HSAC Forum report 2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PCG FINANCIAL FINDINGS ♦ N.C.'s funding for mental.health and substance abuse services is higher than. .the national average The largest percentage of funding is going to support the four psychiatric hospitals ♦ Area program budgets for services and administration costs vary widely, Administration costs at area programs have been increasingly leaving less. funding. available for -:services at the local level Mental Health: It Affects All Ages In fact, "although a lot of money is involved, money by itself is not the answer." PCG recommends establishing a financing process for the basic benefits package, clearly defining target populations and services required by those populations. "Most of the resources necessary for the system's transformation should be achieved through State hospital savings and through the reconfiguration of current services, financial operations and administrative costs," according to the report's executive summary. PCG's study was expanded to include an assessment of the feasibility of establishing a separate division for developmental disabilities. They found that strong leadership is necessary at the state level and that the state should consider establishing a separate division, although further study is needed, especially at the local level. At the time of the study, the Office of the State Auditor recommended a five -year transition process and the establishment of a Blue Ribbon implementation commission. Insko said that a legislative oversight committee was established instead that would have statutory authority that would be ongoing. The to -be- appointed committee will have eight Senators and eight Representatives and will be called the `Joint Legislative Oversight Committee for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse.' She asked the audience to insist that we build community -based services before de- institutionalization. The next segment of the Forum consisted of a panel discussion whose members included: Tom Maynard, Director of Orange- Person - Chatham Mental Health Agency; Wendy Trueblood, Executive Director of the ARC of Orange County; Hudson Fuller, Acting Chair of the Family Violence Prevention Center of Orange County; Dan Blazer, professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; and mental health advocate and author Shirley Strolbul. (SP. ?) Maynard spoke in favor of the auditor's report. His view is that "the system is broken and needs fixing," and he agrees that there is not enough accountability in N.C.'s current system. He also supports reorganizing services at the county level, although he hopes the state recognizes that more resources are needed. However, locally, Maynard Some clipart 3