We encourage anyone interested in services for people with mental illness and substance-use disorders to attend the Mississippi Joint Planning and Advisory Council virtually or in person at Mississippi State Hospital (3550 Hwy. 468 W. Bldg. 56 Whitfield MS. 39208) on August 10 from 10 a.m. to noon.
Here is the agenda:
1. Welcome and Meeting Overview
Dr. Scott Willoughby, Council Co-Chair
Tiffany Tine, Council Co-Chair
2. Council Introductions
3. Department of Mental Health Budget Update
Kelly Breland, Bureau of Administration Director, DMH
4. LGBTQ+ Preferred Language and Inclusion Discussion
Jason McCarty, Executive Director of Capital City Pride
5. Overview and Update of the Office of Mental Health Accessibility
Bill Rosamond, Coordinator of Mental Health Accessibility
6. Update on the Block Grant
August Irving, State Planner
7. Update on the SAMHSA Planning Council Learning Collaborative
Tiffany Tine, Council Co-Chair
8. Discussion and Proposals for Subcommittees
Dr. Scott Willoughby, Council Co-Chair
Tiffany Tine, Council Co-Chair
9. November Meeting Date Change
10. Wrap-Up/Proposed Future Topics
11. Public Comments
12. Announcements
13. Adjournment
All fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and six Pacific jurisdictions receive Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG) funds to provide community mental health services. The federal government distributes these funds to help adults with serious mental illnesses, children with severe emotional disturbances and children, youth and adults with substance use disorders.
The federal government requires states to establish councils comprised of people who use services, their families and other interested people. Those councils help decide how to use these funds to help adults and children affected by mental illness and substance use disorders. The council gets feedback from the community to help make its decisions. Mississippi’s council meets this Thursday, August 10, from 10 a.m. to noon at Mississippi State Hospital. You can attend the meeting in person or virtually.
