Community Development Block Grant
Behavioral Health Strategic Plan
Aims to improve access, quality, and coordination of the community’s behavioral health services in Mecklenburg County.
Summary
In recent years, Mecklenburg County has identified behavioral health as a top priority for improving the well-being of residents. As part of this commitment, the County has invested significant funding to address gaps in behavioral health services not provided through federal, state, or private resources. Despite the expanded investments made by the County, along with the realignment with Alliance Health as Mecklenburg’s Local Management Entity/Managed Care Organization (LME/MCO), the behavioral health infrastructure of the community remains fragmented and difficult to navigate.
As a result, Mecklenburg County is leading the development of a behavioral health strategic plan to help guide the use of public funding for behavioral health services in the community. The behavioral health strategic planning process was initiated in November 2022 to improve access, quality, and coordination of the community’s behavioral health services. As part of the planning process the County established a steering committee with various community stakeholders.
Engagement
In addition to the Steering Committee, the County has sought out input from the community at large, particularly people with lived experience and their family members, service providers, and local advocates.
To date the County has collected input from stakeholders by way of interviews, community listening sessions, and presentations with intact groups. The engagement efforts, along with a county-wide gap analysis are scheduled to continue until the publication of the draft Behavioral Health Strategic Plan in the spring of 2024. Following the publication of the draft, the community will have another chance to offer feedback during a public comment period before a presentation to the Board of County Commissioners for final approval.
Resources
View and download information on behavioral/mental health crisis support resources and statistics from the National Alliance on Mental Health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Behavioral health generally refers to mental health and substance use disorders, life stressors and crises, and stress-related physical symptoms. The prevention, identification, and treatment of these diseases are together referred to as behavioral health care.
The purpose of the plan is to improve access, quality, and coordination of the community’s behavioral health services in Mecklenburg County. The plan will ultimately help guide the use of public funding for behavioral health services in the community.
The strategic plan will include:
- Executive Summary
- Overview of NeedStrategies to Improve Access to Services and Care Coordination
- Specific Behavioral Health Programming Recommendations
- A Gap Analysis of Mecklenburg County Behavioral Health Services
- Federal and State Policy Recommendations
- Infographics for Key Messages
Following the publication of the draft, the community will have another chance to offer feedback during a public comment period before a presentation to the Board of County Commissioners for final approval.