North Wake News

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has announced a commitment of $6.5 million to support community-based alternatives to incarceration in Western North Carolina. This investment targets counties heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene, including Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Rutherford, Surry, and Wilkes.

NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai emphasized the importance of such programs, stating, "At a time when our western counties are struggling to rebuild infrastructure and meet daily needs, programs that help people avoid entering or remaining in the justice system are more important than ever." He added that many individuals in prisons and jails in North Carolina experience mental health issues and substance use disorders and need intervention to find recovery paths.

The funding will help establish or expand Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) programs through organizations like Project Lazarus, HealthBook, and Vaya Health. These programs offer alternatives to incarceration and connect those at risk of arrest with critical social services. The diversion programs provide resources for law enforcement to redirect non-violent crime offenders to treatment and community services instead of arrest and incarceration.

Kelly Crosbie, Director of the NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services, noted, "Our western counties impacted by Hurricane Helene need support for programs that prevent detention. When these types of programs aren’t available, people who need treatment for mental health and substance use disorders can end up in carceral settings."

Additional funding will go to organizations like HealthBook, FIRST at Blue Ridge, Oxford House, and Freedom Life Ministries to support housing and employment services, reinforcing reentry programs for individuals recently released from incarceration. These programs focus on case management and address non-medical needs such as transportation and employment, aiming to lower recidivism rates.

The investment continues NCDHHS' broader $835 million strategy to enhance North Carolina's behavioral health system, with significant portions dedicated to improving services for those in the justice system.

The department aims to use the broader investment to further expand services and develop an integrated behavioral health system for all state residents. More details on these efforts are available in the report "Transforming North Carolina’s Behavioral Health System: Investing in a System That Delivers Whole-Person Care When and Where People Need It," as well as the NCDHHS Division's Strategic Plan for 2024-2029.