To address the behavioral health care needs of underserved communities, the National Network to Eliminate Disparities in Behavioral Health (the NNED) was formed with support from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, and The Annie E. Casey Foundation, in partnership with the National Alliance of Multi-ethnic Behavioral Health Associations (NAMBHA).
NNED Vision: Striving for behavioral health access for all individuals, families, and communities.
NNED Mission: To build a national network of communities and organizations to promote policies, practices, standards and research to improve behavioral health access for underserved, under-resourced populations.
The NNED supports information sharing, networking, and engagement among organizations and communities dedicated to the behavioral health and well-being of underserved communities. The NNED identifies and links “pockets of excellence” in improving the delivery of behavioral health care interventions and promoting access to high-quality and affordable behavioral healthcare services and support for all. It strives to avoid the tendency to “reinvent the wheel.” The NNED works with network members to:
- Coordinate the sharing of community-based knowledge and training of cultural, indigenous, and community-based best practices;
- Foster new collaborative partnerships to grow and spread “pockets of excellence;”
- Leverage resources through partnering and collaborative initiatives; and
- Research and design new practices and adapt existing practices.
The NNED tries to bridge these differences through a set of guiding principles that include a commitment to:
- Excellence in behavioral health;
- A strong community voice;
- Collective dialogue;
- Respect and consensus;
- Trust and reciprocity;
- A strengths-based approach to policy, practice, and research;
- A holistic view of health and wellness across the lifespan;
- Understanding system intersections;
- Understanding of good business principles; and
- Flexibility.
If your organization is interested in partnering with the NNED, please email connect@nned.net.
For the best experience on both the NNED and NNEDshare websites, we recommend keeping your browser up to date. Minimal browser requirements for the NNED and NNEDshare websites:
- Microsoft Edge 38
- Chrome 56
- Firefox 52
- Safari 10
- Opera 44
Note: Internet Explorer is no longer supported by Microsoft as the last version was released in 2013, so it is not recommended that you use Internet Explorer to access the NNED websites.