The House Appropriations - Human Resources Division II convened on January 22, 2025, to discuss critical issues surrounding mental health services in North Dakota. The meeting highlighted ongoing challenges and initiatives aimed at improving access to care, particularly for youth and adolescents.

Representative Murphy opened the discussion by emphasizing the importance of collaboration among healthcare providers to address immediate psychiatric needs. He noted the significant shortage of youth and adolescent psychiatric providers in the state, which has led to increased waiting lists for services. The collaboration with the University of North Dakota Medical School was identified as a key strategy to enhance the availability of care.

The meeting also addressed the expansion of evening services. Although the organization has historically provided after-hours support, recent efforts have included hiring a receptionist to manage on-site services until 7:30 PM, allowing for greater accessibility to individual and group therapy sessions.

A major initiative discussed was the creation of an access team, which combines care coordinators and triage specialists to assist individuals from their first point of contact. This team aims to ensure seamless connections to necessary services, emphasizing the importance of ongoing communication, especially for those on waiting lists.

Stakeholder engagement was another focal point, with the introduction of a full-time community behavioral health liaison to strengthen relationships across an eight-county region. This role is designed to promote services and establish care coordination agreements to prevent individuals from falling through the cracks.

The meeting also covered the expansion of substance use disorder (SUD) services, with a focus on collaborative efforts to fill service gaps rather than duplicating existing resources. Plans to reintroduce aftercare programs and enhance family services were discussed, alongside initiatives to improve support for veterans through specialized training on military culture.

Crisis services were highlighted as a critical area needing attention, particularly regarding nighttime staffing. The organization aims to hire additional peer support specialists to work alongside crisis staff during night shifts, enhancing response capabilities in rural areas.

Lastly, the meeting concluded with an update on infrastructure needs, including a partnership with JLG Architects to assess space requirements for service delivery. The organization has also submitted its intent to pursue Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) certification, which will further align its services with community needs and stakeholder support.

Overall, the meeting underscored the ongoing commitment to improving mental health services in North Dakota through collaboration, expanded access, and enhanced community engagement.