The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) was awarded a $14.8 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration on October 5 to enhance mental health support for children and families in the state.
The grant aims to strengthen the North Carolina System of Care, a community-based network that connects individuals, including children and families, to various health resources, including mental health services.
Sharon Bell, Manager of Behavioral Health for the Division of Child and Family Well-Being, explained that the North Carolina System of Care comprises all community stakeholders serving children and families, including behavioral health providers and schools. These stakeholders collaborate to enhance access to care within local communities, preventing children from being placed in out-of-home care and ensuring they receive services while staying with their families.
A significant portion of the funding will be allocated to provide High-Fidelity Wraparound services across all 100 counties in North Carolina. The High-Fidelity Wraparound process is designed to assist families when young individuals experience mental health or behavioral challenges. These services aim to provide care in the least restrictive manner possible, reducing out-of-home placements and making services affordable.
Tara Ward, Project Manager of the High-Fidelity Wraparound Training Program for NCDHHS, noted that the grant will help expand access to High-Fidelity Wraparound services across the state. It will not only support additional counties in implementing High-Fidelity Wraparound but also enhance the capabilities of existing teams and ensure their effective utilization.
High-Fidelity Wraparound offers a dedicated team for each family, including a coach supervisor responsible for overseeing the process and a facilitator who ensures the right individuals are brought in to address the specific needs of the families during meetings. The team also includes family support partners who are individuals with personal experiences as caregivers navigating the mental health system.
The grant application was highly competitive, with multiple states vying for it. North Carolina, like the rest of the nation, faces challenges related to mental healthcare needs, with some urban areas experiencing access issues and some rural areas having limited mental health resources. This grant will be instrumental in addressing these varied needs and expanding access to mental health services in the state.
