Weekly Update September 13, 2024
IMPORTANT UPDATE!
Annual Walk-A-Mile Event to take place September 17, 2024
The date for this event was moved from Thursday, September 12th, 2024 to Tuesday, September 17th, 2024
The 2024 INFORMATION PACKET is now available! Click here to download!
Each year, we draw more than 2,000 advocates from across Michigan to the Capitol Building to support public behavioral healthcare. This rally aims to highlight the need for increased funding for mental health services, raises awareness of behavioral health needs in health and policy discussions and works to banish behavioral health stigmas. There are more than 300,000 citizens in Michigan who seek behavioral health services. Join us as we rally together on the Capitol Lawn for increased mental health funding and the need for behavioral health to be continually included in policy discussions.
Why We Rally…
To enhance public awareness, because legislators need to know that Mental Health Matters.
To promote mental health and wellness, because we can make a difference!
To put an end to the stigma related to mental illness and developmental disabilities, because Michigan does not have parity (equality) between mental health and physical health care coverage.
Registration Open for CMHA Annual Fall Conference!
Hotel reservations and conference register is open for the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan’s Annual Fall Conference, “Sharing Solutions,” which will be held on October 21-22, 2024, at the Grand Traverse Resort in Traverse City, Michigan. The conference attracts 700 attendees. We bring together board members, CEOs, COOs, CFOs, medical directors, clinical directors, case workers, supports coordinators, and children’s supervisors from Michigan CMHSPs and Provider Agencies. We also have strong attendance from others within the public mental health and substance use disorder systems. The conference will be highlighting the workforce shortage, MichiCANs, administrative efficiencies, SUD, suicide prevention, behavioral health homes, CCBHCs, children’s services, mental health in schools, BTAM, stigma, autism services, health disparities, crisis services and much much more!
Leadership of Northern Lakes and CMHA underscore revenue gap
Below are excerpts from a recent Traverse City Record Eagle news story regarding the revenue gap faced by Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Authority.
COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH: Northern Lakes faces $1.3-million deficit
The Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Authority is grappling with an estimated $1.3-million deficit, including a $843,000 overspend in the agency’s general fund.
The revenue shortfall, which was reported to the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners last month, has been under discussion since at least late June, according the agency’s meeting minutes.
“Our CMH members are experiencing a $93-million deficit in the current year, largely due to reduced Medicaid funding from the state,” said Alan Bolter, associate director of the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan (CMHA).
“This is a ‘perfect funding storm’ for our 46 CMH members,” he added. “The money was already allocated by the state Legislature, but isn’t being paid by the state. And now the clock is ticking on fiscal year 2024, which ends on Sept. 30.”
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? The CMHA of Michigan and its members are asking the state to revisit its Medicaid eligibility certification process and make corrections where needed. They’re also asking the state administration to free up the dollars that were already allocated for public mental health care in the current year budget.
The full article, in pdf format, can be found here.
Work of Sanilac CMH highlighted in latest story in partnership with Issue Media Group
The latest news story highlighting the innovation and successes of Michigan’s public mental health system, is made possible by the partnership of CMHA, a number of its members, and the Issue Media Group (IMG). This story, Project Connect brings together Sanilac County residents and resources, highlights the innovative work being done at Sanilac CMH.
This story, along with the growing list of solutions journalism stories centered around the work of Michigan’s public mental health system, can be found at: https://cmham.org/newsroom/
This partnership, with the Issue Media Group (IMG), is built around the concept of “solutions journalism” – providing news about innovative and concrete ways that communities, across Michigan, are addressing the needs of their residents along a number of dimensions – healthcare, economic development, education, the arts, to name a few. Solutions journalism investigates and explains, in a critical and clear-eyed way, how people try to solve widely shared problems. While news sources and many of us typically define news as “what’s gone wrong,” solutions journalism runs counter to that definition by covering the innovative responses to identified needs and problems.
