North Carolina Takes Steps to Reinforce Behavioral Health Crisis System
In an effort to enhance the coordination and effectiveness of North Carolina’s behavioral health crisis system, the first meeting of the NC Crisis System of Care Advisory Committee is scheduled for September 2. This meeting, held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Albemarle Building in Raleigh, is open to the public.
The Committee, jointly chaired by Kelly Crosbie from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and Sherry Hunter from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS), aims to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders. Among these are state officials, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and individuals with lived experiences, all working towards the goal of fortifying the state’s behavioral health crisis framework.
This initiative is part of Governor Josh Stein’s Executive Order 33, which calls for strengthened collaboration between behavioral health and criminal justice systems. Complementing this is the SL 2026-38, mandating NCDHHS to form a working group to identify gaps and propose solutions to mitigate recurrent crises and preventable recidivism among individuals with mental health and substance use challenges.
Kelly Crosbie emphasized, “The Governor’s executive order underscored the need to strengthen the partnership between our mental health and criminal justice systems. North Carolina’s crisis system exists, but it must be modernized, reinforced, and sustainably financed so it is consistent and dependable for law enforcement and other partners.”
Sherry Hunter added, “North Carolina’s crisis system touches many lives and requires insight from every sector of the community. This council brings together a broad range of experience, and each perspective is essential.”
Key Priorities for Crisis System Reform
The Committee’s agenda focuses on several critical areas:
- Guiding the Crisis System of Care Strategy: Contributing to the overall strategy for enhancing behavioral health crisis services and support.
- Advancing involuntary commitment reform: Exploring improvements to the involuntary commitment process to inform the state’s forthcoming IVC Blueprint.
- Addressing the “revolving door”: Developing methods to break the cycle of arrest, detention, and release without proper stabilization or follow-up care.
- Strengthening coordination: Ensuring alignment among state agencies, law enforcement, courts, healthcare providers, and community groups involved in crisis system reform.
- Centering appropriate, person-focused care: Promoting crisis services that facilitate clinically appropriate care in the least restrictive environments and enhance access to voluntary community support.
The Committee comprises over 30 members from various sectors, including community organizations, law enforcement, and elected officials. Members alongside Crosbie and Hunter include:
- Joe Amos, Chief of Police, City of Middlesex
- Ashley Barber, Director of Behavioral Health, Alamance County
- Greg Berry, Peer Support Specialist & SMART Recovery Facilitator, North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition
- Mark Botts, Associate Professor of Public Law & Government, UNC School of Government
- Robert Broughton, Associate General Counsel, University of North Carolina Health Care System
- Cherene Caraco, Founder, Peer Voice NC
- Kimberly Clement, Assistant Chief of Preparedness & Strategic Operations, NC Office of Emergency Medical Services
- Marisa Cornell, Executive Director, Homestead Recovery Center
- Lauren Earnhardt, Executive Vice President, NC Sheriffs’ Association
- Kevin FitzGerald, Senior Fellow, MDC; NC Collaboratory
- Dr. Sonja Frison, Clinical Manager, Juvenile Detention Facilities, NCDPS
- Sen. Jonah Garson, NC State Senator, D-23rd District
- Allison Gosda, Chief of Clinical Services, Partners Health Management
- Natasha Holley, Clinical Director, Integrated Family Services
- Dr. Ariana Huselid, Chief Medical Officer, Division of State Operated Healthcare Facilities, NCDHHS
- Nicholle Karim, Vice President of Policy Development, NC Healthcare Association
- Colleen Kochanek, Executive Director, NC College of Emergency Physicians
- Laura McIlvaine, Behavioral Health Regional Director, RHA Health Services
- Spencer Merriweather, Executive Committee Member, NC Conference of District Attorneys
- Candice Moore, Evidence Based Practices Administrator, Juvenile Courts, NCDPS
- Marcia Morey, NC State Representative, D-30th District
- Tara Muller, Policy Attorney, Disability Rights North Carolina
- Hon. Regina Parker, Superior Court Judge, North Carolina’s Second Judicial District
- Jeff Prichard, Project Coordinator, Alamance County’s Stepping Up Initiative
- Maj. Kelly Redmon, Chief Deputy, Watauga County Sheriff
- Dr. Timothy Reeder, NC State Representative, R-9th District
- Lillie Rhodes, Legislative Council, NC Administrative Office of the Courts
- Dr. Sy Saeed, Executive Director, NC-STeP
- Nidhi Sachdeva, Director of Strategic Health & Opioid Initiatives, NC Association of County Commissioners
- Dr. Marvin Swartz, Behavioral Health Team Lead, Wilson Center for Science & Justice, Duke Law; NC Collaboratory
The Committee plans to meet at least four more times before the end of 2026 to finalize recommendations. In 2027, quarterly meetings will be conducted to assess other aspects of the crisis system of care for potential reforms. These recommendations will ultimately be presented to the North Carolina General Assembly.
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