Behavioral Health and Social Determinants of Health

A governor is uniquely situated to look across the state and coordinate action among state agencies, communities and stakeholders. Many governors are actively engaged in aligning multiple health delivery system reform efforts with broader population health strategies and exploring economically sustainable models.  One focal point of the NGA work with states is in establishing or scaling up cost-effective programs for individuals with complex care needs. Many of those individuals have unmet behavioral health (mental illness and/or substance misuse) and social service needs that are better served in the community and outside of acute care or institutional settings.  To that end, NGA is providing states technical assistance around a number of policy priorities in behavioral health including:

  • Improving outcomes and reducing cost of care for complex populations
  • System-level behavioral health and primary care integration
  • Capacity building in rural and underserved areas
  • Supportive housing
  • Behavioral health in criminal justice involved

NGA Resources

Addressing the Infectious Disease Consequences of the Opioid Epidemic

Governors are at the forefront of efforts to curb the opioid epidemic and related challenges, including increased transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and other blood-borne ...

Institute for State Criminal Justice and Public Safety Executives

Seattle | May 21-22, 2019 NGA hosted 34 states in Seattle to discuss issues around criminal justice and public safety at the 2019 Institute for State Public Safety Executives. Held ...

Letter Regarding Appropriations for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies

May 20, 2019 The Honorable Roy Blunt Chair Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education U.S. Senate Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Patty Murray Ranking Member Appropriations ...

States Pursue Strategies to Counter Rising Suicide Rate

Data-informed Approaches, Strategic Partnerships and Upstream Prevention Efforts Are Key Levers for States With suicide rates up about 30 percent over the past two decades, the National Governors Association partnered ...

State Strategies for Averting Early Deaths

Death by suicide is a complex individual, relational and public health problem. The incidence of such deaths over the past two decades has increased nearly 30%, with half of states ...

Leveraging Data to Unleash Innovation & Curb the Opioid Epidemic

In the complex fight against the opioid overdose epidemic, states can use data to identify critical needs, direct resources and drive policymaking. An NGA survey of 41 states conducted in ...

Emerging Trends in the Evolving Opioid Epidemic

While the opioid overdose epidemic justifiably dominates national and state-level headlines, a significant issue is re-emerging for governors and policymakers across the country: cocaine, methamphetamine (meth) and stimulants are inflicting ...

NGA Opioid Summit for New Administrations

Washington, DC | April 8-9, 2019 AGENDA From April 8-9. NGA hosted the Opioid Summit for New Administrations in Washington, D.C. Public health and public safety officials from 33 states ...

Pennsylvania Gov. Wolf to Address Opioid Summit for New Gubernatorial Administrations

NGA Session to Highlight Successes and Lessons Learned from Pennsylvania to Inform Other States’ Opioid Response Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf will discuss his state’s nationally recognized efforts in addressing the ...
Governors Welcome Signing of Bipartisan Opioids Bill

Governors Welcome Signing of Bipartisan Opioids Bill

WASHINGTON—The National Governors Association (NGA) applauds the president’s signing of H.R. 6, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, which provides much-needed additional resources to states and communities as they ...