By Taylor Sisk
Staff Writer
XDS Inc., a nonprofit agency serving adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses in Orange, Person, Chatham, Durham and Alamance counties, is in partnership negotiations with the UNC Department of Psychiatry’s Center for Excellence in Community Public Health, with the objective of providing better and more services throughout the area.
“Nothing has been finalized, but the programs have met and discussed potential benefits to consumers from the partnership,†said Thava Mahadevan, XDS’ executive director.
XDS, or Cross Development Services, has been in operation since 2004 and primarily serves those with dual diagnoses, which may include, in addition to mental illness, substance abuse or a developmental disability. Among its primary services is Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), which provides an outreach team offering a range of support on an around-the-clock basis.
“The talks are in the early stages, but the prospects of partnering with XDS, one of the state’s best-run ACT teams, is very exciting,†said John Gilmore, co-director of the Center for Excellence and the Department of Psychiatry’s vice chair for research and scientific affairs.
The Center for Excellence includes the Schizophrenia Treatment and Evaluation Program (STEP) and Outreach and Support Intervention Services (OASIS) for adolescents and young adults who are experiencing, or are at risk of experiencing, early psychosis. Both STEP and OASIS have offices in Carr Mill Mall in Carrboro. The center provides training for graduate students from UNC’s nursing, social work and psychology programs.
Gilmore said the potential partnership with XDS would allow the Center for Excellence to provide a more comprehensive range of coordinated services for people with severe mental illness and “would significantly enhance our mission to train the next generation of community mental health providers.â€
“We are on the ground every day and know what is working and how to move the service system to assist the people we serve,†Mahadevan said. “We hope to access research and training resources that are available through the university and the Center for Excellence.â€
Center for Excellence co-director Bebe Smith said that the center has had a collaborative relationship with XDS for many years.
“Several graduate students who trained with us were hired by XDS,†Smith said, “and we’ve recognized that the training we provide is very helpful in preparing mental health professionals for this type of work in community mental health.
“We’re excited and hopeful that we’ll be able to work together even more closely in the future.†An objective of the partnership, Smith said, would be to find creative ways to better integrate services throughout the community.
Last summer, XDS moved from Chapel Hill to a 40-acre campus in Chatham County, on which it plans to expand activities to include horticulture therapy in partnership with the N.C. Botanical Garden, horseback riding, a music studio and art and pottery classes.
These are two of the best service providers in the state. I look forward to learning more about what this partnership might look like.