NACo Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing
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Basic pageThe NACo Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing brings together county leaders from across the nation to take action to address the ever-growing mental health crisis from the county government perspective.NACo Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing
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Basic page
NACo Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing
Launched in February 2023, the NACo Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing brings together county leaders from across the nation to take action to address the ever-growing mental health crisis from the county government perspective.
Through this commission, NACo will elevate the critical role that counties play in providing high-quality, accessible mental health services, showcase county innovations and solutions and outline the intergovernmental and public-private partnerships required to reimagine and strengthen our nation’s mental health policies, programs and practices.
The NACo Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing brings together county leaders from across the nation to take action to address the ever-growing mental health crisis from the county government perspective.2023-02-11Basic page2023-05-10
Launched in February 2023, the NACo Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing brings together county leaders from across the nation to take action to address the ever-growing mental health crisis from the county government perspective.
Through this commission, NACo will elevate the critical role that counties play in providing high-quality, accessible mental health services, showcase county innovations and solutions and outline the intergovernmental and public-private partnerships required to reimagine and strengthen our nation’s mental health policies, programs and practices.
County Role in Mental HealthDirect mental health service delivery responsibilities are falling increasingly to America’s counties, who serve as the nation’s safety net for residents in need, first responders, and operator of crisis lines, public hospitals and detention centers. Counties are integral of any local, state or national level effort to strengthen mental health services because of the various touchpoints counties have among residents seeking care.
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About the Commission
Under the leadership of the co-chairs, the Commission will develop policy and programmatic recommendations at the federal, state and local levels to address systemic issues contributing to mental health challenges in this country.
COMMISSION SCOPE |
Through the advancement of county policy priorities, showcasing community strategies and elevating county voices, the Commission will:
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COMMISSION MEMBERS |
NACo President Denise Winfrey appointed 14 county leaders from across the United States with the mission to improve the ability of counties to equitably increase access to mental health services and treatment.
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Commission Federal Policy Priorities
The commission seeks to address systemic issues contributing to the mental health challenges plaguing our nation through the advancement of public policies that support the county role in safeguarding the nation’s mental and behavioral wellness, including:
AMEND EXCLUSIONARY POLICIES UNDER MEDICAID |
Amend the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP) for improved care continuity of individuals with mental illness and substance use disorder. The MIEP is a federal policy outlined under Section 1905(a)(A) of the Social Security Act, that revokes federal health benefits for adults and juveniles that are being housed in correctional institutions - making no distinction between individuals who are being detained in jails prior to conviction, versus individuals who have been adjudicated and sentenced to time in a jail or prison. Without revision, this policy creates inequitable and unconstitutional disruptions to primary and behavioral health care services for justice-involved populations, thus exacerbating rates of untreated mental illness and substance use disorder in local communities. Amending the MIEP to allow individuals who are detained pre-trial to retain access to Medicaid and other federal health benefits will help break the cycle of recidivism exacerbated by untreated physical and mental illnesses and substance use disorders. POLICY SOLUTIONS
Modernize the Institutions for Mental Diseases (IMD) exclusion to reduce barriers to the provision of comprehensive behavioral health treatment and increase access to short-term residential treatment when clinically appropriate. The federal Medicaid statute prohibits federal reimbursement for care provided in psychiatric or other residential treatment facilities with more than 16 beds, defined as Institutions for Mental Diseases (IMDs). IMD restrictions have created significant barriers to providing clinically necessary inpatient mental health services and contributed to inequities in access to treatment and care for low-income individuals on Medicaid. Modernizing the Medicaid IMD exclusion would greatly expand the treatment capacity of county-operated hospitals and behavioral health facilities while also promoting equitable access to treatment options for low-income individuals. POLICY SOLUTIONS
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BUILD & SUPPORT THE MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE |
Obtain direct and flexible resources to support the recruitment, training and retention of a sufficient behavioral health workforce. Counties across the nation are investing in programs and initiatives that both assist with and incentivize the recruitment, training and placement of behavioral health providers that will work within local and under resourced communities. Counties rely on our federal partners to supplement these investments through the enhancement of existing programs that promote workforce recruitment and retention. With over 30 percent of the population across the nation residing in a county that is designated as having a mental health professional shortage, new financial incentives for integrated care may result in an increase of individuals taking jobs in the behavioral health care field and increase access to these critical services. POLICY SOLUTIONS
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BUILD & ENHANCE IN LOCAL CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEMS |
Enhance the intergovernmental partnership for the development and modernization of local crisis response systems and infrastructure. Our nation’s lack of an effective and widely available mental and behavioral health crisis services system has contributed to tragic outcomes for people in crisis. Counties are working to develop and support new models of servicing individuals in crisis that are tailored to fit the unique needs of their community which include the development of tiered and co-response models, integrative care, wraparound service and referral systems and 24/7 call centers that support the recently implemented 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Not only does this shortage of a crisis services system have real-life negative impacts on our residents, but also drive up costs for counties that have to bare the financial burden when an individual is hospitalized or incarcerated. The long-term success of these efforts is dependent on a strong intergovernmental partnership, where all levels of government are invested in the construction and modernization of local crisis response systems. POLICY SOLUTIONS
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ENFORCE MENTAL HEALTH PARITY |
Enforce policies that ensure equal coverage of treatment for mental illness and addiction. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (P.L. 110-343) is a federal parity law that was enacted in 2008, and required comprehensive standards for equitable coverage of mental health and substance use disorder treatment and coverage of physical treatment. Despite legislative advancements over the last decade, there are still disparities in the coverage of mental health and substance use disorders under both public and private health insurance plans, when compared with coverage for medical and surgical benefits. Furthermore, while Medicaid and Managed Care Plans (MCOs) must follow federal parity laws, Medicaid fee for service plans do not, which inhibits many individuals from accessing potentially lifesaving coverage. Strengthening behavioral health parity protections and enforcing existing protections is a critical component of improving coordination and integration of primary care and behavioral health care in the health care delivery system, and better addressing the behavioral and mental health needs of our community more broadly. POLICY SOLUTIONS Federal and state-level legislation that incentivizes and enforces existing parity policy and ensures that laws are uniformly implemented across both public and private insurers providers, and in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. |
Download a printable version of the policy priorities here.