This partnership ensures that the work of Michigan’s public mental health system is highlighted in IMG’s large suite of solutions journalism-focused publications.
If your organization would like to be a part of this effort, via the purchase of a partnership share and the active participation in the generation of stories for these local and statewide electronic newspapers, contact Bob Sheehan at rsheehan@cmham.org or Paul Schutt at paul@issuemediagroup.com
You can subscribe, at no cost, to these publications, on the websites of each of these publications. The list of partner publications and their websites are provided below:
OCHN CEO named as one of Crain’s Notable Black Business Leader
Crain’s Detroit Business has acknowledged Dana Lasenby, CEO, Oakland Community Health Network as one among the “2024 Crain’s Notable Black Business Leaders.” Crain’s Detroit Business is a weekly publication, both online and in print that provides unique coverage of news, articles, and information for industry leaders in the private and public sector.
Crain’s Notable Black Business Leaders are influential, innovative, bold, and strategic. They are barrier-breaking executives, entrepreneurs, civic and corporate leaders in many fields including finance, technology, health care, hospitality, law, the arts and community service.
Redesign of ‘Weekly Update’ Newsletter
As you might have already noticed, the publication of our newsletter will look a little different. We are delighted to introduce a newly designed version of our weekly update email! We’ve revamped our newsletters to make them more user-friendly and accessible. Get the latest news, insights, and updates to our public mental health system with even greater clarity and ease.
With this improved layout, you’ll find it simpler to search for keywords** and to navigate through each publication chronologically. One specific item to note, the creation of these newsletters are now solely constructed and published on the CMHA website. The email blast will now be condensed to only include article titles and a teaser sentence. Each article in the email is linked to the publication on our website where the entire document can be viewed in full. Once on this page, to access the months previous articles, simple follow the linked path located under the main navigation bar.
The Weekly Update home page now includes collapsible headers. To quickly see the previous week’s update just click on that week’s date. To the right, you will see an Archives column that will include all previous month’s editions.
Our goal is to enhance your reading experience while keeping you better informed and making it easier for you to access necessary information and resources. We’re excited for you to experience these enhancements and hope they make your weekly updates more engaging and informative.
**To search for text within a webpage use the “Control Find” keyboard shortcut. Press and hold Ctrl+F on your keyboard to open a search bar.
Connections
Connections purpose is to be an avenue for the exchange of information that includes people’s dreams, stories, concerns and successes. Its intent is to connect us all – the individuals who sit around the board room table, our customers, our administrators, caregivers, and our partners in the communities in which we live.
Recipient Rights Booklets
The Mental Health Code states that Community Mental Health Service Providers are required to distribute Recipient Rights Booklets to each recipient receiving services. To place an order with CMHA please visit our websites bookstore page.
‘BoardWorks’ Videos Online
The CMHA BoardWorks program was developed to assist Board members in fulfilling their obligations as CMH leaders, directors of policy, and advocates for those they serve.
State & Federal Developments
Comment period opens for proposed eligibility for SED waiver
MDHHS recently issued a proposed policy change that revises the eligibility criteria for the state’s SED waiver. The proposed criteria and comment opportunity are outlined here.
MDHHS seeking comments on proposed expansion of Opioid Health Home waiver to include all substance use disorders
MDHHS recently issued a proposed waiver that would allow Michigan to convert its Opioid Health Home system to a Substance Use Disorder Health Home system. The proposed waiver and comment opportunity are outlined here.
MDHHS issues policy on In-Lieu-Of-Services (ILOS) waiver
MDHHS recently issued an In Lieu of Services (ILOS) Policy Guide (“Policy Guide”) as a resource for Medicaid Health Plans (MHPs) participating in the Comprehensive Health Care Program (CHCP), and stakeholders, in the implementation of ILOS. As a part of MDHHS’ continuous commitment to deliver Michigan residents equitable, coordinated, and person-centered care, MDHHS is introducing ILOS which will allow MHPs to pay for services provided in the community that address eligible Enrollees’ health-related social needs, specifically access to food, with this policy. The policy guide can be found here.
