Marquessa Taylor

The board meeting focused on legislative updates regarding the Department of Mental Health's appropriations and ongoing budget negotiations. Discussions included initiatives for IDD Awareness Month, opioid settlement funding proposals, and efforts to improve care coordination and crisis response through regional Diversion Centers and specialized training programs. The board reviewed financial and grant reports, accepted professional credentialing rules, and received updates on hospital programs and crisis services. Additionally, the board approved various medical appointments, a revocable license request for Boswell Regional Center, and held an executive session to address litigation, resulting in the decision to uphold the termination of supervised living services for New Progressions of Mississippi.

This mid-year progress report for the DMH strategic plan outlines ongoing efforts and achievements across six key goals. These encompass optimizing inpatient and community behavioral health services, enhancing the crisis services continuum, increasing access to community supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, developing the behavioral health and IDD workforce, and promoting public understanding of behavioral health in Mississippi. The report provides detailed metrics and identifies areas of progress and those requiring further attention to ensure efficient and effective service delivery statewide.

The Congregational Recovery Outreach Program (CROP) is a Mississippi-based initiative aimed at delivering hope and healing within congregations. Its primary focus areas include training congregational members on mental health warning signs, risk factors, and connecting individuals to substance and mental health treatment resources, as well as integrating messaging about the 988 Behavioral Health crisis line. The overarching vision is to cultivate supportive, faith-based communities that break mental health stigmas and serve as sanctuaries for individuals seeking help, ultimately fostering a stronger, more compassionate Mississippi.

The strategic plan focuses on providing efficient and effective inpatient and community services for individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders, including children, youth, and adults. It aims to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of inpatient services, enhance the transition process for individuals discharged from behavioral health programs, and decrease wait times for competency evaluations and restoration services. The plan also prioritizes community services that support recovery, prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, and provide community supports for children and youth with serious emotional disturbances. Additionally, it focuses on improving connections to care, expanding crisis services, increasing access to community-based care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, developing the behavioral health and IDD workforce, and engaging Mississippians to improve public awareness and access to resources.

The FY23-FY27 Strategic Plan focuses on various metrics related to acute psychiatric wait times, admissions from jail and SLOC, and readmission rates. It also covers data on PACT, ICORT, ICSS, and crisis services, including CSU people served, mobile crisis response team contacts/calls, calls to 988 Lifeline and DMH Helpline. Additionally, it addresses alcohol and drug services, children's community services, intellectual and developmental disability services, outreach and training, and mental health first aid.