By: Community Contributed
N.C.DHHS’s Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services (DMH/DD/SAS) has awarded funding for 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.C., to identify and implement the best known strategies for mental health and substance 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.”
One of the grants is to 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.
Eastpointe provides service to Bladen County.
Other projects receiving grants are in Asheville, Charlotte and Winston-Salem.
Projects were selected because of comprehensive planning and contributions from Local-Management Entities-Managed Care Organizations (LME-MCOs), providers and other community partners.
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