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Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW
Director, DMH/DD/SUS
| | Hot Topics | August 5, 2025 | | The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced a first-of-its-kind partnership with Talkspace last week, a virtual counseling platform now available for free to justice-impacted teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 in North Carolina. Informational flyers and a one-pager are available to increase awareness of this new service. | | | |
The Talkspace partnership is a part of an effort to expand services for individuals in the justice system, with a focus on increasing quality and consistency of behavioral health programs for youth. The two-year program will serve as many as 20,000 youth impacted by the legal system, including those who may have personally been detained/court-involved, have lived experience as victims of crime or are otherwise identified as at risk (for example, having incarcerated members of family).
Teenagers who download the app or go to the website will be put in contact with a trained clinician who can be matched by age, culture, gender, etc. The platform offers 24/7 text, audio and video access and self-guided activities. Those participating may immediately access Talkspace services using a referral keyword provided by court counselors, case managers or other community partners such as local Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils and other youth advocacy groups. Participation is voluntary and will not be court-ordered.
This initiative is part of NCDHHS’ mission to improve access to mental health care for all North Carolinians and is funded by the $835 million dollar investment from the General Assembly that focuses on mental health transformation.
| | DMH/DD/SUS Kelly Crosbie and Crisis Services Lead Brittany Jones joined NAMI NC and leaders of Sharing Hope for “The Impact of Culturally Relevant Conversations on Minority Mental Health,” a discussion of the need to end stigma around mental health in Black and African communities. NAMI designed Sharing Hope as a safe space for conversation on mental health and wellness, including the impacts of racism. Three-part community conversations are grounded in sharing sacred stories and guided dialogue. | |
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Brittany presented data and interventions strategies around black youth suicide prevention in North Carolina. The Black Youth Suicide Prevention Action Plan, called Stronger Together, was developed this year and is the first of its kind in the history of NC DHHS. Strategies target 17 counties where Black youth suicide rates are the highest in the state. Goals include giving youth a forum for effecting change, training youth on the crisis system and resources that expand the peer support network, supporting conference planning, developing initiatives that benefit youth in targeted communities, and supporting the mental health workforce pipeline.
On September 20, 2025, DMH/DD/SUS will co-host The Stronger Together Conference, a one-day, interactive experience designed to offer healing and support to Black Youth and Young Adult Wellness. Centered on cultural connection, creative expression, and community care, the event brings together youth, young adults, and advocates for a day of learning, healing, and community building. The free conference will be held in Rocky Mount, NC and is open to the public. Attendees are asked to register in advance.
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NAMI State of Mental Health in North Carolina Town Hall
Features Director Crosbie and Other State Leaders
| | DMH/DD/SUS Director Kelly Crosbie joined other key government and medical officials at the NAMI State of Mental Health in North Carolina town hall last week. Speakers discussed upcoming legislation affecting mental health, mental health priorities in state policy, and future planning for programs including re-entry and school mental health. | | | Update: Immigration Status and Eligibility for NC Medicaid | | |
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) wants to keep informed as we continue to monitor new rules and how they impact individuals and families in North Carolina.
Information shared with NC Medicaid is private. NC Medicaid has not been asked to give any data to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE). However, all states must share Medicaid data with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS is the group that runs Medicaid for the whole country. CMS shares this data with other federal groups because of federal laws.
What NC Medicaid knows:
- NC Medicaid knows about the report that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) might receive data on people enrolled in Medicaid, like home addresses and ethnicities.
- NC Medicaid uses immigration and citizenship information to determine if people are eligible for Medicaid and to follow state and federal rules.
- NC Medicaid must share information about people enrolled in Medicaid with the federal agencies such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
- NC Medicaid does not share information about people who are not enrolled in Medicaid with the federal government, including information about parents/guardians of Medicaid members who do not themselves receive Medicaid coverage.
- NC Medicaid cannot ensure that the federal government has not shared personal information with immigration authorities or will not share it in the future.
If you have questions about immigration activities or enforcement, please talk to an immigration expert. For more information, visit the Immigration Status and Eligibility for NC Medicaid webpage.
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i2i Winter Conference – Call for Presentations
Deadline Extended to August 6
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The i2i Center for Integrative Health is accepting proposals through August 6 for its Winter Conference. The event is 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 Proposal: Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 by 5:00 p.m.
Submit a Proposal: Complete Form
More Information: Visit the i2i Center for Integrative Health Website
| | State Consumer and Family Advisory Committee Meeting | | |
The State Consumer and Family Advisory Committee (SCFAC) meeting brings together individuals with lived experience of mental health, developmental disabilities, substance use, and traumatic brain injury (MH/DD/SU/TBI), as well as family members and advocates, to provide input and guidance in shaping policy and identifying service gaps.
Date/Time: Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, 9:00-3:00 p.m.
Registration: Register for the meeting
Attend In-person: Ashby Building, Conf. Room 115, 2104 Umstead Drive, Raleigh, NC
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Inclusion Works Lunch and Learn
The Windmills Disability Awareness Training Program
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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 an overview of the Windmills Disability Awareness Training Program. This in-person and virtual interactive learning program equips business leaders with the knowledge, skills and tools to create an inclusive workplace where all employees have the opportunity to thrive.
Date/Time: Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Registration: Register for the Lunch & Learn
Closed-Captioning & American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters will be provided.
| | 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 NC DMH/DD/SUS, as they 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 NC DHHS divisions, diving into clinical policy, substance use, intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health, facility licensure and more. Panelists include Deb Goda, Director - Transitions to Community Living and Olmstead Plan; Ginger Yarbrough, Chief Clinical Officer - IDD, TBI & Olmstead, DMH/DD/SUS; Robin Sulfridge, Chief - Division of Health Services Regulation, Mental Health Licensure & Certification Section; Wendy Boone, Assistant Section Chief - Division of Health Services Regulation, Mental Health Licensure & Certificate Section; Lisa DeCiantis, Crisis Services Lead - DMH/DD/SUS; Stacie Forrest, Child Behavioral Health Unit Manager - Division of Child and Family Well-Being and Kristin Dubay, Chief of Population Health - NC Medicaid.
Date/Time: Friday, September 5, 2025, 10:30-2:30 p.m.
Location: The Royal Banquet & Conference Center, 3801 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC
Registration: Register for the forum
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