N.C. DHHS' Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services (DMH/DD/SAS) has awarded funding to four projects to enhance mental health and substance abuse crisis services. Projects will receive $998,458 each year for the 2014-15 fiscal year and 2015-16 fiscal year. The funding is a combination of federal block grants and state appropriations.
These grants are awarded as part of the N.C. Crisis Solutions Initiative, a statewide effort under the leadership of DHHS Secretary Aldona Wos, M.D., to identify and implement the best known strategies for mental health and substance abuse crisis care while reducing avoidable visits to emergency departments.
“Our goal is to resolve the crisis quickly by ensuring individuals receive the treatment they need in a timely manner, and we can do that by focusing on community-based care, ” said Dr. Courtney Cantrell, Director of DMH/DD/SAS. “We are excited to offer funding for projects that are expected to significantly reduce use of emergency departments and inpatient care for individuals in a behavioral health crisis.”
The following projects will receive funding:
- Smoky Mountain Center in Asheville, with RHA Behavioral Health, will develop a 24-hour Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center to serve adults and children, and a co-located 16-bed crisis unit for adults. An array of outpatient services and other community supports will also be provided in a comprehensive care center.
- Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Solutions in Charlotte, with Monarch, will develop the state’s first 16-bed crisis facility for children and adolescents.
- CenterPoint Human Services in Winston-Salem, with Monarch, will develop a 24-hour Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center for adults and children, and a co-located 16-bed crisis unit for adults.
- Eastpointe in Lumberton, with Monarch, will renovate and expand an existing 11-bed facility, adding five beds while increasing safety and security measures for adults, and develop a co-located Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center.
Projects were selected because of comprehensive planning and contributions from Local Management Entities-Managed Care Organizations (LME-MCOs), providers and other community partners.
More information about the N.C. Crisis Solutions Initiative is available at http://crisissolutionsnc.org/(link is external).