In October 2001 the North Carolina General Assembly passed comprehensive legislation to reform the public MH/DD/SA system. A centerpiece of this legislation was to improve the accountability of the system by enhancing the involvement of families and consumers. A State Plan was written to implement this legislation. The State Plan required the establishment of a Consumer and Family Advisor Committee (CFAC) and the development of a Local Business Plan (LBP). The intent of the legislation and the State Plan was for the CFAC to play an integral role in developing the LBP and in monitoring its implementation.

As with any reform effort, how this has actually played out has varied across the state. Little information was provided to families, consumers, and local communities on how CFAC’s should operate, what role they should play, and how they should play that role. NAMI North Carolina took a leadership role in providing information and training to families and consumers in local communities to assist them to have meaningful participation in the process. But additional work needs to be done.

NAMI North Carolina will work with the Division of MH/DD/SA to make changes in the State Plan to clarify and support the role of families and consumers in local service planning and monitoring. The State must identify criteria for local programs in the operating and support of these committees and develop procedures to monitor compliance.