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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: February 20, 2007 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. <br />SUBJECT: OPC Area Director Update on Local Mental Health Reform <br />DEPARTMENT: County Manager's Office PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Update Outline <br />INFORMATION CONTACT <br />Gwen Harvey, Asst Co. Mgr, 245 -2307 <br />Judy Truitt, OPC/LME Director, <br />913-4037 <br />PURPOSE: To receive an update from the OPC Area Program Director on local impacts, <br />progress achieved, and future prospects under statewide Mental Health Reform. <br />BACKGROUND: The Orange Person Chatham (OPC) Area Program is a recognized leader in <br />the development of state of the art services and best practices to support citizens with <br />disabilities. Its primary mission is to work in partnership with individuals with disabilities so that <br />they may live full and productive lives in the community. <br />In response to "State Plan 2002: Blueprint for Change", OPC Board and staff prepared and <br />submitted for approval a Local Business Plan outlining policies and processes for <br />governance/management, provider network development, service management, access to care, <br />service monitoring/oversight, financial management/accountability, information systems/data <br />management, and community collaboration. The 2002 Local Business Plan is currently being <br />updated per directive of the Mental Health/Substance Abuse/Developmental Disability section of <br />the NC Department of Human Services. A revised Plan will be presented to the OPC Area <br />Board and each of the three counties for approval during the month of March. <br />Under statewide reform and in accordance with the 2002 Plan, OPC has divested itself of most <br />direct service delivery in the three county catchment area. OPC has redirected its mission to <br />more of tactical and strategic planning leadership in a challenging and complex fiscal <br />environment. The BOCC has remained a staunch ally in the struggle to maintain a safety net for <br />the most vulnerable populations - evidence its one-time bridge funding to supplement the <br />transition of programs such as Club Nova, KidsCope, and Cross Disability Services. The BOCC, <br />along with its Chatham and Person counterparts, has also stepped forward in the previous fiscal