The Halifax County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 1 authorized county staff to apply for state crisis‑intervention funds to support the Halifax Accountability and Recovery Court and agreed the county would act as the implementing agency if the grant is awarded.

Victor Merrow, coordinator for the county’s accountability and recovery court, told commissioners the program has received 38 referrals, enrolled 16 people and currently has 14 active participants. He said the grant being pursued — the State Crisis Intervention Program (SKIP) — would provide up to $250,000 per year for up to two years with no local match required.

"The state crisis intervention program will enable the Halifax accountability and recovery court to continue and to expand its capacity," Merrow said. County staff explained the county would serve as the applicant and rely on the HARC team to supply data needed for state reporting. Commissioners noted the request includes up to 15% for administrative costs to offset county reporting time.

Board members asked for clarifications about program eligibility and reporting responsibilities. The county attorney and county manager explained that the county can act as the fiscal agent under Chapter 7A to provide funding to court‑related programs, but that the physical implementation and operation would remain a team effort among judicial, treatment and correctional partners.

Commissioners voted unanimously to authorize the county to submit the application to the Governor’s Crime Commission and to serve as the implementing/physical agent for HARC during the grant period.

The board did not set additional conditions in public session; staff said details of the application and reporting obligations would be handled by county administrative staff and the HARC team.