Hot Topics

Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW

Director, DMH/DD/SUS

Hot Topics | June 12, 2025

New Crisis to Care Public Service Announcements

It's Okay to Need Support - Whatever Your Crisis, There are Options

As part of the NCDHHS new Crisis to Care Communications Campaign designed to increase awareness for crisis services available to North Carolinians, new public service announcements (PSAs) are now being aired across the state. These real-life testimonials feature the message research finds is needed the most for people experiencing a crisis: “You are not alone” and “Support when you need it the most.”

The Crisis to Care Bilingual Toolkit also includes:

A flyer that uses person-centered language to highlight the system, with a focus on all entry points (i.e., hotline numbers, behavioral health urgent cares, facility-based crisis centers and mobile crisis teams)
A newsletter template you can use to distribute crisis service information to the communities you work with 
Social media graphics and post copy that provide clear, accessible information on available services

Inclusion Connects Success Story Surveys

Share Your Story!

Inclusion Connects is excited to announce two new survey tools, now available on the Inclusion Connects website. Designed to celebrate the success of people with I/DD and the contributions of providers, it offers a chance to offer important insight and advice to others considering moving to the community.

There are two surveys - one for service recipients and one for service providers. The first survey focuses on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who have moved from an institution to a community setting. The second survey focuses on providers who have supported these moves and work to support people with I/DD every day.

If you’re someone who fits into one of these two categories, please visit the Inclusion Connects Community Living webpage to learn more and share your success story today!

NC-STeP's MOTHeRS Project Receives National Recognition

DMH/DD/SUS is proud to share that the Maternal Outreach Through Telehealth for Rural Sites (MOTHeRS) Project, part of the North Carolina Statewide Telepsychiatry Program (NC-STeP), has received the 2025 Psychiatric Services Achievement Award from the American Psychiatric Association. This prestigious honor recognizes innovative programs that improve services for individuals with mental illness or disabilities.

The MOTHeRS Project brings multidisciplinary telehealth services—including psychiatry, maternal-fetal medicine, nutrition, and diabetes care—into rural obstetric clinics. By reducing travel burdens, expanding access to care, and addressing social needs like food insecurity, the project has supported over 2,500 patient visits and saved families more than 414,000 miles of travel. Congratulations to NC-STeP for this national recognition of their commitment to advancing maternal and mental health in rural communities!

Community Resources

Dashboards/Reporting :

Community Engagement

Learn More About What's Happening in Your Community

Community Events

North Carolina Higher Education Consortium

Collegiate Substance Use Statewide Summit

Dr. Angela Maxwell, Substance Use Prevention Grant Manager for DMH/DD/SUS will be a keynote speaker for this year's summit focused on the power of peer education. Dr. Maxwell will discuss the importance of continuing primary substance use prevention with college students, since early college is a vulnerable period with increased risk for substance use and behavioral health challenges. The summit is designed for leaders in the field of collegiate alcohol and other drugs. It is free of charge and there are virtual and in-person attendance options.

Date/Time: Friday, June 13, 2025, 9:00-3:30 p.m.

In-Person Location: Elon University, 50 Campus Drive, Elon, NC

Registration: Register for the summit

Hope Mission of Coastal Carolina

Peers on the Beach Kick-Off Event

You are invited to attend the second annual Peers on the Beach event. Special guest speakers include Senator Bob Brinson and Carteret County Sheriff Buck. The public is invited to attend and the event is free. The purpose of the “Peers on the Beach” campaign is to destigmatize substance use addiction and mental illness and provide immediate access to peer support resources.

Following the event, on every Friday afternoon throughout the summer, Peer Support Specialists will visit Atlantic Beach to exchange with beach guests about the recovery resources available through Hope Mission of Coastal Carolina. They will also provide a resource table set up every Friday afternoon at Fort Macon.

Date/Time: Friday, June 13, 2025, 10:30 a.m.

Location: Fort Macon State Park, 2303 E Fort Macon Rd, Atlantic Beach, NC

More Information: Download the event flyer

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 the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services. The meeting is open to the public.

Date/Time: Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 9:00-3:00 p.m.

Registration: Register for the meeting

More Information: Download the meeting agenda

Inclusion Works Lunch & Learn Series

Inclusion at Work: A Conversation with Employers

Join Inclusion Works to learn about best practices to support individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Traumatic Brain Injury on their path to achieving Competitive Integrated Employment.

This month's Lunch & Learn will feature a panel discussion led by Work Together NC. Employers from around the state will share thoughts and insights from their experiences in hiring individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

Date/Time: Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 12:00-1:00 p.m.

Registration: Register for the Lunch & Learn

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

Stay Connected - Get Involved

Stay Connected and Get Involved with the work happening at DMH/DD/SUS!

Attend our Side by Side Webinars

View as Webpage