The Alamance County Behavioral Health Center, which opened on June 19 after a two-year collaboration between Vaya Health, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), and other partners, is already making a significant impact. Last month, it served 723 individuals, addressing behavioral health needs, including mental health and substance abuse issues, as well as intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The 28,000-square-foot center, located at 963 Kirkpatrick Rd., aims to divert individuals with behavioral health crises from jail, offering support in a more accessible and coordinated environment than the fragmented services previously available in the county. It features a 16-bed residential facility for inpatient care, which is awaiting licensure by NCDHHS. In the meantime, the center operates a 16-hour-per-day behavioral health urgent care facility with eight beds, which provides care for up to 23 hours for those in need.
Currently, the facility is open seven days a week, but it plans to expand to 24/7 operation as soon as it can secure the necessary around-the-clock security personnel. Reuss has expressed hope for this expansion soon and has reached out to local municipalities for support, though funding and staffing challenges remain. The center has already made a significant contribution by offering services such as a peer bridger program, peer living room, and substance abuse intensive outpatient programs, as well as therapy and medication management services.
Additionally, the center is collaborating with organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness to create a “community calendar” of services, providing centralized access to various mental health support programs. The center’s services are funded through a mix of NCDHHS grants, local investments, and state funding, with a focus on sustainability and ensuring that it remains an accessible resource for the entire Alamance County community.
The team at Vaya Health continues to work with local and state partners to ensure the center’s long-term success and to increase its accessibility for all residents, regardless of insurance status.
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