| |
|
Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW
Assistant Secretary for MH/DD/SUS
| | Hot Topics | October 6, 2026 | | |
Assistant Secretary Kelly Crosbie Joins Statewide Panel on
Mental Health in North Carolina
| North Carolina continues to see rising mental health needs, and this upcoming Triangle Business Journal event brings together leaders who are working every day to respond to these challenges. The event will take place Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. at The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary. | |
Kelly Crosbie, Assistant Secretary for MH/DD/SUS at NCDHHS, will join experts from UNC Health and Duke to share what they are seeing across the state. The panel will explore how statewide initiatives are addressing these trends and where work is headed next. Register today to be part of the conversation.
| | |
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the North Carolina Department of Information Technology has announced the launch of the Rural Health Innovation Fund. This statewide investment fund will distribute approximately $20 million per year for up to five years to help rural providers modernize their infrastructure, making it easier for them to care for patients and operate their practices.
Rural providers often face obstacles including more limited funding, fewer staff, and reduced access to the necessary technical infrastructure to keep pace with changing digital health care tools. Testing new solutions can be costly and risky for smaller providers. The Rural Health Innovation Fund will help providers identify, test, and implement digital solutions that strengthen their practices and support better care.
| | |
Mental Illness Awareness Week 2026
Supporting People Across the Mental Health Spectrum
| | |
Mental Illness Awareness Week offers an opportunity to recognize how people across North Carolina experience mental health challenges along a broad and shifting spectrum. Some navigate short-term stress or anxiety, while others manage longer lasting or more complex needs. This understanding reminds us that mental health is dynamic and that responsive, supportive care is essential in every community. Along this spectrum, mental health resources supported by DMH/DD/SUS include:
-
Youth-focused resources like Somethings and Talkspace offer practical tools, guidance, and connection during times when young people need support the most.
-
NAMI peer-led support groups provide supportive settings where lived experience guides understanding and encouragement.
-
Clubhouses promote social connection and daily routine, offering welcoming spaces for people with serious mental illness to build community, practice life skills, and strengthen recovery.
-
Crisis services guide people on who to call, where to go, and who will come to them during a crisis. This network offers timely help through mobile teams, 988 call centers, and walk-in sites.
-
Peer support services give people connections grounded in hope, and shared experience and mutual support.
-
Justice-related services, including LEAD and FACT teams, help stop the cycle of incarceration by connecting people to treatment, supports, and community-based care.
| | |
Strengthening Community Connections During
Hispanic Heritage Month
| |
Culturally rooted networks, including faith‑based groups and community organizations, play a vital role in promoting and strengthening mental wellness in Hispanic and Latinx communities. These connections reduce stigma, foster trust, and create supportive environments where individuals feel valued and understood.
To ensure people can access help when they need it most, DMHDDSUS offers several crisis options, including the 988 Lifeline with Spanish‑language support, mobile crisis teams, community crisis centers, the NC Peer Warmline, and a bilingual Crisis Services Toolkit. Our commitment to strengthening community connections continues year‑round, as we work to expand resources and support for all communities across North Carolina.
| |
Las redes con raíces culturales, incluidas los grupos religiosos y las organizaciones comunitarias, desempeñan un papel fundamental en promover y fortalecer el bienestar mental en las comunidades hispanas y latinx. Estas conexiones reducen el estigma, fomentan la confianza y crean entornos de apoyo donde las personas se sienten valoradas y comprendidas.
Para garantizar que las personas puedan acceder a ayuda cuando más la necesitan, DMHDDSUS ofrece varias opciones de crisis, incluida la Línea 988 con apoyo en español, equipos móviles de crisis, centros comunitarios de crisis, la Línea de Apoyo entre Pares de Carolina del Norte, y el Kit de Herramientas de Servicios de Crisis bilingüe. Nuestro compromiso de fortalecer las conexiones comunitarias continúa durante todo el año, mientras trabajamos para ampliar los recursos y el apoyo para todas las comunidades en Carolina del Norte.
| Justice-Involved Re-entry Services for Youth Returning Home | |
NC Medicaid and the Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention are working together to meet new federal requirements that help justice‑involved youth stay connected to essential services as they return home. Starting Nov. 1, 2026, these supports will begin at the state’s Youth Development Centers.
