Orange County puchases land for crisis diversion facility
CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS
INVESTIGATION. ERIN THOMAS
WRAL, NEWS LIVE IN RALEIGH.
>> THIS PARCEL OF LAND COULD
SOON BE HOME TO A CRISIS
DIVERSION FACILITY IN ORANGE
COUNTY. THIS KIND OF FACILITY
AS A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GET
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES
OTHER THAN AT A HOSPITAL OR
POLICE STATION. THE PROJECT HAS
BEEN IN DISCUSSION FOR YEARS
THIS WEEK. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGREED TO PURCHASE THE 5 ACRE
PLOT WRAL'S MONICA CASEY IS
LIVE THERE NOW. AND MONICA,
THIS IS A BIG STEP FOR ORANGE
COUNTY.
>> IT IS THIS FACILITY WOULD
OFFER BOTH ASSISTANCE WITH BOTH
URGENT, IMMEDIATE CRISES AS
WELL AS LONGER-TERM SUPPORT.
NOW A MAJOR ADVANTAGE OF THIS
SITE IS THE BUILDING RIGHT UP
THE ROAD. THAT'S A UNC
HOSPITAL.
>> VIDEO FROM DRONE 5 GIVES US
A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF WHAT WILL
BE A WIDE RANGING CENTER.
ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO PURCHASE
THESE 5 ACRES FOR 1.0, 3,
5 MILLION DOLLARS. AND I THINK
I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO JUMP
ON THIS PIECE OF LAND AT THE
PROSECUTOR NEGOTIATED.
>> NOW, NOT CLOSING ON. THIS
MAY END UP MAKING IT COST MORE
IN THE LONG RUN DISCUSSIONS
ON ADDRESSING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
IN ORANGE COUNTY DATE. BACK TO
2019 COMMISSION CHAIR JAMES AT
A BEDFORD TELLS ME PEOPLE OF
ALL AGES CAN BENEFIT. I THINK
THE PANDEMIC REVEALED WAS IF IT
WAS MORNING, WE KNEW THERE WAS
A NEED, I THINK IS ACTUALLY
FINALLY NEED ACROSS ALL AGES
FAMILY. AND WE THOUGHT THE
FACILITY WILL PROVIDE URGENT
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE FOR UP
TO 24 HOURS AND CRISIS SERVICES
FOR UP TO 2 WEEKS. IT WILL ALSO
HAVE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT
HOUSING AND OTHER NEEDS.
>> ONE GOAL IS TO TAKE THE
PRESSURE OFF THE HOSPITAL AND
DETENTION CENTER IN WHICH WE
HAVE CONTRACTS, YOU KNOW, WITH
MEDICAL PROVIDERS TO THE
DETENTION CENTER. BUT IT'S NOT
THE SAME AS HAVING THAT
PSYCHIATRIC CARE AND HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS OF PEER SUPPORT
TO OTHER COUNTIES ARE ALSO
GETTING CREATIVE TO DEAL WITH
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. THIS
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER IN
ALAMANCE OPENED LAST YEAR.
>> DURHAM USES UNARMED FIRST
RESPONDERS IN ITS HEART
PROGRAM. AND IN WAKE COUNTY, A
NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE
GETS TREATMENT FOR DEFENDANTS
WHO ARE DEEMED INCAPABLE TO
PROCEED TO TRIAL INSIDE THE
FACILITY RATHER THAN AT A STATE
HOSPITAL.
>> WHILE THE COUNTY CLOSES ON
THIS LAND ON JUNE, 30TH HOW TO
FUND THE FACILITY ITSELF WILL
BE PART OF A BROADER DISCUSSION
ON ORANGE COUNTY'S BUDGET THAT
IS SET FOR NEXT WEEK LIVE IN