Hot Topics

Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW

Director, DMH/DD/SUS

Hot Topics | June 17, 2025

NCDHHS Secretary Sangvai Delivers Message on Transforming the State’s Mental Health Care System at i2i Conference

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai spoke about the department’s mission to transform the state’s mental health care to a system that works for everyone at the i2i Center for Integrative Health Spring Conference in Raleigh last week.

Secretary Sangvai provided an overview of the current behavioral health landscape in his session, “Behavioral Health in North Carolina: Policy, Progress, and Priorities.” The Secretary highlighted key investments made by the state and the progress of Tailored Plans, a Medicaid health plan designed to meet the needs of individuals with serious mental health, substance use, intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD), or traumatic brain injuries (TBI). He also discussed the potential impacts of federal Medicaid changes, and ongoing legislative efforts to strengthen behavioral health services for all North Carolinians.

NCDHHS Secretary Dev Sangvai Tours Western North Carolina

and Highlights Mental Health Resources for Recovery

North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai toured western North Carolina last week, where he learned more about critical support programs for people recovering from the devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene.

Secretary Sangvai went to Love and Respect Community for Recovery and Wellness in Henderson County to highlight the work of the Hope4NC program, which is delivering critical mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) support for communities in western North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene. Hope4NC crisis counselors on the ground in western North Carolina have delivered life-saving help to thousands of residents impacted by the storm in the past nine months.

NCDHHS Accepting Naloxone Provider Requests

In response to the continuing opioid crisis, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services seeks to make naloxone, an overdose reversal medication, more widely available, particularly to individuals at highest risk of opioid overdose.

Providers are invited to submit a request via the online survey form: Naloxone Request Survey through Thursday, July 10, 2025. This form is for organizations to submit requests for naloxone for distribution in communities with high overdose rates. This form is not intended for individuals requesting naloxone. For resources related to overdose prevention and accessing naloxone, please visit NaloxoneSaves-nc.org.

NC Division of Aging

Social Bridging NC Toolkit

The North Carolina Division of Aging is pleased to announce a new and comprehensive resource “T he Social Bridging NC Toolkit: Promoting Social Connectedness and Expanding Awareness about Social Isolation and Loneliness” developed to raise awareness about how social isolation and loneliness can negatively impact health. The toolkit was developed by the North Carolina Center for Health and Wellness at the University of North Carolina Asheville with funding from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

Download the Toolkit

Division of Child and Family Well-Being Releases

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Online Resources

The Division of Child and Family Well-Being (DCFW)’s Whole Child Health unit now has information posted on the NCDHHS website about Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, in family-friendly language. Resources posted include NCDHHS programs that support early childhood social and emotional health.

Community Resources

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Community Events

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 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.

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 Integrated Care and we will 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.

NC One Community in Recovery 17^th Annual Conference

Call for Presentations

The planning committee for the NC “One Community in Recovery” Conference is seeking presentations that will explore diverse topics and disseminate new concepts about recovery and resiliency throughout our state. Held March 4-6, 2026 in Greensboro, NC, this conference is for individuals working and involved in recovery can share their work and gain support from others involved in the recovery movement.

Proposals Due: Sept. 4, 2025

Submit a Proposal: Complete Application

More Information: Download Instructions

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