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Position Paper on Dix Campus

309 West Millbrook Road, Suite 121

Raleigh, North Carolina 27609

Telephone 919-788-0801

Helpline 800-451-9682

Facsimile 919-788-0906

http://www.naminc.org

mail@naminc.org

We all know the vital role that Dorothea Dix Hospital has played in the care of the mentally ill for well over a hundred years. It was a promise on the part of North Carolina to provide a haven and shelter for its citizens and their families when these brain diseases struck. That promise must still be kept. The monies realized by the sale or transfer of this property, morally and ethically must be used for the same purposes. To that end, NAMI North Carolina makes the following requests regarding the disposition of the Dorothea Dix property:

· NAMI North Carolina asks that the monies gained from the sale of Dix be kept in the mental health system and not revert to the general fund.

· We request that the proceeds be placed in the Mental Health Trust Fund where they will be secured for purposes of helping to meet the critical needs related to mental health reform.

· We request that the proceeds from the sale of the Dix Property, be targeted to fund those services, such as ACTT, Jail Diversion, Housing, Peer Support, etc. that are proven effective and can indeed help the state of North Carolina to keep its promise to our citizens with brain disorders.

· NAMI North Carolina asks that a portion of the money be used to expand housing efforts within the Division. A decent place to live is a vital component of the recovery effort that the Reform Plan hopes to achieve.

· We also ask that a portion of the money be used to establish closer coordination of services for those with mental illness who are caught up in the criminal justice system. This includes services such as Crisis Intervention Training in local communities, Jail Diversion programs, and Mental Health Courts. A portion of the money realized should be used to establish better liaison between the Division of Mental Health and LMEs with the Department of Corrections.

· NAMI North Carolina specifically requests, should this property not be sold, and should the property be transferred to another state entity, that some mechanism be established whereby North Carolina’s mental health system, through compensation to the Mental Health Trust Fund, realizes benefits commensurate with the value of the Dorothea Dix property.

Submitted by, National Alliance on Mental Illness North Carolina Board of Directors