During the sessions where community members and community partners are involved in the CHIP planning process, many stories and barriers have been shared regarding behavioral health and by asking “why?” multiple times to better understand the issue or concern. There are people without insurance and/or documentation status that are not able to obtain and pay for behavioral health services, along with the issue of some insurance plans only providing a limited amount of mental health visits annually. There is an issue with the lack of bilingual providers in the area. There are two different public school districts in the county and the two school districts have not participated in the same manner in the Youth Behavioral Risk Surveillance Survey (YBRSS) resulting in a lack of representative data for school-aged populations. The NC Senate Bill 49, often informally referred to as the parental consent bill or parent bill of rights also limits ability to engage youth and provide services to youth regarding behavioral or other concerns of a sensitive nature, like reproductive health services. Though Orange County has towns, there are many rural areas that struggle with a lack of infrastructure and resources. Some organizations with clinics have moved to providing basic behavioral health services due to the lack of access to outside therapists and providers. An unfortunate barrier to improving the behavioral health of the community is that there is a stigmatization issue about receiving care for mental and substance issues.

• Gaggle – online therapy in multiple languages
• Alliance (Laurie) – BCBS grant to support work – youth focused
• Grow your world – summer camps (intervention work); event in Alamance for back to school where local barbers are coming in for hair cuts
• Churches – social safe spaces
• Mental health coordinators at schools
• OC Schools
• CH-Carrboro City Schools
• Durham Tech Mobile Unit (MHFA instructor)
• El Centro
• NAMI
• El Futuro
• Law Enforcement
• Downtown Chapel Hill Partnership
• Campus Community Coalition
• UNC Student Wellness
• SafeKids
• Orange Partnership
• DSS
• Parks & Rec
• Orange Partnership
• Freedom House
• UNC Horizons
• BOH
• Local politics
• SOHRAD
• OCPEH
• EMS/911
• Chapel Hill Crisis Unit
• Fire departments
• Law enforcement
• Orange County and Chapel Hill libraries
• Orange County Department on Aging
• UNC Health System, including SHAC
• AKA Chapel Hill and Hillsborough graduate chapters
• Sigma Gamma Rho sorority graduate chapter
• Fraternities/sororities
• NCDHHS
• Schley Grange
• Ruritan clubs
• Residents
• Court system
• Compass Center
• Rape Crisis Center
• Planned Parenthood
• Churches/faith organizations
• Recreation
• Orange County Criminal Justice
• Durham Tech + Community Lab
• WCHL/Chapelboro
• Media partners
• Pharmacies
• Home Health agencies
• Insight Human Services
• El Futuro
• El Centro
• OCIM
• WIC
• Childcare facilities
• Apartments/neighborhoods
• Arts Council
• Refugee Community Partnership
• Orange Literacy
• Meals on Wheels
• IFC
• RENA
• Orange County Crisis Unit
• NCIPH
• Jackson Center
• Veterans groups
• Diaper Bank of NC
• Vocational rehabilitation
• LGBTQ center Durham
• Piedmont AHEC
• Regional Council
• Community centers
• NAACP

• Using evidence based behavioral screening tools in clinics, as appropriate
• Offering mental health and substance related trainings like Mental Health First Aid, Youth Mental Health First Aid, QPR, CALM, ASIST, etc.
• Widely distributing naloxone
• Syringe exchange programs
• Harm reduction programs
• Sharing information on 988 and other resources
• Providing information in multiple formats—online, phone, paper, etc. in languages of the community and with graphics if applicable to help with language and literacy barriers. Multiple formats also help with people who may have personal preference for one format over the other, or who have language, literacy, vision, hearing, or other concerns.
• Promoting Medicaid, 211, and local resources information
• Connection with a wide variety of community partners who may be able to better reach varied populations due to relationships, language, culture, comfort, etc.
• Working across community agencies and systems to reduce silos and confusion
• Meeting the people where they are
• Creating safe spaces
• Sharing information on social media, website, and at community events or through community displays or message boards
• Sharing information with formal and informal community leaders
• Adjusting behavioral screening tools for youth in clinics and suggesting the guardian step out of the room for that time.
• Peer education: Be the One To, Seize the Awkward, mentorships
• Having an emergency protocol in place for clinics, schools, and other settings where behavioral health may be addressed.
• Using restroom areas to post information.
• Providing bartenders, hairdressers, barbers, cosmetologists, tattoo artists, body artists, etc. with resources and information on behavioral health.
• Increasing social connections.
• Promoting and increasing non-therapy options, such as social clubs or arts.
• Providing education and social posts on isolation/loneliness and warning signs for possible need of mental health/substance use services.
• Increasing awareness of or starting support groups that form connections with people in similar situations, such as self-esteem groups for young adults.