Macon Mental Health Task Force
August 1, 2008


Members present – Ronnie Beale, Jim Bruckner, Rhonda Cox, Robert Holland, 
Tammy Keezer, Jane Kimsey, Paula Ledford, Kathy McGaha, Mike Neidig and 
Andy Shields

Approval of Minutes – Robert Holland made a motion to approve the minutes.
Mike Neidig 2nd the motion, with a unanimous vote for approval.


Action Items:

Jane Kimsey reported to the task force members that the report to the Board
of Commissioners on the Mental Health Task Force and its recommendations went
very well.  Kathy McGaha thanked both Jim Bruckner and Ms. Kimsey for all 
their hard work.

Kathy McGaha stated that she had met with the Steering Committee of Healthy
Carolinians to discuss HCMC undertaking this project.  Ms. McGaha reported
that the Steering Committee had approved forming a Mental Health sub-committee 
and made several suggestions for names for possible committee members.  
Ms. McGaha said the new sub-committee would be made up of the existing Mental
Health Task Force members (Marty Wadewitz will replace Don Sandoval).  Also 
asked to serve on this committee are Roberta Swank, Brian Welch, Kim Angel and 
Judy Kuehn.

Kathy McGaha next asked the task force members to consider possible dates and 
times for this new sub-committee to meet.  After a group discussion, the 
following dates were agreed upon:
> September 19th  from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM 
> October 17th  from 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
> November 21st from 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
All meetings will be held in Meeting Rooms A/B at the Health and Human Services
Building.

Kathy McGaha passed out a handout for the task force members to read over.  
The handout stated that Healthy Carolinians, Inc. and UNC at Greensboro had 
recently been awarded a one-year grant to study mental health promotion, 
substance abuse and suicide prevention from the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable 
Trust.  Ms. McGaha reviewed the list of benchmarks that this committee is 
proposing for the next year.  Ms. McGaha stated that she will be a member of
the statewide Advisory Council.

Rhonda Cox and Tammy Keezer next updated the task force members on the current
status of several things happening with Smoky Mountain Center.  
* Ms. Cox stated that they were in the final part of the proposal process for
  the Drop-In Center RFP and four responses had been received.
* Ms. Cox stated that telemedicine will soon be available in the counties of
  Haywood, Jackson and Macon.
* Ms. Cox stated that Haywood Regional Hospital hoped to have the new beds 
  specifically for mental health patients available by late August.  Ms. Cox 
  said Cannon Memorial Hospital would also have additional beds.
* Ms. Cox further updated the committee members on the status of the 24/7/365 
  Assessment Center.
o Ms. Cox explained that Region A was divided into three zones, with Macon 
  County being in Zone 2.
o Ms. Cox explained that staff had been hired for Zones 1 & 2, but staffing 
  needs were more of a problem for Zone 3.  
o Ms. Cox stated that Smoky Mountain has tried to be creative in order to get
  staffing for Zone 3.
o Ms. Cox stated that services from the Balsam Center cannot be divested until
  all three zones have staff in place.

Kathy McGaha and Paula Ledford informed the task force members that they had 
appeared in front of the Board of Education.  Ms. McGaha stated the RFP was 
in draft form and she had also met with Jack Horton.  Ms. McGaha and Ms. 
Ledford will next send out this information and see what results they get back.

Mike Neidig briefly updated the task force members on the Jail Program.  Mr. 
Neidig stated that the attendance had been low, but the program was 
progressing.  Mr. Neidig said bullying was one factor involved with the 
low attendance.  

The next meeting will be held on Friday, November 21st.  The meeting will
start at 10:30 AM in Meeting Rooms A/B at the Health and Human Services
Building.

Minutes recorded by Rhonda Blanton