THE COALITION: The State of MHDDSA
May 2010

The Coalition's 40 member organizations are acutely aware of the continued fiscal crisis that North Carolina faces.  Families and individuals with developmental disabilities, mental illness and the disease of addiction throughout North Carolina have felt the effects of this unprecedented crisis and the budget cuts imposed by the General Assembly.  In December of 2009, The Coalition launched an online survey tool to collect public input about the impact of cuts to services and supports to people with developmental disabilities, mental illness, and addictive disease, as well as the impact to their families, organizations providing those supports, and the people on the front lines.  The Coalition followed this by sponsoring a series of town hall meetings to allow the public to speak.

Our survey has so far garnered 1400 responses; the majority about the effect of cuts to services and supports on individuals served. Our first 5 town halls had more than 400 participants with members of the public speaking in support of services for people with addictive disease, mental illness and developmental disabilities. As we move forward to address these very serious issues, The Coalition stands ready to assist policymakers in their efforts to find the most appropriate and least damaging solutions. Our members and leadership have decades of experience with this system and can provide a unique insight to potential solutions. Include The Coalition in creating solutions.

The following is a sampling of the responses to our survey and town halls. We urge you to read through these quotes from people across the state.  Read More