thomas bornemann, ed.d. director, carter center mental health program creating dynamic policy change...
TRANSCRIPT
Thomas Bornemann, Ed.D.Director, Carter Center Mental Health Program
Creating Dynamic Policy Change in Mental Health
Outline
Carter Center Mental Health Program
Affordable Care Act: Mental Health and Addiction
Current Issues in Mental Health
Case Study: Georgia’s Mental Health System
Conclusions
Carter Center Mental Health Program
Founded in 1982; led by Rosalynn Carter
Active internationally, nationally, and within Georgia
The Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism
Liberia
Public Policy
Georgia
Affordable Care Act (ACA) : Behavioral Health
Dynamic policy environment Milestone in health care policy
Expands preventive services and integration with primary care
Hurdles will arise in implementation but will ultimately greatly expand access to mental health and addiction services
Parity issues
Current Issues in Mental Health
Current Issues in Mental Health
Foster care and adoption services Comprehensive screenings and routine checkups Collaborative partnerships with therapists and other
invested parties Support for families who adopt children in the child
abuse and foster care system
School-based health centers can provide behavioral health services and early screenings for low-income children
Juvenile Justice reform
-National Center for Child Traumatic Stress Network
Children and Adolescents
Current Issues in Mental Health
Transitional age children Many mental health disorders begin in adolescence Providing solid transitional services will prevent young
people from exiting the mental health system prematurely
Community services should include efforts to address disparities in racial minorities, LGBT individuals, developmental disabilities and other populations with unique needs
Veterans and their families
Older adults
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Special Populations
Current Issues in Mental Health
Department of Justice settlements in New Jersey and North Carolina and ongoing lawsuit in New Hampshire and other states under scrutiny
From 2009 to 2011, states collectively cut $1.8 billion for children and adults with mental illness (NAMI)
Cuts have reduced mental health services and shifted the burden of first response for people in crisis to law enforcement officers and emergency room physicians
Workforce development
Policy Issues
Policy Investment in Mental Health
Policy can lead to concrete, measurable results
Nonprofits have flexibility to accomplish policy changes that government agencies and clinicians do not have
Investments in policy can affect large numbers of people, and are potentially sustainable, long lasting, and cost effective
Case Study: Georgia’s Mental Health System
Case Study: Georgia’s Mental Health System
A Hidden Shame: Death in Georgia’s Mental Hospitals
Sarah Crider, died at fourteen
-Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Case Study: Georgia’s Mental Health System
August 2008—Carter Center Mental Health Program (MHP) gets involved in case against the state of Georgia
January 2009—Conditional settlement reached between Department of Justice and Georgia re: CRIPA
February 2009—MHP and other state and national stakeholders entered as amicus curiae
July 2009—Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities created (DBHDD)
January 2010—Second suit filed addressing community services/Olmstead
October 2010—Final settlement addressing both suits finalized
May 2011—Carter Center releases draft of Vision Report
May 2013—Governor signs Juvenile Justice Reform Bill (HB 242)
GA Mental Health System Under Scrutiny
Case Study: Georgia’s Mental Health System
Creation of Community Services
Case Study: Georgia’s Mental Health System
Complete reform of Georgia’s mental health system in five years despite recession
Georgia mental health services are a model for the rest of the country
Narrow policy intervention led to significant change Leveraged a community-based crisis system into a
community-based treatment system
Learning Collaborative for Integrated Care
Progress and Results
Case Study: Georgia’s Mental Health System
Investments from local foundations allowed The Carter Center to take a leadership role in the settlement
Strong leadership by the state government
Trust
Engaged all parties - not weighted in any one direction
Transparency
Keys to Success
Funders for our Georgia Activities
The J. B. Fuqua Foundation (GA Urgent Model Project; C&A due diligence grant)
The Tull Charitable Foundation (GA Urgent Model Project)
The Betty and Davis Fitzgerald Foundation (GA Mental Health Activities – Vision Document regional meetings)
Healthcare Georgia Foundation (Integrated Care, Health Policy)
The John and Polly Sparks Foundation (GA Mental Health Activities)
Conclusions
Mental health is a national concern with heavy emotional and financial costs
There are opportunities for investment in multiple areas: children, older adults, trauma survivors, etc.
Investment in policy creates long-lasting, wide spread changes with a high economic and social return on investment
Thank youThomas Bornemann, Ed.D.
Director, Carter Center Mental Health Program
(404) 420-5165