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13 <br /> Background <br /> Initiated by the Orange County Health Department to determine the barriers professionals face <br /> as they seek to refer county residents aged 0-25 to mental health and substance abuse <br /> treatment services. <br /> ➢ Youth hospitalization records from 2009-2015 indicate: <br /> o Increase in mental health visits due to psychoactive substance abuse. From <br /> 27% to 31% <br /> o Increase in 0-25 mental health visits as a proportion of all mental health visits. <br /> From 18% to 24% <br /> Research Methodology <br /> ■ 10 informational interviews with prominent figures in the mental health community <br /> ■ 150 individuals surveyed based in the fields of healthcare, social services, criminal <br /> justice, behavioral therapy, K-12 education, and others <br /> Barriers to Accessing Treatment <br /> The most common barriers for Orange County residents aged 0-25 who need mental health <br /> and/or substance abuse treatment services were: <br /> ➢ Affordability: Many low-income residents either do not have insurance or find their <br /> coverage inadequately covers these services <br /> o High deductibles, few sliding scale/pro bono options, low maximum number of <br /> appointments <br /> ➢ Accessibility: Based on a variety of factors, all of which result in barriers to access <br /> o Citizenship status, language/cultural, location, type of condition, where/how to <br /> find care, transportation <br /> Phase 2: Focus groups <br /> January 2017 <br /> Purpose & Format <br /> Health department hosted 39 survey participants at a session to strategize three overarching <br /> priorities for improving the mental health system in FY 2017-18. <br /> Feedback <br /> The majority of focus group participants were in favor of increasing the capacity for three <br /> overarching priorities: <br /> 1. Restore funding for mental health services for birth to age 5 <br /> th <br /> 2. Provide greater in-school mental health services in K-12 grade (e.g. external, licensed <br /> providers who can bill for insurance and Medicaid in the schools) <br /> 3. Improve community's ability to access services (e.g., know: who to call, what number to <br /> call, when to call) <br /> Next Steps <br /> ➢ Mental Health Program Coordinator to work on priorities 1&2 (to be requested with the <br /> FY 17-18 Budget process) <br /> ➢ National Grant with UNC to address priority#3 <br /> ➢ Look for ways to use MH MOE funds to address priorities <br /> Commissioner McKee said he wanted to mention the Maintenance of Effort (MOE) <br /> money, and the coordination with Cardinal Innovations. He said in some areas the allocation of <br />