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nanrT f <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />Resolution Calling for <br />Re-Determination of Statewide Mental Health Reform <br />WHEREAS, Mental Health Reform began in North Carolina in 2001 with the <br />passage of Mouse Bill 381 and the idea that the mentally ill would begin receiving <br />care in their home communities rather than in the State's four psychiatric <br />hospitals; and <br />WHEREAS, the State convened county commissioners and county managers in <br />early 2002 to outline the process of systemic change and introduce a "new and <br />different" partnership far addressing mutual concerns, associated costs and the <br />expansion of community capacity; and <br />WHEREAS, North Carolina counties have labored since under the assumption <br />that true collaboration would arise, and organizational sensitivity, administrative <br />flexibility, and fiscal support would be extended given the magnitude of change <br />being wrought throughout the mental health service delivery system; and <br />WHEREAS, County governments have met with a dizzying array of technical <br />memoranda, conflicting communiques, restrictive rulings, executive edicts, <br />inappropriate support for unprecedented cost shifting from the State to the <br />cotnties, and troublesome verbiage that further confuse or anger local authorities <br />and damage abilities to satisfactorily respond; and <br />WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of Commissioners are deeply dismayed <br />by a series of missteps and decisions patently de-stabilizing -not in the best <br />interest of consumers, their families and advocates, or a fragile network of <br />community providers; and <br />WHEREAS, the Department of Health and Human Services may at last be <br />awakening to the dire circumstances given the recent report in the News and <br />Observer that "When asked whether the department needed consultant's help, <br />Moseley (Mike Moseley, Division Head, Mental Health/Developmental <br />Disability/Substance Abuse Services] threw up his hands.'; <br />NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of <br />Commissioners calls on its legislative delegation to lead the charge for a <br />comprehensive re-evaluation and re-determination of the course of statewide <br />Mental Health Reform, and a solid commitment by the State to find the means to <br />adequately fund the local administrative infrastructure and build the community <br />capacity needed to genuinely ensure consumer access and quality care. <br />This the 18~h day of April 2006. <br />Barry Jacobs, Chair <br />Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />