NCDHHS and Trillium Health Resources Announce New Crisis Centers

NCDHHS and Trillium Health Resources Announce $13.15 Million for New Crisis Centers
Four providers in New Hanover, Pitt, and Lenoir counties will launch centers for adults and children

GREENVILLE, N.C. – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and Trillium Health Resources will award $13.15 million to four providers to open community crisis centers and behavioral health urgent care centers (BHUCs) in Lenoir, New Hanover and Pitt counties. The funding was made possible through a historic $835 million investment in North Carolina’s behavioral health system to ensure people have access to the right mental health services at the right time in their communities.

Community crisis centers (also known as facility-based crisis centers or FBCs) and BHUCs give people experiencing a behavioral health emergency alternatives to emergency departments when seeking the care they need. NCDHHS’ investments in the crisis response system will increase North Carolina’s ability to provide behavioral health urgent care by more than 69% and community crisis stabilization by 32% over the next few years.

“People need safe places to go when they are in crisis,” said Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW, Director of the NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services. “NCDHHS is working hard in partnership with LMEs like Trillium and with crisis service providers to ensure that people have a safe place for help when they are experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis.”

NCDHHS partnered with Trillium to select locations for the new centers based on several criteria, including regional data on the number of individuals waiting for mental health and substance use care in emergency departments and the center’s proximity to other community services. Each new facility will help individuals who receive care successfully return home with wrap-around services. The new centers will open in 2025 and join a network of 24 facility-based crisis centers in 22 other counties across the state.

The chosen providers and locations include:

• RHA Behavioral Health NC, New Hanover County
• Easterseals PORT Health, Pitt County
• Integrated Family Services, Pitt County
• S&H Youth and Adult Services Inc., Lenoir County

“Trillium Health Resources is excited to contribute to health equity and access across our counties. These facilities will make it easier for residents to get the care they need when they need it,” shared Joy Futrell, Trillium’s CEO. “Each of these providers are well-respected and recognized in their communities and we are proud to partner with NCDHHS on this project.”

Community crisis centers (FBCs) provide short-term, inpatient mental health stabilization and substance use detox for people in the community who otherwise would need to go to a hospital. Services will increase access to assessments and behavioral health or I/DD treatment. In addition to FBCs, BHUCs are part of a continuum of services that will advance North Carolina’s behavioral health crisis response system by improving options from the moment of crisis to the point of care. These facilities increase the number of spaces where someone can go to get behavioral health care when in crisis.
 

ABOUT TRILLIUM HEALTH RESOURCES

Trillium Health Resources is an innovative health plan for individuals with serious behavioral health, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and traumatic brain injury in 46 counties in North Carolina. Through contracts with NCDHHS, we serve Medicaid members on the Tailored Plan and NC Medicaid Direct, state-funded recipients who are uninsured, and members on the Innovations Waiver. Trillium’s mission is transforming lives and building community well-being through partnership and proven solutions. We take an integrated approach to health and wellbeing, coordinating care across multiple systems to achieve improved health outcomes, quality of care and efficient use of resources. Trillium is dedicated to meeting the unique needs of the individuals and communities we serve, and remains focused on delivering the right services, in the right amount, at the right time. 

About the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

The NC Department of Health and Human Services manages the delivery of health- and human-related services for all North Carolinians, especially our most vulnerable people – children, elderly, disabled and low-income families. The Department works closely with health care professionals, community leaders and advocacy groups; local, state and federal entities; and many other stakeholders to make this happen. For more information, visit https://www.ncdhhs.gov/.