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Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW
Director, DMH/DD/SUS
| | Hot Topics | July 1, 2025 | | Crisis Jam Webinar Series Features DMH/DD/SUS Director | | |
DMH/DD/SUS Director Kelly Crosbie and the Division’s Crisis Services leadership showcased North Carolina’s 988 and Peer Warmline on the virtual show, 988 Crisis Jam in June.
988 Crisis Jam is a virtual gathering of people who are interested in improving the 988 mental health and suicide prevention line and is sponsored by the National Association of State Mental Health Directors and SAMHSA. These events bring together experts, practitioners, and stakeholders to discuss best practices, share information, and collaborate on solutions.
| | | Integration of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and the NC Peer Warmline ensures individuals receive the most appropriate type of support for their needs, rather than a one-size-fits-all solution. It creates a tiered support model, improving flow and resource allocation across the behavioral health system. It also reduces unnecessary hospitalizations and law enforcement involvement, aligning with best practices in trauma-informed care. | | |
The DMHDDSUS Strategic Plan Dashboard that measures progress towards the goals of the 2024-2029 Strategic Plan has been updated to include the latest available data. The Strategic Plan was released in September 2024 and describes the Division’s mission, vision, guiding principles, and key priorities.
The dashboard identifies how we track outcomes and measures the impact of each of the Strategic Plan priorities. All priority areas include at least one measure that has been updated to include the latest data. There will be another refresh in October 2025. A new measure has been added: Length of Stay for children in Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs). As part of our commitment to open communication, we regularly track the Strategic Plan’s progress with the data reflected on the dashboard.
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NC Medicaid Strengthens North Carolina
Help Protect NC Medicaid
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Congress is considering proposals that could take health coverage away from 650,000+ working North Carolinians overnight. When employees are uninsured, they miss more work, are less productive and employers pay more.
NC Medicaid provides affordable health coverage to 1 in 4 North Carolinians - that’s access to doctors and prescriptions for more than 3 million children, older adults, people with disabilities and working adults. It’s also access to comprehensive healthcare that includes mental health and substance use care.”
| | | Visit the North Carolina Alliance for Health website for resources to share with your networks. Together, we can help spread the word about how access to affordable health coverage strengthens North Carolina and why it’s important to protect NC Medicaid. | | How 1915(i) Services Can Help You | | 1915(i) – It's an unusual name for some key services. These are Medicaid services for people with mental health and substance use diagnoses, intellectual or developmental disabilities or traumatic brain injuries. These services can support you in your home and community and help you live a fulfilling life in your own surroundings. If you or someone you know needs these services, contact your Medicaid Tailored Plan to see if you qualify. | | |
Geriatric Adult Specialty Team is Now
Health Education and Aging Resource Team
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DMH/DD/SUS has rebranded the Geriatric Adult Specialty Team (GAST) to Health Education and Aging Resource Team (HEART) effective July 1, 2025. The HEART program provides training and consultative services to staff that work with people aged 55 and older with mental health and/or substance use issues. Trainings are provided at no cost to priority community agencies, long-term care facilities and organizations that work with identified populations. As the aging population continues to grow in the state of North Carolina, HEART services have expanded to support many community-based programs and caregivers.
HEART trainings are provided throughout the state by HEART team members from your local Tailored Plans and/or designated agencies. The trainings offer staff and caregivers opportunities to expand skills to better support older adults with mental health and/or substance use issues. To request trainings or learn more about the HEART program in your area, please visit Partners, Therapeutic Alternatives and Vaya Health websites.
| | Learn More About What's Happening in Your Community | | | Inclusion Works Community Meeting | |
Join Inclusion Works for an update on the progress of Inclusion Works' programs and initiatives. This meeting is held quarterly on the third Tuesday of the month and is open to the public.
Date/Time: Tuesday, July 15, 2025, 11:00-12:00 p.m.
Registration: Register for the meeting
Closed-Captioning & American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters will be provided.
| NCDHHS Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities - Celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the ADA | |
This July marks the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the landmark civil rights law that ensures equal access and opportunity for people with disabilities. In honor of this historic milestone, the Division of Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities invites you to an interesting and interactive Windmills Disability Awareness Training session, along with personal stories about the impact of the ADA on the lives of people who call North Carolina home.
Date/Time: Tuesday, July 15, 2025, 11:00-12:00 p.m.
Registration: Register for the webinar
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NCDHHS 35th American Disabilities Act Anniversary Celebration
Fulfilling the Promise of Access and Opportunity
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July 26 marks the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a civil rights law that promotes equal opportunity for people with disabilities. To commemorate the occasion, NCDHHS will host a celebration: “Fulfilling the Promise of Access and Opportunity” that will feature an array of speakers to discuss how the ADA continues to be a guiding light for all North Carolinians.
Date/Time: Thursday, July 24, 2025, 10:00-12:00 p.m.
Location: NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, 109 East Jones St, Raleigh, NC
Registration: Register by July 14
Closed-Captioning & American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters will be provided.
| | i2i Winter Conference – Call for Presentations | | |
The i2i Center for Integrative Health is now accepting proposals for its Winter Conference, scheduled for January 13-15, 2026 in Winston-Salem. Presenters will have the opportunity to share innovative ideas on whole person care, value-based care, and technology in Medicaid managed and integrated care with more than 800 participants.
Deadline to Submit: July 30, 2025
Location: Benton Convention Center, 301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC
More Information: Call for Presentations
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UCA WAVES Youth Mental Health Collaborative
Call for Poster Presentations
| | The UCA WAVES Youth Mental Health Collaborative invites youth, students, educators, researchers, and community leaders to submit abstracts for poster presentations at the 2025 Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Youth Mental Health Conference. Submissions may include scientific research, art-based work, or community projects that explore, understand, and improve mental well-being for AAPI youth and their families. | |
| The conference will be held at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh on September 27, 2025 and will feature DMH/DD/SUS Director Kelly Crosbie as the Keynote Speaker. The conference will also premiere the film, Silent War: Asian American Reckoning with Mental Health, a powerful documentary exploring the mental health crisis facing Asian Americans and the stories too often left untold. | | | |
Submission Deadline: Friday, August 1, 2025
Notification of Acceptance: Friday, August 15, 2025
Submit a Poster Presentation: Complete Form
More Information: Email UCA Waves
| | Stay Connected - Get Involved | | | | |
