Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to practical episode #167, a TWO PARTER, in which we are diving into the nitty gritty around accessing mental health benefits and services. In Part 1 we focus on what services are available and how to find them and ways to approach starting the process. In Part 2 we focus on how the process works once you’re on the road to receiving services and the important things to consider and questions to ask your providers. 

Our guest is Natalie Elliott Handy. And, oh my gosh, is she a wealth of information. She is a seasoned, healthcare executive with 24+ years in the health and human services industry. Currently, she serves as the Vice President of Government Affairs and Advocacy at Health Connect America, a behavioral and mental health company offering services throughout Virginia and eight states in the southeastern United States. 

Prior to coming to Health Connect America, Natalie served as CEO of Intercept Health, CEO of four psychiatric residential treatment facilities in Virginia, VP of Utilization Review and Clinical Audit and CSA coordinator for the City of Roanoke, department of Social Services.  A servant at heart, Natalie takes pride in being seen as a mental health concierge, helping families and agencies navigate the system to find the most appropriate service.

In September twenty-Twenty-two Natalie alongside sisters J.J. Elliott Hill and Emily Elliott founded Sisterhood of Care, an organization offering caregivers a safe place to relate, learn, be inspired, find hope, and obtain the critical resources needed to support their loved one while also maintaining their sense of self. The Sisters launched their website and blog Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver in October, 2022, followed by their Confessions podcast in January, 2023.  

Welcome to today's VERY helpful conversation; we hope you get a lot out of it and please utilize all the resources linked below. 

Resources 

More about Health Connect America here.

Natalie and her sister’s Blog and Podcast, Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver, here.

Find information about IEPs and 504 plans

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