Caring Family Network (CFN), based in Durham, took over operation of some mental health and substance abuse programs here after the state ordered a reform of mental health services a few years ago.

Sean Schreiber, regional director for CFN, said in late January, “With the continued problems associated with the state’s mental health reform, along with service rates and the demands of trying to be too many things to too many people,” CFN determined that it could not meet the needs of OPC consumers.

This week, OPC Transition Project Manager Jim Martin said that, “Freedom House has moved into the Person Counseling Center offices and is providing daytime crisis, substance abuse, psychiatric, mental health outpatient, and community support services.”

He said that, “CFN, from a treatment standpoint, is almost completely out of the picture since Feb. 29. The CFN nurse will continue working in Roxboro through March to make sure that consumers who need medication injections will be able to get them,” Martin added.

After that, he explained, Freedom House and Triumph will need to arrange their own nursing coverage.

“All other services, to my knowledge, are now being provided by either Freedom House or Triumph,” said Martin.

Freedom House has been a provider of substance abuse, mental health, and crisis services in Orange and Durham counties for many years.

Triumph has operated in Person County for over two and half years and agreed to expand its services, Martin said, “in response to the transition of CFN.” >>

Triumph will continue to provide outpatient, psychiatric, and community support services, he said, adding that, “They are in the process of moving their current Roxboro office into the Person Counseling Center and will share that space with Freedom House.”

Person Counseling Center’s number (336-599-8366) is still active and both Triumph and Freedom House staff can be reached at that number, Martin said.

Dr. Nathan Jackson will continue to provide psychiatric services at Person Counseling. According to Martin, Jackson will work with Triumph on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and with Freedom House on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“Current consumers of Dr. Jackson will need to select their new provider agency,” Martin explained.

In some limited cases, related to types of services needed, some consumers may have limited choice, he said. Additional information on those choices will be available in the waiting room of Person Counseling Center.

When asked whether current staff would remain at Person Counseling, Martin said, “It is completely on an individual basis as to whether CFN staff will remain.”

He said that some CFN staff members chose to seek other employment and left the agency before Feb. 29. Others accepted work with Freedom House and Triumph, Martin said.

Both Freedom House and Triumph “will assign lead persons to run their programs in Roxboro,” he said. “At present, Kim Nance, regional director for Triumph, is the person managing the start-up. I understand that they will assign a program manager soon,” Martin explained.

Freedom House has not yet officially named their site manager, but Todd Posey, the former CFN-Roxboro program director, has been hired by Freedom House and is helping with start-up in Roxboro as well, Martin said.

Mental health reform in North Carolina began with the goals of improving access to cost-effective care, choice in treatment, and system accountability. Under the state reform plan, area mental health programs, like OPC, became local management entities (LMEs), separating management and clinical functions, and transitioning many clinicians to other independent or agency-based practice settings.

Many services once provided directly by area programs are now offered by providers such as CFN, who contract with the LMEs. Under the reform, state funded treatment is now targeted to patients with severe mental illnesses and conditions.