home visits, and 397 wellness and clinical check-in calls.
CGC has also completed 53 case management and care coordination efforts, facilitated 116 referrals and linkages to behavioral health services, connected 107 individuals to medical services, and linked residents to 364 community resources. In addition, more than 1,000 resources — including wellness kits and care packages — have been distributed to support individuals and families throughout the recovery process.
To further strengthen these ongoing efforts, CHCC-CGC has proactively submitted an application for the Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program as soon as it became available following the Presidential Major Disaster Declaration. The application is currently under review, and CHCC-CGC remains hopeful for a favorable decision that would allow the program to be activated locally.
If approved, the program would expand community-based outreach and emotional support services by providing additional education, coping skills support, resource referrals, and recovery assistance for individuals affected by the disaster. The program is also expected to create temporary employment opportunities for local residents serving as crisis counselors and outreach workers.
CHCC will continue to keep the community informed as updates become available regarding the status of the application and potential program implementation.
For more information you may contact the CHCC-CGC main office at Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at (670) 323-6560/1.
