This week, NCDHHS announced it will invest $22 million in the state's behavioral health crisis response system to expand community crisis centers and peer respite care across North Carolina. This investment will increase North Carolina’s capacity for community-based crisis treatment by 20 percent, helping to ensure people experiencing a behavioral health crisis have alternative options to emergency departments or community and state psychiatric hospitals when seeking care. NCDHHS’ investment will support five new community crisis centers for adults in Alamance, Forsyth, New Hanover, Pitt and Vance counties and three new community crisis centers for children in Gaston, Pitt and Vance counties. The new centers will join a network of 24 facility-based crisis centers in 22 other North Carolina counties. Part of the $22 million investment will support a new peer respite center in Wake County, in partnership with Alliance Health and Promise Resource Network. This will be the third peer respite program in North Carolina. NCDHHS will continue to invest in community-based resources across the state that strengthen the behavioral health system and ensure access to services whenever and wherever children and families need help. |
