| Support, Advocacy & Education for people with brain diseases & their families |
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| Budget Issues |
According to the 2nd Qtr 2010 Community Systems Progress Indicators
published by the NC Div. of MH/DD/SAS, Wake County served only 24% of
adults and 30% of children needing mental health services. Wake is the
lowest ranking among the state’s other mental health local managing entities
in this regard. This is in spite of the fact that Wake County is ranked 4th in
the state for the amount of funds per capita it contributes to the budget for
people with disabilities. Mecklenberg, Guildford, and Durham Counties
contribute more. Community mental health services are in dire need of
additional funding. This impacts not only people with disabilities but also
hospitals, the criminal justice system, and our communities. It may be time for
the County to take another look at whether it is providing a reasonable share
of the funding for these vital systems.
To make matters much worse, the NC General Assembly (NCGA) is going
through its budget process. The Governor has made efforts to restore some
funding to the broken mental health system. However, both the Senate and
House are taking the budget ax to that proposal. There are proposed serious
cuts to services to support people in the community--a service called
Community Support Team which, if passed, will virtually eliminate outreach
services for adults in the community. This will leave only Assertive Community
Treatment Team (ACTT) which, in my opinion, as implemented in NC is not
funded or delivered as the model evidence- based best practice. Where is the
promised support from the State to keep people stable in the community
rather than hospitals? Now, with approximately 50% fewer hospital beds than
when system transformation started in 2001 combined with inadequate
support in the community, our hospital emergency departments are filled with
people seeking help for mental illnesses. Cutting the budget further is
pushing more and more people to the brink. In addition, there are other cuts
that could be devastating to Medicaid recipients, such as the elimination of
dental care and personal care services.
The NCGA is moving quickly to pass a budget, so things are changing
daily. Your personal stories about the necessity of these services for you and
your family members make a difference to elected representatives. If you don’
t know who represents you, find out by logging onto the NCGA website: http:
//www.ncga.state.nc.us/. Send your representatives an email that clearly
states that you live and vote in their district. Then, tell them how much mental
health and/or Medicaid funding means to you personally. Or, give them a
call. Every personal contact matters. Take the time.
Submitted by Ann Akland, Advocacy Chair
published by the NC Div. of MH/DD/SAS, Wake County served only 24% of
adults and 30% of children needing mental health services. Wake is the
lowest ranking among the state’s other mental health local managing entities
in this regard. This is in spite of the fact that Wake County is ranked 4th in
the state for the amount of funds per capita it contributes to the budget for
people with disabilities. Mecklenberg, Guildford, and Durham Counties
contribute more. Community mental health services are in dire need of
additional funding. This impacts not only people with disabilities but also
hospitals, the criminal justice system, and our communities. It may be time for
the County to take another look at whether it is providing a reasonable share
of the funding for these vital systems.
To make matters much worse, the NC General Assembly (NCGA) is going
through its budget process. The Governor has made efforts to restore some
funding to the broken mental health system. However, both the Senate and
House are taking the budget ax to that proposal. There are proposed serious
cuts to services to support people in the community--a service called
Community Support Team which, if passed, will virtually eliminate outreach
services for adults in the community. This will leave only Assertive Community
Treatment Team (ACTT) which, in my opinion, as implemented in NC is not
funded or delivered as the model evidence- based best practice. Where is the
promised support from the State to keep people stable in the community
rather than hospitals? Now, with approximately 50% fewer hospital beds than
when system transformation started in 2001 combined with inadequate
support in the community, our hospital emergency departments are filled with
people seeking help for mental illnesses. Cutting the budget further is
pushing more and more people to the brink. In addition, there are other cuts
that could be devastating to Medicaid recipients, such as the elimination of
dental care and personal care services.
The NCGA is moving quickly to pass a budget, so things are changing
daily. Your personal stories about the necessity of these services for you and
your family members make a difference to elected representatives. If you don’
t know who represents you, find out by logging onto the NCGA website: http:
//www.ncga.state.nc.us/. Send your representatives an email that clearly
states that you live and vote in their district. Then, tell them how much mental
health and/or Medicaid funding means to you personally. Or, give them a
call. Every personal contact matters. Take the time.
Submitted by Ann Akland, Advocacy Chair