This report is provided in response to Session Law 2008-107 (House Bill 2436), Section 10.15(f).

The report summarizes the service gaps and priorities identified by the Division of Mental Health,

Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services (MH/DD/SAS), the Local Management

Entities (LMEs), Consumer and Family Advisory Committees, NC Institute of Medicine task forces, and

MH/DD/SA advocacy groups. The service gaps and needs that these stakeholders identified fall into six

themes:

• 
  Long Term Supports for Independence and Recovery, including emergency services, affordable medications, primary healthcare, housing, employment, and other supports for community living
• 
  Quality and Accountability, including comprehensive assessments, the use of evidence-based practices, performance tracking, and efficient data systems
• 
  Workforce Development, including provider trainings in core and specialty areas, especially from consumers’ and families’ perspectives, and residency rotations in substance abuse and developmental disabilities
• 
  Expansion of Services, particularly for rural areas, trauma-informed care, dual disability services, and community inpatient services
• Services for Vulnerable Populations, including deaf persons, persons undergoing transitions, high-risk youth, homeless persons, and persons with chronic illnesses or justice system involvement
• Leadership and System Management, including State and local disability-specific specialists, inter-agency collaboration and cooperation, use of effective funding policies, and support for consumers’ participation in policy decisions

The Department has taken into consideration these identified needs, recent efforts in these areas, 2009 legislative requirements, the current economic situation, and the State’s long-term goals for the MH/DD/SA service system in developing its immediate priorities. The priorities of the Department for the MH/DD/SA service system are to:

• 
  improve the quality and stability of the service system,
• 
  maximize use of existing resources, and
• 
  protect critical core services, including crisis services.

Two new initiatives are currently underway to address these goals, while continuing to move the system forward in the areas identified in this report by the LMEs and other stakeholders.

• 
  Expansion of Medicaid Waivers 1915 (b) and (c)
• 
  Critical Access Behavioral Health Agencies

These initiatives, along with other initiatives to address legislative requirements and the needs identified by stakeholders, are described in the last section of the report. Detailed recommendations from each group are presented in a set of Appendices, which are included. Read More