Issue of the Month: Kent County Mental Health—Network 180

Network 180, our county’s community mental health agency was formed in the early 2000’s to replace the old county department of mental health. The county commission makes annual appointments of board members to the Network 180 Board. Network 180 has an annual operating budget of $143 M budget, almost as much as the county operations budget. Most of Network 180’s funds come from state Medicaid allocations, but there is about $4 M coming from Kent County—the annual contribution from the county general fund of $2 M, plus state liquor tax distribution of $1.8 M, and another $320,000 from Kent County to use in Prevention Services. The agency served nearly 100,000 Kent County citizens in 2011 with services to persons with developmental disabilities, mental illness, substance use disorders, children & families with mental health issues, and a myriad of prevention services. Key issues for the Board and staff this coming year will be successfully integrating the new regulations of the nation’s Affordable Care Act, and implementation of the Center for Medicaid/Medicare’s new integrated medicine model. Network 180 has a significant presence in the county jail with its services to offenders with mental health issues. They also collaborate with schools in helping families with social issues that may affect a child’s learning environment.