Just who is NC-CANSO? : ORWELLIAN sister org is LME lobby group NC Council of Community Programs (NCCCP)

What is the agenda of NC-CANSO?

This is the problem: the LME's function as little fiefdoms and consumers and providers and mental health advocates have little to no ability to impact their decisions.

The mental health provider organizations such as NC Psychological Association, collude with the LME's; the CFAC's, which are supposed to be representative of the consumers basically don't function.

And so you have the PERFECT STORM OF LME'S WHO DO THINGS JUST LIKE THEY WANT TO.

PLUS, THEY GET THEIR FUNDING FROM THE STATE.

Basically, NCCCP is attempting to create NC-CANSO, a group which is attempting to present a 'consumer friendly'face that sits alongside the legislatively derived and empowered LME's. That way they move completely around the CFAC's---if they ever functioned like they were supposed to.

The CFAC's didn't work, due in significant part to the fact that legislatively they are SUPPOSED to have some independence from the LME's.

So the LME's have opted to create an entity which is more under their control, specifically, NC-CANSO.

If you look at the agenda of NCCCP, you will notice the following:

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1. The members of NCCCP are the LME's and companies can pay handsome sums to be sponsored on their website.

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2. What is the agenda of NCCCP?

"The MH/DD/SA System in NC has seen it's fair share of struggles and challenges. People who work in this area, at the LME's, have seen trends come and go as far as service and policyare concerned. At the NC Council we want to support our providers in the best way possible in providing the information and training, support, and encouragement needed to proceed to help our citizens thrive."

('our providers' are those providers who have been willing to pay a significant amount of money to be 'sponsored' by this entity which is composed of the LME's.)

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3. NCCCP aka the LME's want TOTAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE CONSUMER :

"....State hospital bed day plans should emphasize a process to place the management, financing and responsibility for consumer care solely under the LME. This process would give the LME’s full financial and clinical responsibility and total accountability for the consumer.... "

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4. What is NCCCP's and thus NC-CANSO's goal?

"The NC Council of Community Programs is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping its member area Mental Health, Developmental Disability and Substance Abuse Authorities improve their service quality and manage effectively. The NC Council provides its member programs with a strong, cohesive, statewide voice through policy analysis, publications, educational programs, and technical assistance."

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5. What is their relationship to NC DHHS or what would they like to happen?

"Amend Article 4 of Chapter 122C to clearly articulate those administrative and managerial functions that are the responsibility of an LME. Clarify that LME functions may not be removed by the Secretary absent an individualized finding that a particular program is not providing minimally adequate services or is in imminent danger of failing financially. "

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6. WHO ARE THEY LOOKING OUT FOR? :

"A single point of entry into State facilities is necessary; and decision-making on State facility admissions should not be made by those with real or perceived conflicts of interest. "

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EXCUSE ME, BUT THIS APPEARS TO BE A STACKED DECK WHICH PROTECTS THE LME'S WHO ARE DOING A POOR JOB OF ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE W/ MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS IN NC.

As Bill Franklin, mental health consumer in Almance County has pointed out: mental health reform is about A CONSOLIDATION OF POWER.

And if you won't play ball because you don't like the way the citizens keep getting struck out when they attempt to obtain mental health services, well, you can just go take a hike.