Hot Topics

Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW

Director, DMH/DD/SUS

Hot Topics | June 26, 2025

Governor Josh Stein Announces Western NC Homeowners Can Apply for Single-Family Housing Recovery Program

Governor Josh Stein announced the state is accepting applications for a new program to repair or rebuild homes in western North Carolina that were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Helene. The program is the first of a series of recovery initiatives to be offered by the North Carolina Commerce Department’s Division of Community Revitalization under the program name Renew NC.

The Renew NC programs are funded through a Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Of the total $1.4 billion in CDBG-DR funding that was allocated to the state for western North Carolina recovery needs, $807 million is allocated to the Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program.

Governor Stein encourages all low to moderate income homeowners in eligible counties whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Helene to see if they are eligible and apply for housing repair or reconstruction at the Renew NC website.

Navigating Mental Health NC Podcast

More Than A Game: How Sports Influence Kids’ Mental Health

The second episode of the “Navigating Mental Health North Carolina” podcast featuring DMH/DD/SUS Director Kelly Crosbie has been released and explores a subject most parents of athletes understand – the anxiety that can accompany competition. Sports can build confidence and teach resilience—but they can also bring pressure and stress.

In this episode, Director Crosbie and Host Meghan Kolb explore how parents and coaches can support the mental health of young athletes—on and off the field. The podcast series is a collaboration between NCDHHS and Sinclair Broadcasting.

Listen to Podcast

Inclusion Works

Competitive Integrated Employment

NCDHHS has programs available to help people with disabilities secure and maintain jobs in the community alongside their peers without disabilities. These are inclusive jobs that pay people with disabilities the same as they do those without disabilities. Competitive Integrated Employment is available to people who have Medicaid benefits.

DHHS works in collaboration with our internal and external partners to expand and promote CIE for people with disabilities. LME/MCOs, Tailored Care Managers, Provider Networks, Community Rehabilitation Programs, employers, and advisory councils all play a role in building the system of support for work in the community.

PTSD Awareness Month

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month is recognized in June and tomorrow, June 27, is PTSD Awareness Day. While many people experience traumatic events at some time during their lifetimes, posttraumatic stress disorder may develop when a person’s response to one or more traumatic events persists and causes significant distress or disruption to their daily life.

Veterans have higher rates of PTSD than the general U.S. adult population, which is at a rate of about 4%. In addition to expanding mental health services for all North Carolinians, DMH/DD/SUS is dedicated to increasing access to services for Service Members, Veterans and their Families. 

Resources include:

988 Lifeline: press 1 to reach Veterans Crisis Line. Call for support -- whether in crisis or not!
NC4Vets: find services for veterans
NCServes: coordinated care and resources for veterans

For more information about PTSD, visit the NAMI Posttraumatic Stress Disorder webpage.

Community Resources

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Community Engagement

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Community Events

Brain Injury Advisory Council Meeting

The purpose of the Brain Injury Advisory Council (BIAC) is to review the nature and cause of traumatic and other acquired brain injuries in North Carolina. The Council also makes recommendations to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services regarding the planning, development, funding, and implementation of a comprehensive statewide service delivery system to address the needs of brain injury survivors. Virtual and in-person attendance options are available. The public is invited to attend.

Date/Time: Thursday, July 10, 2025, 12:00-2:00 p.m.

Attend In-Person: Ashby Building, Conf. Rm. 115, 2104 Umstead Drive, Raleigh, NC

Attend Virtually: Join the Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 161 932 7605

i2i Center for Integrated Health Webinar Series

I/DD Perspectives: Top Medication Concerns

Medication meant to help can sometimes have adverse effects. Join Dr. Craig Escude and his guest, Nanette Wrobel, RPh, as they discuss commonly used medication in people with IDD and some of their side effects of which all supporters should be aware.

Date/Time: Thursday, July 10, 2025, 1:00-1:45 p.m.

Registration: Register for the webinar

Side by Side with DMH/DD/SUS

Increasing Access with Integrated Care

Join us to learn about policies and programs that affect the MH/IDD/SU/TBI community. Side by side, we will work together to better understand and improve our system. We will listen closely to one another, and we will share ideas for public policy that will improve lives in NC. This month's focus is on Integrated Care. We discuss Collaborative Care, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics and NC-PAL, a statewide Psychiatry Access Line.

Date/Time: Monday, July 14, 2025, 2:00-3:00 p.m.

Registration: Register for the webinar

English Flyer: Download flyer

Spanish Flyer: Download flyer

Closed-Captioning & American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters will be provided.

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 is made possible with support from NCDHHS and Blue Cross NC Foundation. It 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.

Submission Deadline: Friday, August 1, 2025

Notification of Acceptance: Friday, August 15, 2025

Submit a Poster Presentation: Complete Form

More Information: Email UCA Waves

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