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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 |
 "Spirit of partnership": New crisis care center gets warm welcome in Asheville
Western North Carolina has a new, state-of-the-art behavioral health center offering urgent care, walk-in appointments, pharmacy services and a "peer living room". A 16-bed crisis unit is also under construction. The C3356 Comprehensive Care Center, located adjacent to Mission Health's St. Joseph campus at 356 Biltmore Avenue, is the first of its kind in western North Carolina.
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What's in a crisis center?
Smoky, along with our providers and partners, is committed to establishing and expanding comprehensive care centers throughout our 23-county region to maximize access to care on demand and for continuing treatment. In April, we broke ground on the Caldwell C3 Comprehensive Care Center in Lenoir and celebrated the official opening of C3356 Comprehensive Care Center in Asheville, both operated by RHA Health Services.
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| Officials, advocates break ground on CaldwellC3 crisis center in Lenoir
State and local dignitaries broke ground in April on a crisis center that will offer 24-hour behavioral health urgent care, outpatient treatment and 12 beds for people in crisis. The CaldwellC3 Comprehensive Care Center will be in the Lenoir facility currently housing RHA's outpatient services and will undergo a $1.2 million renovation and expansion.
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| Stepping up: Partnership to provide care to WNC veterans in need
Smoky and the N.C. Department of Military and Veterans Affairs are teaming up on a new initiative for veterans and their families in six western N.C. counties. The program will deliver mental health and addiction treatment services to military-connected families who might otherwise fall through the cracks of the veterans' healthcare system.
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Next month is Mental Health Month, but nothing is stopping us at Smoky from making every day a good day for mental health.
A prime example is the community effort to establish the C3356 Comprehensive Care Center, which officially opened in April. Did you know counties with a 24-hour behavioral health urgent care center average 25 percent fewer emergency department (ED) admissions?
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| CFAC members from across state meet in Asheville
Smoky's Consumer and Family Advisory Committee (CFAC) members are receiving praise from their peers after hosting the Statewide Collaborative CFAC Meeting April 22.
Approximately 100 CFAC members from all MCOs, state CFAC representatives and state liaisons heard from Crystal Farrow with the state's Crisis Solutions Initiative and N.C. Secretary of Health and Human Services Rick Brajer, who gave a system update and held a Q&A session. Smoky CEO Brian Ingraham and Dr. Jeff Heck, President and CEO of the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC), concluded the event with a panel discussion.
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| News roundup: Governor unveils spending priorities for behavioral health, I/DD services
- Emergency housing for people transitioning from emergency departments, prisons or institutions
- Case management for adults in transition periods and for children involved in foster care or the juvenile justice system, or with an intellectual/developmental disability
- More specialty courts, such as recovery and drug courts
- Expansion of Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid
- Increased funding for medication-assisted treatment and other recommendations of the state Task Force on Mental Health and Substance Use to address the opioid drug epidemic
- Investment in crisis facilities for children
- Addition of 320 new slots to the Community Alternatives Program for Disabled Adults
- Increased funding for family caregiver support services, including respite care
- Addition of 250 Medicaid Innovations Waiver slots
McCrory also called for legislation that would authorize access to naloxone, a medication used to reverse opioid drug overdoses, at N.C. pharmacies. He would also build on a law that expanded autism health insurance to include individuals who receive Medicaid.
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VIDEO: 1 photo, 6 words for suicide prevention
In 2015, federal health agencies asked the public to create unique images using six words on how to prevent suicide. See the most creative entries in the short video to the right.
ASU pilot study seeks youth, adult participants
Appalachian State University researchers are seeking adolescents and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder to participate in an upcoming study. The study looks at whether theater training can improve communication skills. For more information, review the study flyer or contact Kate Brinko at brinkot@appstate.edu or at 828-262-6152.
Government report finds U.S. suicide rate at 30-year high
New statistics released in April show that nationally, suicides have increased in nearly every age group except older adults. Researchers found a particularly steep rise for women and a substantial increase among middle-aged Americans. Read more in the New York Times.
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Carolina HealthTEC Live adds new speakers, vendors
Interested in how technology can improve care for individuals with behavioral health or intellectual/ developmental disability needs? Smoky is proud to sponsor Carolina HealthTEC Live, which will convene industry experts and policy makers May 27 in Asheville for interactive discussions and experiences. Learn more and register today.
Bringing awareness to sexual abuse prevention
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) experience sexual abuse at alarming rates. An event May 3 in Asheville aims to spur collaboration toward improving best practices and support services for all individuals with disabilities. For more information, email katiemay45@gmail.com or sign up online.
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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 to help you get you the assistance you need.
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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
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 | 2016 | © Smoky Mountain MCO
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