Org Culture Impacts: Provider Organizational Culture Impacts People with IDD’s Outcomes – The Council on Quality and Leadership
The Council and Quality and Leadership has recently developed a resource that underscores how treating staff with dignity and respect contributes to the quality of life of persons served. That resource can be found here.
POSTPONED: The Michigan Olmstead Coalition’s celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Olmstead Decision is postponed
Below is a recent announcement, from the Olmstead Coalition:
The celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Olmstead decision – a celebration originally scheduled for September 24, 2024 – HAS BEEN POSTPONED.
The organizers are working diligently to set a new date for this recognition, so please look for an email with updated information to be sent soon.
HRCC Outlines Policy Priorities With Eye On Majority In 2025
House Republicans are unveiling their policy plan ahead of the November election with the intent of letting voters know priorities should they win back the gavel.
“Republicans are ready to govern on day one,” House Republican Campaign Chair Rep. Bill Schuette (R-Midland) said. “We’re presenting options to make life more affordable for Michigan, to make this a better place to start your business, start your family, live your life, ways to grow our economy and grow our population.”
Affordability, education and safety are among Republicans’ top priorities, Schuette said.
The list of Republican objectives includes making the 2023 income tax reduction to 4.05 percent permanent, cutting energy bills and housing costs by eliminating green energy mandates and lifting permitting fees, prioritizing local control and local energy production, modernizing nuclear power generation and expanding natural gas production.
When it comes to education, members of the HRCC said its time for schools to “return to the basics.”
Those basics include soft skills, like showing up on time, and basic math and reading. Republicans also highlighted the near elimination of designated mental health and safety funding in this year’s School Aid Fund budget. The caucus also wants to give parents a bigger role in their children’s education.
Community safety is another area the committee focused on, with priorities including recruiting and retaining more police officers, eliminating “sanctuary counties” in Michigan and supporting crime victims. Republicans have labeled counties who refuse to have their law enforcement cooperate with federal immigration authorities “sanctuary counties” though it is disputed whether any such counties exist in Michigan.
The committee also highlighted infrastructure funding for both rural and urban areas as a priority. Members of the committee, who spoke on background, said infrastructure had been underfunded for too long and additional money was needed. Members didn’t suggest new sources of revenue, rather, they said that budget spending should be reprioritized.
The point in putting forward their ideas now, Republicans said, is to show Michigan voters they want to center policies, not politics.
“We’ve put together a mission for Michigan that 60 to 70 percent of our entire state can get behind, and hopefully the Democrats can too,” Rep. Bryan Posthumus (R-Cannon Township) said.
In terms of work for this fall, Republicans were pessimistic, but Rep. Ann Bollin (R-Brighton) said she’d like to see the House get some of the economic development policies over the finish line, especially legislation that would allow the state to claw back money from development projects that have not fulfilled what they promised.
Posthumus also mentioned addressing the tipped wage and paid sick leave laws that resulted from the Michigan Supreme Court’s adopt-and-amend decision.
After the election, though, Posthumus said he hoped for a light lame duck.
“I want to see us go home,” he said. “If you look at the past, some good policy gets done in lame duck, but also some dangerous policy, too, and I’m a little concerned what policies Democrats are going to put forward.”
Education, Sponsorship & Exhibition
CMHA Events
To search all upcoming CMHAM events, including conferences, trainings and webinars click here.
Great Lakes Mental Health Technology Transfer Center
Resources from Great Lakes MHTTC
CMHA is the Michigan partner with the SAMHSA funded Great Lakes Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC). That partnership provides Michigan’s behavioral health community with access to cutting edge education and training offerings from across the country and the Great Lakes region while also allowing CMHA to expand its catalog of education and training offerings to its members and allies. For more about the Great Lakes MHTTC click here.
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