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Reports & Toolkits
Mental Health Awareness Month: County Participation Toolkit
This May, we invite the nation’s 3,069 counties, parishes and boroughs to participate in Mental Health Awareness month. -
Reports & Toolkits
Behavioral Health Conditions Reach Crisis Levels: Counties Urge Stronger Intergovernmental Partnership and Outcomes
Counties are facing an acute escalation of the mental and behavioral health crisis. In a recent NACo survey, 75 percent of counties reported an increase in the incidence of behavioral health conditions over the past year and 89 percent reported an increase compared to five years ago. -
Basic page
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid, a skills-based training administered by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, teaches people how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges in their peers, friends and colleague
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Blog
U.S. Surgeon General releases Advisory and National Strategy to Advance Social Connection
On May 2, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a Surgeon General’s Advisory entitled, “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation,” highlighting the growing number of individuals in the U.S. -
Press Release
National Association of Counties Releases Data on Mental Health Crisis
Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing Advocates for Policy Solutions at White House, on Capitol Hill -
Reports & Toolkits
Behavioral Health Conditions Reach Crisis Levels: Counties Urge Stronger Intergovernmental Partnership and Outcomes
Counties are facing an acute escalation of the mental and behavioral health crisis. In a recent NACo survey, 75 percent of counties reported an increase in the incidence of behavioral health conditions over the past year and 89 percent reported an increase compared to five years ago. -
Blog
How counties can extend the reach of drug disposal programs with at-home drug deactivation and disposal
This blog post is sponsored by NACo partner Deterra. Empower Your Community: Enhance Drug Disposal Programs with At-Home Deactivation & Disposal Solutions -
Blog
Bipartisan legislation introduced in House and Senate to address Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy
Two bipartisan bills have recently been reintroduced in both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives to address the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy. -
Blog
Counties Address the Social Determinants of Health Through Mobile Health Services
Healthy People 2030 defines the social determinants of health (SDOH) as the conditions in which we are born, live, work and play that both directly and indirectly impact overall health and well-being.
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Webinar
Prenatal-to-Three Peer Learning Network: How the Social Determinants of Health Impact Families and Children
June 13, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pmNote: This convening will focus on strategies for rural and smaller suburban counties. To learn more about strategies for urban counties, please join the June 15 session.06132:00 pm<p><strong>Note: This convening will focus on strategies for rural and smaller suburban counties.
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Webinar
Prenatal-to-Three Peer Learning Network: How the Social Determinants of Health Impact Families and Children
June 15, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pmNote: This convening will focus on strategies for urban and larger suburban counties. To learn more about strategies for rural counties, please join the June 13 session.06152:00 pm<p><strong>Note: This convening will focus on strategies for urban and larger suburban counties.
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Basic page
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid, a skills-based training administered by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, teaches people how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges in their peers, friends and colleaguepagepagepage<h3><strong>WHY MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID?</strong></h3>
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Healthy Counties Initiative
Healthy Counties focuses on enhancing: public-private partnerships in local health delivery, access to, and coordination of, care for vulnerable populations in the community and community public health and behavioral health programs.pagepagepage<h3>Healthy Counties focuses on enhancing:</h3>
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Live Healthy U.S. Counties
The National Association of Counties (NACo) Live Healthy Prescription, Health & Dental Discount Program is a NO-COST program available to all member counties.pagepagepage<h1>With <a id="naco" name="naco">NACo</a>, Saving Feels Better</h1>
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Reports & Toolkits
Opioid Solutions Center
NACo’s Opioid Solutions Center empowers local leaders to invest resources in effective treatment, recovery, prevention and harm reduction practices that save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorder.Reports & Toolkitsdocument10123:30 pmReports & Toolkits<p>NACo's Opioid Solutions Center empowers local leaders to invest resources in effective treatment, recovery, prevention and harm reduction practices that save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorder.
County Declarations
Some counties that have issued resolutions for mental health priorities or proclamations for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month or May as Mental Health Awareness Month.
Indiana |
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Minnesota |
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New Jersey |
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Ohio |
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Pennsylvania |
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Texas |
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Washington |
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Related Events
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13Jun2023Webinar
Prenatal-to-Three Peer Learning Network: How the Social Determinants of Health Impact Families and Children
Jun. 13, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm -
15Jun2023Webinar
Prenatal-to-Three Peer Learning Network: How the Social Determinants of Health Impact Families and Children
Jun. 15, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Upcoming Events
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12Jun2023
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13Jun2023Webinar
Prenatal-to-Three Peer Learning Network: How the Social Determinants of Health Impact Families and Children
Jun. 13, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm -
15Jun2023Webinar
Prenatal-to-Three Peer Learning Network: How the Social Determinants of Health Impact Families and Children
Jun. 15, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
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