
Behavioral Health
convened 2015-2016
Work is ongoing
The South Carolina Institute of Medicine and Public Health (IMPH) convened a taskforce comprised of behavioral health professionals and stakeholders from across South Carolina to address a set of priority areas related to improving care and outcomes to better serve our residents with behavioral health illnesses.
Mission and action
The taskforce mission was to create lasting improvements in our state’s system of behavioral health services and supports by developing and recommending cost-effective, actionable solutions to existing challenges. The Behavioral Health Taskforce envisioned an integrated and fiscally sustainable system of high quality, cost-effective and accessible behavioral health services and supports for South Carolinians who need them.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Behavioral Health Taskforce was chaired by Kester S. Freeman, Jr., Executive Director of IMPH. Dr. Gerald Wilson served as the liaison to the IMPH Board of Directors. A Steering Committee identified the need for two committees to more fully investigate specific issues: Integrated Care and Community Resources. These committees identified potential solutions by examining best and promising practices from our state and others. Committees researched their respective focal areas and made recommendations to the Steering Committee about how to improve behavioral health and related health care services in South Carolina.
Along with overseeing the work of these committees, the Steering Committee also addressed the issues of access to behavioral health services and the need for more behavioral health professionals. The recommendations approved by the Steering Committee are actionable and their implementation will be advanced by key stakeholders.
View the final report:
May 2015
PROGRESS REPORT:
October 2016
Members of the Advisory Committee
Mr. Kester Freeman, Jr.
Chair, Executive Director, South Carolina Institute of Medicine & Public Health
Ms. Trina Cornelison
Executive Director, Continuum of Care Office of the Governor
Mr. Jim Head
Senior Vice President, Policy and Education South Carolina Hospital Association
Dr. Ligia Latiff-Bolet
Director, Quality Management and Compliance South Carolina Department of Mental Health
Mr. John Magill
Director, South Carolina Department of Mental Health
Ms. Gloria Prevost
Executive Director, Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities, Inc.
Mr. Bob Toomey
Director, South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services
Dr. Robert Bank
Executive Director, Columbia Area Mental Health Center Deputy Director of Medical Affairs South Carolina Department of Mental Health
Ms. Ann-Marie Dwyer
Director, Behavioral Health South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Ms. Joy Jay
Director, Mental Health America of South Carolina
Dr. Pete Liggett
Deputy Director for Long Term and Behavioral Health South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Hon. Amy McCulloch
Judge, Richland County Mental Health Court Co-Founder, Partners in Crisis
Dr. Kenneth Rogers
Chair, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Greenville Health System
Dr. Thomas Uhde
Professor & Chair, Medical University of South Carolina Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Ms. Cheryl Johnson Benjamin
Senior Director, Health Council United Way of the Midlands
Dr. Alison Evans
Chair, South Carolina Mental Health Commission South Carolina Department of Mental Health
Mr. Thornton Kirby
President & CEO, South Carolina Hospital Association
Mr. Bill Lindsey
Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness-South Carolina
Dr. Meera Narasimhan
Professor and Chair, University of South Carolina Department of Neuropsychiatry & Behavioral Science
Mr. Bryan Stirling
Director, South Carolina Department of Corrections
Ms. Lathran Woodard
Chief Executive Officer, South Carolina Primary Health Care Association
Behavioral Health Implementation Leadership Council
Following the successful release of the final report in May of 2015, IMPH established a Behavioral Health Implementation Leadership Council (ILC). The role of the Behavioral Health ILC was to prioritize recommendations of the taskforce; provide the vision for how the recommendations will be achieved; keep continued, focused attention on recommendations; eliminate or minimize barriers to implementation; connect and mobilize stakeholders; promote and track progress related to implementation of taskforce recommendations and inform the content of an annual written report of progress towards implementation. The Behavioral Health ILC was chaired by Kester S. Freeman, Jr., Executive Director of IMPH. The Board liaison was Dr. Gerald Wilson.

Behavioral Health Implementation Leadership Council
Mr. Kester S. Freeman, Jr.
Executive Director, IMPH and Behavioral Health ILC Chair
Mr. Thornton Kirby
President and CEO, SC Hospital Association
Ms. Gloria Prevost
Executive Director, Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities, Inc.
Dr. Alison Evans
Chair, SC Mental Health Commission
Dr. Pete Liggett
Deputy Director for Long Term Care and Behavioral Health, SC Department of Health and Human Services
Mr. Bryan Stirling
Director, SC Department of Corrections
Ms. Sara Goldsby
Acting Director, SC Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services
Mr. John Magill
Director, SC Department of Mental Health
In August 2017, the work of the ILC was folded into the SC Behavioral Health Coalition (BHC) and their leadership team. IMPH continues to support the BHC and participates on the Executive Leadership Team, the Core Leadership Team and each committee of the BHC.
