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Alamance Behavioral Health Center opens 16-bed facility, reports diversions from EDs and jails
Summary
Via Health and RHA Health Services told commissioners the Alamance Behavioral Health Center is fully operational, offering a walk-in access center, peer room, pharmacy, 24/7 urgent behavioral health care and a newly opened 16-bed facility-based crisis unit; staff described diversion figures and next steps for involuntary-commitment certification.
Contractors and operators of the Alamance Behavioral Health Center updated the Alamance County Board of Commissioners on Monday, reporting that the center is open, operating several programs and already diverting people from emergency departments and jails.
Donald Drews, vice president of behavioral health operations for Via Health, and Sarah Huffman of RHA Health Services described a campus with a walk-in open-access center, a peer living room, an on-site Genoa pharmacy, mobile crisis response and a 24/7 behavioral health urgent care. The operators said the 16-bed facility-based crisis (FBC) that began limited operations in May is now serving adults, with a separate smaller entrance for children and family access.
"We have a walk in open access center... They don't need to go make an appointment," Drews said. "We also have a dedicated entrance for our children because we know that people in crisis are not always the best place for children and families to enter."
Operators provided performance figures: monthly walk-in visits are gradually rising, peer-room attendance included a first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting with 57 attendees and subsequent meetings of about 45; urgent-care use included 101 diversions in March. Staff said roughly 83 to 90 percent of clients seen at the urgent-care unit were diverted from emergency departments or jail placements in recent months.
The 16-bed facility-based crisis unit can hold adults for short-term stabilization and non-hospital medical detox; staff said the site can hold people for "3 to 7 days, sometimes a little longer" to stabilize them. Operators told the board they must operate the facility for six months under state regulation before it can be certified as an involuntary commitment (IVC) drop-off site; the facility opened on May 5, 2025, and staff said they have requested state assistance to expedite certification.
Funding for operations comes largely from Medicaid and state behavioral health appropriations, with some federal and state grants and a smaller portion from opioid-settlement funds. Drews said Via and its partners committed to sustaining crisis services, and the county's role included initial capital support and partnership.
Staff described on-site security (a sheriff's presence), law-enforcement drop-offs already in use, and coordination with Cone Health and other hospitals for handoffs. Commissioners asked about children's placements and telehealth; operators said urgent-care triage can evaluate children and, if appropriate, arrange transfers to one of the state's child FBCs or use in-building telehealth and in-person options.
Operators said they plan a public marketing campaign beginning roughly 30 to 45 days after the meeting, targeted outreach to EMS and local agencies, and monthly reporting of usage to the county. They asked commissioners for support in ensuring referrals and partnerships across municipalities to increase the center's reach.
