News

On December 5-7, the North Carolina Council of Community Programs hosted its 2012 Conference & Exhibition in Pinehurst, NC.  Marti Knisley, Director of TAC's Community Support Initiative, co-presented a session with Beth Melcher, Deputy Secretary for Health Services, and Jessica Keith, Special Advisor on the ADA, from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services titled Replacing Facility-Based Housing with Community Housing and Services on December 5th. 

The session discussed the national context for ensuring integrated community living opportunities for people with disabilities, including the U.S. Supreme Court's Olmstead decision, which ultimately led to the focus on diversion of individuals with mental illness, developmental disabilities, and substance use disorders from inappropriate placements in adult care homes and group homes in North Carolina. The session also discussed the recent Settlement Agreement reached between the State of North Carolina and the U.S. Department of Justice to expand supportive housing and community-based services over the next several years. The role of providers and Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) in creating a service array and alternative housing options, as well as resources for doing so, were also explored.

Community Integration Info on TAC's Website