NCDHHS, Trillium Health Resources and Open Minds Partner to Launch Initiative to Improve Mental Health Care in North Carolina

NCDHHS, Trillium Health Resources and Open Minds Partner to 
Launch Initiative to Improve Mental Health Care in North Carolina

GREENVILLE, N.C. – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the creation of the AdvaNCe Health Together Learning Community, a new initiative developed in partnership with national consulting firm Open Minds and Trillium Health Resources, a North Carolina LME/MCO. AdvaNCe Health Together is a training and collaboration model that will help Community Behavioral Health Clinics prepare to meet certification standards in their goal to increase access to care across North Carolina.

“We are committed to improving and expanding mental health services in North Carolina and ensuring everyone who needs care can receive the services that are right for them at the right time,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “Community based clinics are designed to offer comprehensive care, 24/7 crisis services and are available to anyone regardless of where they live or if they can afford care.”

CCBHCs provide comprehensive mental health and substance use care for children and adults, including outpatient primary care screening and monitoring to support the health of the whole person. The AdvaNCe Health Learning Community will ensure community-based clinics have what they need so they are a one-stop-shop for people in need of care.

CCBHCs are required to offer nine services:

• Crisis Services
• Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Use Services
• Person-and Family-Centered Treatment Planning
• Community-Based Mental Health Care for Veterans
• Peer Family Support and Counselor Services
• Care Coordination
• Outpatient Primary Care Screening and Monitoring
• Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services
• Screening, Diagnosis and Risk Assessment

The AdvaNCe Health Together Learning Community will officially launch in November and provide participating organizations with in-depth training and expert consultation to address the complex operational, financial, and clinical challenges of providing whole-person, integrated care. In addition, a web-based forum will provide CCBHC staff the opportunity to share information and seek peer support in a collaborative environment.

AdvaNCe Health Together was developed in response to North Carolina's evolving integrated healthcare landscape, including the rollout of Medicaid Tailored Plans which offer coverage for physical and mental health, pharmacy and care management for people with a behavioral health, intellectual or developmental disability. All NC Medicaid Tailored plans are invited to participate side by side with the CCBHC and CCBHC-like providers in this opportunity.

“We’ve already embraced whole-person care through Tailored Plans—and now we’re taking that vision even further,” said Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW, Director of the NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services. “Our top priority is making sure people across North Carolina get the high-quality care they deserve, and that starts with supporting the providers who deliver it every day. The AdvaNCe Health Together Learning Community is part of our DMH/DD/SUS strategic plan and represents a meaningful investment in our CCBHCs and integrated care teams. By strengthening their operational and financial capacity, we’re helping them grow, thrive, and stay sustainable for the long haul. This is how we continue building a healthier future—together.”

"We recognize the dedication of providers to delivering high-quality, comprehensive services, and this partnership with the Trillium, Vaya, Alliance and Partners side by side with DMH/DD/SUS and Open Minds is a direct investment across the state to support providers in their long-term success as they navigate the complexities of CCBHC implementation and the broader shift to whole person integrated care," said Cindy Ehlers, Chief of Strategy and Innovation with Trillium Health Resources.

Open Minds, a national leader in market intelligence and management consulting for the health and human services field, has been tapped to lead the educational and consultative elements of the program, bringing their deep expertise in provider organizational development and integrated care models.

"We are honored to partner with NC DMH/DD/SUS and Trillium on this critical initiative," said Monica Oss, CEO of Open Minds. "The future of care is integrated, and this Learning Community will provide expert practical, hands-on strategies necessary for North Carolina's leading provider organizations to achieve clinical excellence and financial sustainability in this new environment."

Provider organizations operating a CCBHC or CCBHC-like models for integrated care will be invited to participate as the inaugural November cohort of the AdvaNCe Health Together Learning Community. If you are interested in more information, please contact Info@TrilliumNC.org. If you would like more information about community-based health care clinics, how to find one near you or other services please visit our website on CCBHCs in North Carolina.

ABOUT OPEN MINDS

OPEN MINDS is a national market intelligence, management consulting, and marketing services firm specializing exclusively in the markets of the health and human service field that serve consumers with chronic conditions and complex support needs. The OPEN MINDS mission is to provide payers, service provider organizations, and technology and scientific firms that serve these consumers with the market and management knowledge needed to improve their organizational efficiency and effectiveness. Learn more at their website Open Minds.

ABOUT TRILLIUM HEALTH RESOURCES

Trillium Health Resources is an innovative health plan for individuals with serious behavioral health, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and traumatic brain injury in 46 counties in North Carolina. Through contracts with NCDHHS, we serve Medicaid members on the Tailored Plan and NC Medicaid Direct, state-funded recipients who are uninsured, and members on the Innovations Waiver. Trillium’s mission is transforming lives and building community well-being through partnership and proven solutions. We take an integrated approach to health and wellbeing, coordinating care across multiple systems to achieve improved health outcomes, quality of care and efficient use of resources. Trillium is dedicated to meeting the unique needs of the individuals and communities we serve, and remains focused on delivering the right services, in the right amount, at the right time.