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Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW
Assistant Secretary for MH/DD/SUS
| | Hot Topics | June 9, 2026 | | |
Painting the Path Forward
Kids Personalize Ukeru Pads as Program Advances
| | In a North Carolina facility providing mental health care, youth are painting colorful designs on pads used in an innovative de-escalation program called “Ukeru.” The facility is participating in North Carolina’s two‑year pilot program in 22 Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities operated by seven provider agencies in North Carolina. | | | Ukeru, meaning “to receive” in Japanese, is a restraint-free crisis intervention approach that replaces seclusion with comfort focused de‑escalation using padded shields. Supported by an $835 million statewide mental health investment, the pilot includes trainer certification and a curriculum centered on brain development, trauma, communication, conflict resolution, de‑escalation strategies, and protective physical skills. | | | The children’s creative designs on the pads highlight their engagement and support the program’s focus on empowerment, emotional regulation, and reducing the use of restrictive interventions. Together, these efforts are helping create safer, more compassionate environments that honor each child’s dignity and support their healing. | | |
Enhancing Residential Care Environments to
Support Healing and Belonging
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DMH/DD/SUS is advancing a broad effort to strengthen the system of mental health care for youth, with a focus on community care in the least restrictive settings. As part of this work, the division is investing in upgrades for youth residential treatment centers that support safe, trauma-informed treatment in facilities that feel warm, home-like, and inviting. These improvements are intended to foster comfort, promote healing, and reinforce a sense of belonging for children and youth in care.
A total of $3.8 million has been allocated to 33 facility improvement projects, representing practical and relatively simple enhancements that make an immediate difference in daily living conditions. Investments include new furniture, essential facility repairs, improved security and fencing, the creation of sensory spaces, and upgrades to recreation and outdoor areas.
| | | While modest in scope, these projects are an important step within a larger systemwide commitment to strengthening youth mental health care and ensuring that every child receives support in an environment designed for safety, stability, and well-being. | |
NCDHHS is seeking public comment on the proposed Social Services Block Grant Plan, which outlines how $76 million in federal funds will be used to support programs such as adoption, counseling, foster care, adult protective services, housing, and other critical human services in the 2026–27 fiscal year.
The draft plan is available online through the NCDHHS Division of Social Services website and all county DSS websites. Comments must be submitted in writing by June 24, 2026, and a public hearing will be held that same day at 9 a.m. via online webinar and conference call. To participate, please register in advance.
| Hurricane Season Has Begun | |
With the 2026 hurricane season now underway (June 1 through Nov. 30), NCDHHS urges residents to review their emergency plans and refresh disaster supply kits. Make sure your family knows how to communicate, where to meet, and what to do if evacuations are ordered.
Keep important documents secure and accessible, and stay tuned to local weather updates. Prepare your home by trimming trees, clearing gutters, securing outdoor items, and protecting windows before storms approach. Find more preparedness tips and resources at ReadyNC.gov.
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Learn More About What's Happening in
Your Community and at DMH/DD/SUS
| | State Consumer and Family Advisory Committee Meeting | |
The State Consumer and Family Advisory Committee (SCFAC) advises NCDHHS and the General Assembly on the planning and management of DMH/DD/SUS. Meetings include updates from state agencies, discussions on current issues impacting services, and opportunities for public comment.
The monthly meeting brings together individuals with lived experience of mental health, developmental disabilities, substance use, and traumatic brain injury, as well as family members and advocates, to provide input and guidance in shaping policy and identifying service gaps. All SCFAC meetings are open to the public. Virtual and in-person attendance options are available.
Date/Time: Wednesday, June 10, 2026, 9:00-3:00 p.m.
Location: NCDHHS,1915 Health Services Way, Raleigh, NC
Registration: Register for the meeting
Public Comment: Sign up for public comment
More Information: Download meeting agenda
| Opioid and Prescription Drug Abuse Advisory Committee Meeting | | |
Join DMH/DD/SUS for the quarterly Opioid and Prescription Drug Abuse Advisory Committee (OPDAAC) meeting. The session will feature expert presentations and panel discussions on advancing the priorities of the NC Opioid and Substance Use Action Plan. Attendees can engage with leading subject matter experts, connect with peers and gain new perspectives through focused dialogue. This is a quarterly meeting, and the public is invited to attend.
Date/Time: Friday, June 12, 2026, 9:30-12:00 p.m.
Registration: Register for the meeting
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The Hispanic Federation and NCDHHS will host an open forum to gather community perspectives on Medicaid, SNAP, mental health services, disability programs, and other key supports. The event will provide an opportunity to share experiences, learn about recent program changes, and discuss needs within immigrant and refugee communities.
Date/Time: Friday, June 12, 2026, 9:30-5:00 p.m.
Location: Drakeford Library Complex, 203 South Greensboro Street, Carrboro, NC
Registration: Register for the event
More Information: Download the event flyers in English and Spanish
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Tarang Webinar: Caring with Compassion For
Your Loved Ones and Yourself
| | Dementia rates are rising in Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, and more than half of AAPI adults are providing care for an older family member. Join Tarang for a culturally centered conversation about what brain disease looks like in AAPI communities and how its effects show up in daily life. Participants will learn supportive strategies for caring for loved ones while also protecting their own mental well‑being. | | | |
Inclusion Works Lunch and Learn
School to Work Transition Services for Youth with I/DD
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Join Inclusion Works to learn about best practices to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) on their path to achieving Competitive Integrated Employment. This month's Lunch and Learn focuses on the transition from school to work.
Inclusion Works is excited to welcome Stephanie Haynes from the Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities (EIPD) for an informative session on how transition services support youth with I/DD as they move from school-based services into the workplace and greater independence. She will share helpful information, practical insights, and resources for understanding this important stage of planning and support. Whether you are a self-advocate, family member, educator, provider, employer, or community partner, this session will offer valuable information on creating smoother, more successful pathways to employment.
Date/Time: Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Registration: Register for the webinar
Closed-Captioning & American Sign Language Interpreters will be provided.
| | Permanent Supportive Housing and Targeting Program Webinar | | |
Join Inclusion Connects for an informative webinar on Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) and the Targeting Program, led by Angela Harper King, Housing Specialist at DMH/DD/SUS, and Detra Purcell, Section Chief of Housing and Homelessness at the Division of Aging.
This session will provide an overview of PSH, including its key benefits and its role as a best-practice housing model for people with disabilities and those who are homeless. Presenters will also outline the vital role housing specialists play within LME/MCOs and explain how the Targeting Program can support referrals for people with I/DD. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of how these coordinated efforts help expand stable, community‑based housing opportunities.
Date/Time: Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Registration: Register for the webinar
Closed-Captioning and American Sign Language Interpreters will be provided.
| | NC Medicaid 1115 Waiver Virtual Forum | | |
In accordance with federal requirements, NC Medicaid will host its annual virtual forum on the 1115 Waiver. The forum will provide updates on the implementation of the 1115 Waiver and include an opportunity for participants to ask questions. In December 2024, North Carolina received federal approval to renew its Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waiver for another five-year period. The waiver aims to improve health and well-being for all North Carolinians through a whole-person, well-coordinated system of care that addresses both medical and non-medical drivers of health and advance health access.
Date/Time: Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Registration: Register for the forum
| | Stay Connected - Get Involved | | | | |
