Meridian Behavioral Health Services Inc.

“The return was prepared by an independent accountant with assistance and oversight by management. Upon completion and review, the return was provided to each voting board member prior to submission to the irs.”

“The organization is required to maintain a conflict of interest policy per several of its provider agreements. The policy prohibits the organization from directly engaging in business transactions with board members, and the members are required affirm adherance to the policy each year in writing.”

“Compensation for the ceo is determined by the board of directors using government comparability data for other health care provider organizations of similar size within the region. As of the filing of this return, compensation was last reviewed for the new ceo/executive director hired january 2016.”

“The organization's governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements are available upon request at the organization's administrative office.”

“Volunteers include non-compensated board members and clinical interns.”

“Effective february 29, 2016, the organization purchased the assets of jackson county psychological services, pa, a provider of mental health services primarily to children in haywood, jackson, and macon counties in north carolina. As a result of the purchase, operations of the organization nearly doubled, including staff size. Operations previously under the acquired organization being performed by the filing organization as of the effective date.”

“2. Meridian continues to be one of the leading proponents of the "recovery" initiative for adults. In north carolina, requests for training and consultations continue. Training programs in wellness recovery action planning, peer employment, and recovery education for individuals in and outside of the organization are provided. 3. There are now recovery education center facilities in macon, jackson, haywood, and transylvania counties. These facilities provide adult students with classes including parenting with love and logic, recovery lifestyles, meds, trauma, hope and recovery, sa recovery discovery, and living in balance. 4. Meridian continues to be recognized for the work it does with its assertive community treatment team services for adults. The teams in haywood, cherokee, and jackson counties have expanded to be mid-size teams which indicate that each team can now serve 75 consumers. 5. Meridian recently expanded its offender services program to include a domestic violence intervention program. 6. Meridian continues to assist employees who wish to attain dual credentials in substance abuse and mental health. Employees in all service programs are eligible to participate in this initiative. Thus far, thirty-one clinicians have attained their dual credentials. It is meridian's plan to have dually-credentialed, dually-competent clinicians in all services and programs. 7. Meridian introduced the new pace peer support services in 2014. This program is provided by peers and is structured and scheduled for activities for adults age 18 and older with a diagnosis of mental health and substance use disorders. This is an individualized, recovery-focuses service that allows individuals the opportunity to learn to manage their own recovery and advocacy process. Interventions by peer support staff serve to enhance the development of natural supports, as well as coping and self-management skills, and may also provide supportive services to assist an individual in community re-entry following hospitalization. Specific interventions include: self-help, system advocacy, individual advocacy, pre-crisis and post-crisis support, housing, education / employment, meals and social activities. 8. A new supported employment program was added in 2015. Supported employment is an evidence-based practice that has shown to be effective in assisting individuals acquire and maintain competitive paid employment, particularly those for whom employment has not been achieved and/or has been interrupted or intermittent. Services are driven by the program participant's preferences and choices. One of the hallmarks of this service is that no one is excluded ("zero-exclusion") from participation in the program on the basis of readiness, diagnosis, symptoms, substance abuse history, psychiatric hospitalization, level of disability or legal system involvement. The service clearly affirms that employment is a path to recovery.”