NC Medicaid has shared information for parents and a bulletin outlining the new services, which include screening, mental health support, and year-long re-entry care management. This work supports Governor Stein’s Executive Order #33, which calls for stronger mental health and justice systems and directs state agencies to ensure youth continue to receive mental health care after leaving juvenile facilities. Coordinated support during re‑entry helps youth stay healthy, reduces gaps in mental health care, and strengthens their chances for success at home and in school.
| | |
Learn More About What's Happening in
Your Community and at DMH/DD/SUS
| | |
Behavioral Health Springboard
NC Children with Complex Needs: Ask the Expert Series
| |
Behavioral Health Springboard, in partnership with DMH/DD/SUS, invites you to attend a two-part training series presented by Molly Hastings and Madeline Attianese of the Brain Injury Association of NC. The sessions will explore traumatic brain injury and the unique considerations for youth who are dually diagnosed with mental illness and intellectual and developmental disabilities. Participants will gain knowledge to better support these young people and their families.
Designed for behavioral health providers, medical and nursing professionals, LME/MCO staff, school personnel, child-serving agencies, and parents, this two-part training includes a 2-hour instructional session and a 1.5-hour Q&A session. Funded by DMH/DD/SUS as a project of the Children with Complex Needs statewide administration, the sessions are free to attend, but registration is required. Space is limited to 80 participants and early registration is encouraged.
Part One Date/Time: Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Part Two Date/Time: Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, 12:00-1:30 p.m.
Registration: Register for the training series
| Side by Side with DMH/DD/SUS: Strengthening North Carolina’s Mental Health and Substance Use Workforce | |
Join DMH/DD/SUS for the October Side by Side as we highlight key workforce updates, including loan repayment initiatives, the UNC School of Social Work Public Service Leadership Program, and a presentation from the UNC Sheps Center. This session will provide a comprehensive look at North Carolina’s mental health and substance use workforce, exploring the range of professions across the state, current training pathways, and how our state compares nationally.
Date/Time: Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Registration: Register for the webinar
More Information: Download the event flyer in English and Spanish
Closed Captioning and American Sign Language Interpreters will be provided.
| |
Introduction to Autism Diagnosis, Interventions, and
Supports in North Carolina
| |
Attend the final session of the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities webinar series on autism featuring clinicians, researchers, self advocates, and other experts who will share practical insights on diagnosis, interventions, and supports.
The webinar is designed to help families, professionals, and community partners better understand the path to an autism diagnosis and the wide range of available supports. Attend to learn more about autism resources and the experiences of autistic individuals and their families.
Date/Time: Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, 6:30-7:45 p.m.
Registration: Register for the webinar
| Inclusion Connects Advisory Committee Meeting | |
The Inclusion Connects Advisory Committee provides valuable feedback on how Inclusion Connects supports individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD). The committee reviews opportunities to enhance existing services and explores ideas for new programs that better serve this community.
Date/Time: Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, 11:00-12:00 p.m.
Registration: Register for the meeting
Closed-Captioning & American Sign Language Interpreters will be provided.
| Inclusion Works Community Advisory Committee Meeting | | |
Join Inclusion Works for an update on the progress of its programs and initiatives. This quarter's meeting will highlight advancements in the Inclusion Works Strategic Plan, standardized employment assessments, workforce deveopment, and provider innovation grants. Presenters will also share upcoming provider training opportunities and provide an overview of recent data insights.
Date/Time: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, 11:00-12:00 p.m.
Registration: Register for the meeting
Closed-Captioning & American Sign Language Interpreters will be provided.
| | |
Inclusion Works Lunch & Learn
Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month
| | |
Join Inclusion Works as we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month. We will highlight the progress made over the past year, including a look at Year One of the Inclusion Works Strategic Plan. You’ll learn about our goals for the year ahead and the steps we are taking to strengthen inclusive employment across the state. Most importantly, we will recognize and celebrate the work of North Carolinians who are advancing inclusion every day.
Date/Time: Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Registration: Register for the webinar
Closed Captioning and American Sign Language Interpreters will be provided.
| | Stay Connected - Get Involved | | Follow Us on Social Media | | | | |
