Lt. Governor releases report on 3-year action plan for Behavioral Health Consortium

Lt. Governor Hall-Long, along with members of Delaware’s Behavioral Health Consortium, community advocates, and elected officials released the updated progress report for the three-year action plan to help tackle Delaware’s addiction treatment system and mental health services in the state.

After holding community forums throughout Delaware, the Behavioral Health Consortium released a three-year action plan in May 2017 outlining an action plan to better prevent and treat mental health and substance use disorder, expand access to treatment, and provide supports for family members.

The progress report illustrates how Delaware has made strides in implementing those community driven recommendations.

“Addressing Delaware’s access to behavioral health services and treatment for opioid use disorder is a major step in making our state stronger and healthier,” said Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long. “The Behavioral Health Consortium has been working tirelessly to make sure that every Delawarean has the opportunity to receive access to treatment and services. I am proud to say that we have been able to make progress on 94 percent of our year one recommendations.”

Delaware has been a leader among states in these efforts as the first in the nation to implement an overdose system of care, helping to connect individuals with the treatment services they need after initial contact with first responders or in emergency departments.

“I have been proud to serve as the co-chair of the Behavioral Health Consortium,” said Elizabeth Romero, Director of the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health. “It is gratifying to see all of the progress that the Consortium has made in such a short time and I look forward to furthering our efforts in the coming year. I also want to thank the Lieutenant Governor for her leadership and tireless advocacy on these critical issues affecting Delawareans.”

The passage of last year’s mental health parity legislation is helping ensure that addiction is treated like the disease that it is, and that treatment for mental health is made accessible by insurers.