Governor Pat McCrory welcomed recommendations from the Governor's Task Force on Mental Health and Substance Use today at a Drug Treatment Court in Fayetteville. Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Martin and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Rick Brajer, along with several Task Force members, presented Governor McCrory with a report documenting recommendations for improving the lives of youth and adults with mental illness and substance use disorders, and their families.

"These recommendations will help us build on our progress to divert mental health patients and those fighting addiction from emergency rooms and county jails into much needed treatment," Governor McCrory told a group gathered at the Cumberland County Courthouse.

"Mental health and substance use issues affect all corners of our society," said Chief Justice Martin. "By continuing to work together, between all three branches of government, between the private and the public sectors, and between providers and consumers, I am confident that we can make great strides in helping some of the most vulnerable of our fellow citizens while also reducing crime and strengthening our communities.

Several Task Force recommendations include transitional housing, case management, Mental Health First Aid training, child crisis centers, tools to combat the heroin and opioid epidemic, as well as evidence-based specialty courts, including Drug and Veteran Treatment Courts. The report also includes focusing on better use of existing resources, improved interagency collaboration and encouragement of public-private partnerships.

"I am grateful for the leadership of Chief Justice Martin and Secretary Brajer and the time and energy Task Force members dedicated to finding common sense solutions to address mental health and substance use in our state," Governor McCrory said. "Their recommendations provide us with a road map that will help shape our systems for care, recovery and prevention."

The Task Force was assembled in August 2015 to address the problems of mental health and substance use among adults and youth in North Carolina. Chief Justice Martin and Secretary Brajer served as co-chairs, and joined with Judicial Branch leaders, members from the Executive and Legislative branches, as well as stakeholders from related private sector providers, local government leadership, consumers and consumer advocates, and non-governmental entities. Judicial members of the Task Force include: Supreme Court Associate Justice Sam Ervin IV, Court of Appeals Judge Donna Stroud, Chief District Court Judge Joseph Buckner (District 15B), Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman (liaison), and NCAOC Deputy Director of Program Services McKinley Wooten (special advisor). Additional appointees by Chief Justice Martin include: Dr. Mike Lancaster, William Lassiter, Deborrah Newton, Katherine Peppers, and Greta Metcalf (liaison).

View the full report and recommendations. For more information, see the Task Force website.

Source: Governor's Office press release