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News You Can Use
Your monthly resource for news and information about behavioral health and intellectual/ developmental disabilities in western North Carolina and beyond

200 Ridgefield Court, Suite 206, Asheville, NC 28806 | 828-225-2785
24-hour Access to Services: 1-800-849-6127 | www.smokymountaincenter.com
Smoky invests in NARCAN® overdose reversal kits for WNC
 
NARCAN
We're investing $100,000 to save lives in 23 western N.C. counties by funding the purchase of 2,668 NARCAN® opioid overdose reversal kits. 

CEO Brian Ingraham announced the initiative, a partnership with the N.C. Harm Reduction Coalition (NCHRC), at a March 22 news conference at our Asheville headquarters. NCHRC representative Conner Adams, who demonstrated how NARCAN® naloxone nasal spray works, told the Asheville Citizen-Times the donation was "incredibly important." "We have been in a naloxone shortage, so without this we would be struggling pretty hard to get it to people," she said. View more photos online.
CEO spotlight with Smoky CEO Brian IngrahamCEOspotlight
Brian Ingraham
Recently, I've been talking a lot about change. Change, it seems, is once again at our doorstep - and that's not necessarily a bad thing. 

In March, N.C. Secretary of Health and Human Services Rick Brajer unveiled his proposal for the state's eight LME/MCOs, including Smoky, to consolidate into four entities. 
HealthTEC Live to feature top speakers, technologyHealthTECLive
 
Carolina HealthTEC Live
We're a proud sponsor of Carolina HeathTEC Live, a one-day expo for providers and policymakers for mental health, developmental disability and substance use issues, as well as people who use these services.

The expo will be May 27 in Asheville and feature keynote speaker Dr. Gabor Maté on "Illness and Health in a Toxic Culture." It also includes demonstrations of the latest advances in technology enabled care, networking opportunities and speaker Lynne Seagle on "Moving from Programs to Supports." Learn more at www.carolinahealthteclive.com.
CRM comes to C3356: Partners in mental healthCRM
 
Our community outreach staff joined with RHA Health Services to bring Community Resiliency Model (CRM) training in February to C3356, Asheville's regional comprehensive care center. CRM teaches skills to better manage stress and trauma and help others do the same. 

A Family Preservation Services supervisor also participated in the class, led by Community Outreach Director Ann DuPre Rogers. In March, we also taught CRM to juvenile justice, social services and early childhood professionals. Visit us online for trainings near you.
¿Sabía usted que ... Abuse prevention class offered in SpanishD2Lspanish
 
D2L class
Translators (front) and students from the  training
Did you know we offer a child sexual abuse prevention and detection training in Spanish? On March 2 in Lenoir, our staff and two translators facilitated a Spanish version of the popular "Darkness to Light: Steward of Children" training. Seventeen students from Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute participated. For information, call 828-759-2160, ext. 3320, or email melissa.ledbetter@smokymountaincenter.com.
FROM THE DOCTOR with Associate Medical Director Dr. John NichollsDocColumn
Dr. John Nicholls
Spring is the perfect time to quote the ever-wise baseball icon Yogi Berra. Berra said, "You can observe a lot by watching." 

In 2014, we watched more than 28,000 people die from opioid overdoses. Almost 1,400 North Carolinians died from drug overdoses the same year. If observation implies a closer look, with an aim to solve a problem, what can we observe?
News roundup: Medicaid reform, LME/MCO changes
 
NewsRoundupIn March, N.C. legislators received an overview of how the state plans to proceed with Medicaid reform, a plan to open up the business to commercial insurance companies and provider-led entities. Under the proposal, most of the state's Medicaid beneficiaries would have a choice of at least four health plans.

The federal government must approve the state's ultimate plan, which will be submitted by June 1. Read more in the Charlotte Observer. Also, N.C. Secretary of Health and Human Services Rick Brajer announced a plan to consolidate the state's eight LME/MCOs.
TOP PICKS: NEWS & RESOURCESTopPicks
Take a short survey to help save lives in WNC
Are you concerned about mental health and suicide in your community? More than 42,000 Americans die by suicide every year. Answer 11 brief questions to help us formulate suicide prevention plans for each county in our region.

State launches Medicaid reform webpage
You're invited to share your thoughts about the state's Medicaid reform plan through a new webpage. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services site offers information about the plan and upcoming public hearings.

Joy Prom to take place April 23 in Boone
Plans are underway to make the Joy Prom 2016 a smashing success. Planned for April 23 in Boone, the prom offers individuals with disabilities. Sign up to help.
UPCOMING EVENTSUpcomingEvents
Addiction Medicine Conference in Asheville
The regional 2016 Addiction Medicine Conference will be held April 22-23 in Asheville. For more information or to register, visit ncaddictionmedicineconference.org or contact Shaquita Basemore at 919-256-7416.

NAMI Four Seasons offers NAMI Homefront 
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Four Seasons, which serves Henderson and Polk counties, is offering NAMI Homefront, a free, six-session educational program for families, caregivers and friends of military service members and vets with mental health conditions. Call 1-888-955-6264 for more information.
Man answering phone
Need services or help in a crisis?
Need information about services or help in a behavioral health crisis? In western North Carolina, call Smoky toll-free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-849-6127. (TTY: Relay NC 711). Our specialists are always available help you get you the assistance you need.
Smoky Mountain MCO
200 Ridgefield Court, Suite 206, Asheville, NC 28806 
Business calls: 828-586-5501 | 24-hour Access to Services: 1-800-849-6127
smokynews@smokymountaincenter.com | www.smokymountaincenter.com

Smoky manages services for mental health, substance use disorder and intellectual/ developmental disabilities in the North Carolina counties of Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Caldwell, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey.

News You Can Use | February 2016 | © Smoky Mountain MCO