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Division details block-grant priorities, highlights first-episode psychosis clinics and crisis investments
Summary
Director Kelly Crosby outlined how the federal mental health block grant will fund first-episode psychosis clinics, crisis services (including peer warm lines and co-responder models) and treatment investments such as anti-stigma work and family support RFAs; UNC Charlotte will continue program management for FEP clinics and the division reported expansion from five to six sites.
Kelly Crosby, director of the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services, summarized the division's planned use of federal mental health block grant funds and highlighted first-episode psychosis (FEP) coordinated specialty care clinics and crisis investments.
Crosby said the federal Mental Health Block Grant requires states to cover first-episode psychosis programs, crisis services and mental-health treatment and that the division is using block grant funds alongside state investments to expand access to evidence-based services.
On first-episode psychosis, Crosby said UNC Charlotte helps manage statewide program quality and that the division is expanding from five established clinics to a sixth site opening in Burnsville. She described multi-year outcome data presented to the webinar showing substantial improvements in employment, school participation and social functioning among program participants: "Year over year... the vast majority of people in first-episode psychosis programs now live a life resilient in recovery, go to work, go to school," Crosby said.
Crosby also described crisis investments supported by block-grant and state dollars: peer warm lines, peer respites and refuges, co-responder models that pair behavioral-health professionals with law enforcement responses, and the 'Hope for NC' line for disasters such as hurricanes.
On treatment investments, Crosby said the division plans an anti-stigma campaign, an easier-to-search service locator (referred to on the slide as 'findcare' or similar), family-and-sibling support RFAs, expanded peer certification and scholarships, and veteran-focused initiatives. She also referenced a recently released broad treatment RFA that drew 46 applicants.
Crosby closed by noting unfinished items (especially additional IDD detail) and promising follow-up on the child-and-family specialty plan in coordination with Medicaid.
Next steps: the division will continue to manage and report block-grant-funded program implementation, expand FEP clinic access and share detailed information about the child-and-family specialty plan as it becomes available from Medicaid coordination.
