Resolution supporting the merger of Foothills and Catawba LMEs

Believing the true measure of transformation of the state’s mental health system is how much it improves the quality of life for those affected by mental illness, the Board of Directors of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Western Carolina and NAMI Four Seasons affiliates endorse the following resolution supporting the merger of all counties being served by Foothills Area Authority with Mental Health Services of Catawba County.

It is our opinion that a partial merger of just Burke and Catawba counties is ill conceived, would negatively impact mental health clients, and would further fragment an already fragmented system. Furthermore, the input of families and mental health consumers as represented by the Foothills Consumer and Family Advisory Council, representing a voice for the voiceless, has not been sought nor heard.

Therefore, be it resolved that:

Whereas, Local Management Entities (LMEs) not serving a minimum of six counties or 200,000 population by July 1, 2007, will face a 10% cut in administrative funds; and,

Whereas Burke County Commissioners have indicated a strong desire to leave Foothills Area Authority and merge with Mental Health Services of Catawba County, thereby increasing Catawba’s service population from 151,000 to 242,000; and,

Whereas this merger would not reduce the total number of LMEs statewide, as would a full merger between the four-county Foothills and Catawba LMEs, but would instead leave a newly configured three-county Foothills LME of McDowell, Caldwell and Alexander Counties, ranked 88th, 89th and 93rd of the state’s 100 counties in per capita mental health spending; and,

Whereas the resulting Foothills LME would serve a population of just 159,000, leaving it subject to the 10% cut in administrative funds; and,

Whereas, Burke County Commissioners have not sought consultation with mental health clients and caregivers as represented by the Foothills Consumer and Family Advisory Council; and

Whereas, many of the principal physical facilities used by all Foothills clients are located in Burke County; and

Whereas, other single-county LMEs across the state have merged to form multi-county LMEs, meeting both the population and county requirements of G.S. 122, such as the recent merger of the single-county Pitt LME with eight other counties to form East Carolina Behavioral Health:

Therefore, we ask that the Department of Health and Human Services work to facilitate a merger of the full Foothills and Catawba LMEs and further that they give guidance as to the criteria by which such mergers will be approved in the future, criteria based on the best interests of all clients of mental health services. Further, we ask that the Governor’s Advocacy Council for Persons with Disabilities or other appropriate agency assess the basis of this approval and the propriety of a decision that seems to be counter to both the Department and Division’s stated goals as well the benefit of many clients of mental health services.

We respectfully requests these actions to ensure that mergers of Local Management Entities be made only after well-reasoned and researched assessments of what is best for all consumers of mental health services and not on what is most expedient, especially when such action benefits more urban areas while negatively affecting our most vulnerable citizens in our most vulnerable counties.

Be it hereby resolved this 20th day of March 2007.

NAMI Western Carolina Board
James Pitts, Co-President, (828) 258-5359, JPitts@unca.edu
Liz Smith, Co-Presudent (828) 738-0238, lsmith123@earthlink.net

NAMI Four Seasons Board
Sandy Goble, President, (828) 884-6103, kgoble@citcom.net
Leslie Huntley, Vice-President, (828) 894-3507, huntleywhiteoak@alltell.net