December 11, 2002

3:00 p.m.

MEMBERS  PRESENT:

                        Rita O’Connell, Mental Health Association

                        Donna Kieft, CONTACT

                        Phil Sprouse, BHC

                        Lee Roberts, CCDSS

                        Ira Taylor, Hosanna Youth Facility

                        Sandra Taylor, Hosanna Youth Facility

                        Sarah Hemingway, ComuniCare

                        Gil Beeson, Fayetteville Family Life Center

                        Cleveland Wilson, Your New Beginning

                        Alice Smith, Peterkin & Associates

                        Rod Ford, Employment Source

STAFF            Debbie Jenkins, Director – Child and Family Services,

PRESENT:    CCMHC

                        Densie Lucas, Assistant Area Director

                        Sharon Yates, Public Relations and Marketing

   I.          Members were welcomed and thanked for attending today’s meeting

 II.        Minutes were adopted as written.

 III/IV. Update on Survey Results/Community Resources

·        Mrs. Yates provided the latest version of the resource guide information. She stated that they are looking at how best to organize so that the document will be user friendly.

·        It was suggested that topics be separated out and the counseling/support resources not be included  with other resources, such as housing, financial, etc.

·        14 pages of resources were identified in other areas. Consultation occurred with the Homeless Project staff of the MHC re: basic needs.

·        Categories suggested include Finances, Medical/Dental/Rx., Furniture and appliances, Housing and shelter, employment/job training, literacy, transportation, legal aid, rental assistance.

·        It was emphasized that we do not want to dilute the mental health resource section.

·        Confusion in following the Family Focus resource guide compiled by the Partnership and the Answer Book compiled by the library were discussed.

·        It was suggested we have hard copies of the resource guide put together as well as have it on disc and on the web-site. It can then be updated as needed.

·        The most critical element is that the document be kept current and be available/accessible in the community.

·        We will need to solicit information on a regular basis.

·        Dates should be put at the bottom of the page so we can know how current the information is and whether updated information has been added.

·        The information will need to be reviewed in meetings with the faith based community and other groups.

·        The subcommittee will work on validating the information presented on the surveys.

 V.                 Update on Business Plan Process

·        The Mental Health Center will be submitting a strategic plan covering five sections of the business plan this month. Deadline to the State is January 2, 2003.

·        A Division consultant, Dick Oliver, met with the Consumer Family Advisory Committee and provided some feedback. He explained to the group that they are an advisory group and do not have to approve or disapprove the plan submitted. The CFAC will submit their response on the plan, the process and anything else they want to have noted.

·        Staff who attended the Council of Community Programs conference in Southern Pines provided an update from that meeting. There are still a lot of areas that are not clarified by the State which is making it difficult to respond in some areas.

·        The strategic plan that is submitted will identify steps taken, steps planned and barriers to meeting the criteria outlined in the business plan. Critical areas needing clarification include cost modeling, contracting, developing a qualified provider network, best practices, etc. Providers in the Qualified Provider Network committee have identified that it is difficult to commit to developing and providing a service that may be needed by the community if you do not know the funding for that service.

·        Other barriers include that LPCs and Marriage and Family Therapists cannot provide services as independent providers. There also are more incentives for providers to do other third party work.

·        It was recommended that all licensed providers be included and considered as qualified providers. Otherwise there may not be enough qualified providers to get things done.

·        There are significant cost issues attached to the training and competencies that will have to be addressed at some point.

·        With contracting, there needs to be clarification on whether the State will require a standardized contract be used or if there will be variations on this. There are a lot of legal issues to be resolved. It has not been clarified if a provider group can be credentialed or if individual practitioners within the group will need to be credentialed and approved as providers.

·        A change to the Medicaid Plan is being submitted to the Federal government which would follow more of a Rehabilitation Model. This model has a larger county match for Medicaid. If this is approved, there will be an impact on the counties as they will have to have more money to meet the Medicaid match.

·        Ms. O’Connell asked whether the Mental Health Reform efforts have been successful anywhere in the United States. It appears that the jury is still out on that question. There are mixed reviews and not a lot of information available about whether consumers and family members have actually gotten what they needed and gotten better.

 VI.              Collaboration Grid

·        Information from the Collaboration Grid was discussed briefly. 

 VII.           Adjournment

The group discussed meeting frequency and recommended that we meet the third Wednesday of each month at 3:00pm. More frequent meetings will occur if needed. Subcommittees may also be working on different things between meetings. The next meeting is scheduled for January 15, 2003 at 3:00 p.m.