Behavioral Health Planning Council to Meet Oct. 17 in Bismarck

The council that advises the North Dakota Department of Human Services on behavioral health services and issues will meet Wednesday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT, at Job Service North Dakota, 1601 E. Century Ave. in Bismarck.

Sean Cleary, policy advisor for the Governor’s Office, will provide a response at 10:15 a.m. to the council’s letter to the governor and will provide an update on the development of the executive budget. At 11:15 a.m., consultant Bevin Croft, Ph.D., of Human Services Research Institute (HSRI), and Pamela Sagness, director of the department’s Behavioral Health Division, will give a presentation on the HSRI Behavioral Health Report recommendations and future implementation activities.

Beginning at 12:45 p.m., individual council members and council committees and work group representatives will provide updates on Mental Illness Awareness Month activities, the insurance mandate for Applied Behavioral Analysis services and autism services, and reauthorization of Medicaid Expansion. Members may also discuss legislative interim committee highlights and provide other updates.

Members have scheduled time at 2 p.m. to discuss the council’s legislative platform and sponsored bills for the 2019 North Dakota legislative session. Membership, member orientation, policies and procedures, and topics for future informational presentations will also be discussed.

The council has reserved time for public comment on behavioral health services and issues from 3:45 to 4 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.