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surprised at the comments. He said that there was something missing in terms of public perception. John Link said that he was in that group but that it was not necessarily critiquing the services themselves, but it was the case management and the coordination piece that needed more in depth work. Tom Maynard said that an issue across the State is how well services work together at the local level and whether or not mental health is connected to Social Services and Health Departments. He sees that the Board of County Commissioners is directly responsible for running the system in the new plan. One of the disagreements that OPC has with the State is the role of case management. OPC feels that if you strip the LME of case management, then you have no ability to do the job. There is not a need for duplicate managed care companies all over the State. He said that OPC's mission statement is to help people live normal lives in the community. He said that the LME has to have strong case management services and make sure that a system is in place to coordinate with other departments. Commissioner Brown said that she does not think that OPC can do all for the other counties but they could serve this County. She listed groups that she would like to see as a working group to keep them informed and see where we can integrate (Community Housing, Sheriff, Judge, Aging, Parks and Recreation, Social Services, Health Department, schools, and UNC Psychiatry). Tom Maynard agreed and said that what is the answer for Orange County may not be the same for Chatham County. Each county must have its own process for making sure that everything works within the counties. Commissioner Brown said that this should be something that Tom Maynard should be the head of. Tom Maynard said that the LME (Local Management Entity) is not the service provider, but the convener of a public process that works for the county that makes sure that the planning and feedback loop is very tight and responsive. He said that throughout the feedback that the major issues were affordable housing, jobs, respite care, and opportunities to be accepted in the community. He has heard that consumers do not want what OPC offers and they want more and different things. The consumers do like Club Nova. Commissioner Brown said that her understanding is that we are going to have people leaving hospitals and going into nursing homes. She said that the Nursing Home and Home Care Advisory Committees should be a part of this. Tom Maynard said that there was some information on nursing home placements. Commissioner Brown asked Tom Maynard how a committee like this could fit into what they have now. Tom Maynard said that it could help shape the plan of how to proceed to develop services. He thinks there should be a structure with ongoing investment and involvement from the consumers and advisory boards and other departments. In answer to a question from Commissioner Carey, Tom Maynard said that they would be purchasing services by a consumer basis and the development of a service plan is actually the commitment of public resources. John Link said that this group (consumers, advisory boards, departments) could examine what coordination issues we have now and see how they integrate cross- agency. He said that his point is that lots of groups are working and there is a theme from last night that one big issue is substance abuse. Chair Jacobs asked if the Consumer and Family Advisory Committee would be represented in this group. Tom Maynard said that one group that is mandated by law is the advisory board to the Board of County Commissioners that will be giving testimony.