Burke County seeks $6.5M for 16‑bed crisis stabilization center to reduce ED boarding
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Summary
County staff presented a scope of need and plans to draw $6.5 million (Partners $3.5M and $3.0M from the state) to build a 16‑bed, 24‑hour facility-based crisis stabilization center aimed at reducing ED boarding and shortening EMS and law‑enforcement transports; planners estimate a 1.5–2 year timeline.
Dr. Katie Samuels, who presented the treatment-center planning material, said Burke County has submitted an expanded scope of work to draw down roughly $6.5 million to develop a facility-based crisis stabilization center. She told the group Partners have committed about $3.5 million and the county is seeking approximately $3.0 million from the state to cover the remainder of the projected funding.
Samules said the proposed facility — described to commissioners as a 16‑bed, 24‑hour stabilization center — would provide medical and psychiatric assessment, withdrawal management under nursing supervision, short‑term stabilization and crisis counseling, peer support and recovery navigation. "The average length of stay here is gonna be 5 to 7 days," she said, adding the center is intended to shorten ED boarding and reduce EMS and law‑enforcement transport times by diverting people from emergency departments to a local first‑evaluation and stabilization site.
Staff presented local data used for a statement of need: more than 1,000 behavioral‑health or substance‑related emergency‑department encounters in one year; behavioral health patients occupying 33,000 bed hours with an average of about 39 hours per stay; 246 overdose visits in 2023 and 142 in 2024; and EMS responding to 151 overdoses in a six‑month period. Samules said the closest crisis stabilization options are more than an hour away in Asheville, Lenoir, Gastonia and surrounding counties, creating capacity and access concerns for Burke County residents.
Presenters said the facility would also provide a "first evaluation" site to meet statutory timelines for involuntary commitment evaluations and offer a no‑wrong‑door approach to behavioral‑health and substance‑use emergencies. Samules said the county is engaging providers and anticipates recruiting a partner to advise on facility design and licensure to be ready for site licensure in parallel with development.
On timing, Samules told commissioners that with scope approval and partner recruitment the county could be positioned to open in roughly 18–24 months if planning and licensure proceed on schedule. She framed the center as an interim step to create a continuum from harm reduction and peer support through outpatient and longer‑term care.
