|
Hello Friends and Colleagues,
I know that many of you are feeling anxious or demoralized. You’re trying to figure out what the passage of H.R.1 - 119th Congress (2025-2026) (AKA One Big Beautiful Bill) means for our community—your own services, your loved one’s services, your business.
Well, honestly, we don’t know yet. If you haven’t read Secretary Sangvai’s message yet, I urge you to do so (https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/2025/07/03/secretary-dev-sangvai-releases-statement-us-house-passage-senate-reconciliation-bill).
It will take us a few weeks to fully understand the impact of these changes—and their timing.
We also have time to continue working with our State and Federal lawmakers to impact things where we still can. There are a lot of details still to be worked out. As soon as we have more and clearer information we will share it with you.
In the meantime, take heart.
We are so very resilient. Many of you have heard me talk about my family and our long struggles with mental health and substance use. The thing I admire most about all of my family members is their resilience. It is truly extraordinary. And I am a product and living proof of that.
We’ve got this. It might not feel like it—but we do.
For those of you that know me, you know I love The Lego Movie and its everyman Emmett who reminds us all that “You are the special. And you can do great things.” (Yes, I always tear up at that part.)
If you don’t know, there is also a The Lego Movie 2, the Second Part. In it, the whole Lego world and our band of loveable heroes end up in a very bad spot—about to be shut away for good in a storage bin. They sing a song called “Everything’s Not Awesome.” (Yes I tear up.) Give it a listen (just google it). But here are some of the lyrics:
Everything's not awesome
Everything's not cool
I am so depressed
Everything's not awesome
Everything's not awesome
But that doesn't mean that it's hopeless and bleak
Everything's not awesome
But in my heart, I believe
We can make things better if we stick together
Side by side, you and I, we will build it together
Build it together (Together forever)
All together now
Everything's not awesome
Things can't be awesome all of the time
It's an unrealistic expectation
But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try
To make everything awesome
In a less idealistic kind of way
We should maybe aim for not bad
'Cause not bad right now would be real great
Everything is better when we stick together
Side by side, you and I, we will sing it together
My best,
Kelly
Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW
(she/her)
Director
Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
| 
