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Viya/RHA tells Alamance commissioners diversion center served 723 people in October; facility-based crisis unit awaiting state licensure
Summary
Viya/RHA presented an operational update on the Alamance diversion/behavioral health center, listing peer support, mobile crisis, an intensive outpatient program and a pending 16-bed facility-based crisis unit awaiting DHSR site review; commissioners pressed on security and law-enforcement drop-offs.
Donald Roos, vice president for behavioral health and IDD network operations at Viya (working with RHA), gave commissioners a detailed rundown of services available at the Alamance diversion and behavioral health center and what remains to be phased in.
Roos said the facility now offers peer support and a peer-bridger program for people discharged from inpatient psychiatric units, a three-person community support team that provides in-community services, an assertive community treatment (ACT) team, substance-abuse intensive outpatient services, supported employment assistance and a peer "living room" drop-in area. Mobile crisis teams and a co-responder model with the sheriff's department are operating countywide, he said.
"Last month in October, they served 723 unique individuals through that center," Roos told the board, noting the number includes walk-ins, appointments and law-enforcement referrals but that he would provide a further breakdown on voluntary versus involuntary referrals.
Roos said a facility-based crisis unit (16-bed secure unit) has been applied for with the Division of Health Service Regulation and is pending a site review; the unit requires staffing and training to meet licensure standards. He said RHA hopes to expand behavioral urgent care to 24/7 from the current 16-hours-per-day, seven-days-a-week model and is recruiting staff to cover the remaining shift.
Commissioners focused on security and the role of law enforcement. Sheriff Johnson and others discussed current coverage: RHA contracts have funded a deputy for the facility (typically 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), and the sheriff said extra-duty solutions and off-duty deputies could expand coverage, but manpower remains a constraint. Roos said security at the facility is currently optional under state licensure rules but that RHA funds security now and considers it best practice.
Roos noted licensure limits: until the facility-based crisis unit is licensed, the center cannot be designated to accept involuntary commitments; once licensed, he said, the center could accept involuntary drop-offs and that would likely increase law-enforcement referrals. Roos also said RHA is pursuing partnerships with municipalities and national partners such as NAMI to expand services and community integration.
Commissioners and staff asked Roos to provide more granular data on the October caseload, including how many individuals were brought by law enforcement and which agencies referred them. Several commissioners said the center helps reduce emergency-department holds and frees officers from long transports and hospital processing.
No formal county action was taken at the presentation beyond requests for data and continued coordination between the county, RHA and municipal partners. Commissioners said they would continue to discuss security funding and how municipalities might share costs for expanded coverage.
Next steps: Roos will provide a breakdown of the October figures and follow up with commissioners on municipal participation in security coverage; county staff will continue to coordinate on licensing steps for the facility-based crisis unit.