IMPH Publications
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Press Release: IMPH Releases Guide for Local Policymakers in Use of Opioid Settlement Funds
S.C. will receive more than $360 million over the next 18 years Left to right: Hunter Sox, IMPH; Jared Libet, Office of the South Carolina Attorney General; Senator Katrina Frye…
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Press Release: IMPH and the South Carolina Behavioral Health Coalition (SCBHC) have jointly released the Behavioral Health 2021 Progress Report + One-pager in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month
The South Carolina Institute of Medicine & Public Health and the South Carolina Behavioral Health Coalition jointly release this update to a 2015 report. COLUMBIA, S.C. (May 24, 2021) —…
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Policy Brief: Increasing Access to Behavioral Health Providers + One-pager
Data demonstrates that many communities across South Carolina cannot meet the behavioral health needs of their residents. According to Mental Health America’s 2021 report, “The State of Mental Health in…
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Addressing the Opioid Epidemic and Spread of Infectious Disease Through the Provision of Syringe Services Programs
IMPH has released a new policy brief, Addressing the Opioid Epidemic and Preventing the Spread of Infectious Disease Through the Provision of Syringe Services Programs. This brief examines the related opioid, human…
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Update: Approaches to South Carolina School Mental Health Services Video Series
In October 2018, IMPH hosted a one-day Legislative Summit that convened Health Policy Fellows alumni, key stakeholders and IMPH board members to provide an in-depth look at a timely public…
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The State of Mental Health in America 2020
Mental Health America (MHA) released its 2020 State of Mental Health in America state rankings that factor in the prevalence of mental illness and rates of access to care. South…
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Discussing Barriers to Closing the Behavioral Health Integration Gap
It is important to engage in these national discussions about the barriers that exist for closing the integration gap in behavioral health. Read more
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Coaxing Veterans Into Treatment to Prevent Suicides
Only half of the veterans who need mental health assistance are obtaining it. The VA system in South Carolina is working to accommodate veterans with mental health issues. Read more
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More employers are addressing mental health
“A new survey finds more employers are improving access to mental health care, including offering on-site counseling and online programs to address anxiety, depression, sleep and pain.” Read more
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Nationwide psychiatrist shortage’s impact on South Carolina
More individuals nationwide are seeking help for mental health concerns. While many are getting the help they need, the demand for workers in the field is outpacing supply. SC education…
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Mental Health Experts Urge Residents to Seek Help
The stigma around mental illness and treatment has resulted in serious consequences, as people often feel alone and too ashamed to seek treatment. Berkeley Community Mental Health Center seeks to…
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Suicide Rate in SC Prisons Hits Record High as Mental Health Problems Grow
Eleven South Carolina prisoners committed suicide last year, double the number from 2017. Reports like IMPH’s “Hope for Tomorrow” and organizations like the South Carolina Behavioral Health Coalition are working to…
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AHA: The top 6 policy priorities that could improve behavioral health care access at hospitals and save billions
Issues such as the opioid epidemic and an increased suicide rate in the U.S. are increasing demand for behavioral health care services, while the industry faces challenges that still need…
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How Healthcare Organizations are Fusing Primary Care and Behavioral Health
Innovative health systems nationwide are working to fuse together primary care and behavioral health, addressing a changing population and how they access care. Read More
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2016 Progress Report – Hope for Tomorrow: The Collective Approach for Transforming SC’s Behavioral Health Systems
Significant Progress Made in SC Behavioral Health Services and Supports The South Carolina Institute of Medicine & Public Health (IMPH) released the first annual Progress Report presenting a status update on each…
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One Year Update – Behavioral Health Taskforce
“One Year Update – Behavioral Health Taskforce” provides a brief status update on the processes and structure developed to help achieve the 20 recommendations to improve our state’s system of…
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Hope for Tomorrow: The Collective Approach for Transforming South Carolina’s Behavioral Health Systems
“Hope for Tomorrow: The Collective Approach for Transforming South Carolina’s Behavioral Health Systems” is the product of over 18 months of work by a statewide taskforce of over 60 public and private…
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Behavioral Health Taskforce Brief
The “Taskforce Brief” provides a short overview of the work and recommendations published in the full report of the Behavioral Health Taskforce, “Hope for Tomorrow: The Collective Approach for Transforming South Carolina’s…
Contact
For more information, contact Maya Pack