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Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW
Director, DMH/DD/SUS
| | Hot Topics | September 2, 2025 | | New App to Find WNC Resources | | |
Our Hope4NC teams have been introduced to a new application that connects people to resources that will help them rebuild after Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact. The Project Your Home App, available on the Apple App and Google Play stores, offers a comprehensive resource list that directs people to emergency shelters, law enforcement, food and water resources, construction materials and other community support assets, such as our Hope4NC mental health services.
The Project Your Home App is provided by the Project Your Home organization whose mission is to provide immediate housing solutions for displaced families as well as offering resources and assistance to help families navigate recovery.
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UNC FIT Wellness Clinic Establishes
Psychiatric Residency Program
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UNC has established the first residency program for its high-impact Formerly Incarcerated Transition (FIT) Wellness Clinics. Thanks to recent investments by NCDHHS, the program is now training medical residents in its whole-person approach and building capacity for more psychiatrists to offer such services in the future.
The three FIT Wellness programs are funded by DMH/DD/SUS and are among 29 reentry programs across the state that the division supports. They all help coordinate care for people rejoining the community after incarceration to ensure successful integration and long-term recovery. They are a part of the North Carolina Formerly Incarcerated Transition (FIT) Program in the UNC School of Medicine, designed to improve reentry services for the justice-involved population.
FIT Wellness delivers psychiatric and physical health care services along with connections to community supports such as housing, transportation and other resources for people released from the state prison system and jails who have serious mental health needs. FIT Wellness also provides patient with phones, phone minutes, Uber rides to clinics, and connection to peer support. And they cover their medication and copay fees at the clinics.
In Wake County, one psychiatry resident has already completed the residency program and two others began in July. The residency program is projected to start in Chapel Hill and New Hanover in the next financial year.
UNC Fit Clinics currently serve Orange, Durham, Wake and New Hanover counties. DMH/DD/SUS plans to expand FIT Wellness Clinics to additional counties in the coming fiscal year and supports psychiatry residencies as part of the workforce development priority in its five-year strategic plan.
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Launches
National Recovery Month Campaign
| | The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs launched its National Recovery Month campaign, “This Version of Me” on September 1, 2025. Hear real Veterans tell their stories about what made the difference in their mental health journeys and how it changed their daily lives. Raise awareness of the mental health challenges Veterans may face after service and the treatments available to help them thrive by downloading and sharing resources for Veterans, their loved ones, and the general public. | | | Whether a Veteran is looking to take the next step — or the first step — on their path to a healthier life, together we can let them know that mental health treatment works, and recovery is possible. This September, we urge you to share this valuable online resource with the Veterans in your community. | | Learn More About What's Happening in Your Community | | | |
Mental Health Transformation Alliance
Medicaid is Changing —What Does it Mean for You?
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Across North Carolina, families are facing big changes to Medicaid—and we know you have questions. That’s why we’re hosting a free virtual information session to help you understand what’s changing, how it may affect your family, and where to turn for support. This session is designed for families, self-advocates, caregivers, providers, foster, adoptive, and kinship caregivers—especially those supporting loved ones with disabilities across the lifespan. Your voice matters. Be part of the conversation.
What to Expect:
- Clear explanation of upcoming Medicaid changes
- Insights on how these changes may impact families and caregivers
- An open Q&A with a panel of experts, including:
- Ann Rodriguez, Executive Director, i2i Center for Integrative Health
- Corye Dunn, Director of Public Policy, Disability Rights NC
- Talley Wells, Executive Director, NC Council on Developmental Disabilities
Date/Time: Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Registration: Register for the webinar
| | Benchmarks’ Public/Private Behavioral Health Forum | | |
Join Benchmarks for a must-attend event open to all and buzzing with excitement. The morning session begins with Benchmarks President and CEO, Karen McLeod, along side Jay Ludlam from NC Medicaid and Kelly Crosbie from DMH/DD/SUS.
Together they will unpack the latest trends and updates in behavioral health. Topics will include Federal and State Medicaid updates, standard plans, tailored plans, the Healthy Opportunities status, Children & Families Specialty Plan, and other Medicaid Waiver updates. The afternoon session brings a dynamic panel featuring experts from across the NCDHHS divisions, diving into clinical policy, substance use, intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health, facility licensure and more.
Date/Time: Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, 10:30- 2:30 p.m.
Location: The Royal Banquet & Conference Center, 3801 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC
Registration: Register for the forum
| | Side by Side with DMH/DD/SUS Sept. Focus - Transforming Rural Health: NCDHHS Discusses New Federal Funding | | |
Join NCDHHS leaders for a panel discussion about the Rural Health Transformation Program – a new funding opportunity to improve access to hospitals and strengthen mental health and substance use treatment in rural communities.
Hosted by DMH/DD/SUS Director Kelly Crosbie, this month's Side By Side webinar will educate the public about the new program while seeking community input that will shape North Carolina’s application for these federal funds.
Date/Time: Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Registration: Register for the webinar
Download Event Flyer: English | Spanish
Closed-Captioning & American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters will be provided.
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Get ready to ignite your future with a day of employment resources and networking. This event will connect individuals with I/DD and their families to employment training, resources, and support services through:
- Benefits counseling sessions
- Direct employer connections
- Resource information (Project Spark, VR, DMH/DD/SUS, Assistive Technology, etc.)
- Peer testimonials and success stories
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Project Spark was created by NCDHHS Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities to help people with I/DD explore, prepare for, get and keep a job in their community. Don't miss this opportunity to ignite your potential and spark your success!
Date/Time: Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, 9:00-4:00 p.m.
Location: Carolina Pines Community Center, 2305 Lake Wheeler Road, Raleigh, NC
Registration: Register for the event
More Information: Download event flyer
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Inclusion Connects DSP Appreciation Week Webinar
Celebrating the Heart of Care
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Join Inclusion Connects as we celebrate the work of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). DSPs are the caring people who help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities live better, more independent lives. In this webinar, you’ll hear real stories from DSPs as they talk about why this work matters and how it changes lives.
If you are a DSP and work with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, we want to hear from you! Submit a survey to tell us why this work matters to you.
Date/Time: Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, 1:00-1:45 p.m.
Registration: Register for the webinar
| | Stay Connected - Get Involved | | | | |
