Our priorities and recommendations are grounded in best-practice models of mental health service delivery. These models recognize that people should have access to support before a crisis or emergency occurs. North Dakota needs a robust, community-based mental health system of care that helps reduce reliance on costly, intensive institutional settings.
A strong mental health system also requires a substantial, multifaceted workforce. This includes professionals across the continuum of care, as well as individuals with lived experience who can help people navigate services, connect with support, and begin their recovery.
Best-practice models from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) also emphasize the importance of an effective crisis response system. When a mental health crisis occurs, communities must be able to rely on three core pillars:
1. A place to call: 988
2. Someone to respond: Mobile crisis teams
3. A place to go: Crisis stabilization beds
MHAN recognizes that while there is still work to be done to improve North Dakota’s adult mental health system, efforts over the past decade have created a solid foundation for continued progress. It is now time to devote that same level of energy and attention to building a strong foundation for North Dakota’s children’s mental health system.
MHAN Priorities
Invest in community-based mental health services for more than 18,000 children with serious emotional disturbance (SED). Case management, wraparound services, and crisis prevention can reduce unnecessary out-of-home placements.
Develop a regional crisis stabilization system so children and youth experiencing a mental health crisis have a safe place to stabilize without unnecessary emergency room visits or hospitalizations.
Expand the Cross-Disability Waiver to include children with mental health needs, helping fill service gaps and reduce the burden on families.
Sustain and expand funding for family support organizations so families can access essential guidance, education, resources, and support.
Expand Medicaid coverage for peer support services, ensure living wages for peer support professionals, and increase access to family peer support certification.
Establish Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) in every region. CCBHCs provide 24/7 access to a comprehensive range of mental health, substance use, crisis, and behavioral health services.
Expand mobile crisis teams statewide, particularly in rural regions, and make these services more accessible to children and families experiencing behavioral health crises.
Increase access to stable, supportive housing for people with mental health conditions, individuals involved in the justice system, and those transitioning out of institutional settings.
Expand coordinated, cross-system case management services for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness.
Oppose any waiver of the Institutions for Mental Diseases (IMD) Exclusion. North Dakota must first strengthen community-based mental health and behavioral health services statewide before considering major changes that could increase reliance on institutional care.
