Addressing mental health challenges among justice-involved youth in North Carolina is the focus of a new initiative spearheaded by state departments and health organizations. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), in partnership with the Department of Public Safety, Alliance Health, and New Hope Treatment Centers, is launching a pilot program at the Dillon Juvenile Detention Center in Butner, aimed at offering crucial mental health support to young individuals in the juvenile justice system.
With a $3.5 million investment from NCDHHS, the program will be managed by New Hope Treatment Centers and will provide vital mental health services to the youth at the facility. “There is an urgent need for access to crisis mental health care in youth juvenile justice facilities, so young people involved in the justice system get the support they need to thrive in their communities when they are released,” stated NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “This partnership is one of many ways we are increasing access to services to support a mental health care system that works for everyone in North Carolina.”
Statistics from North Carolina highlight the pressing need for such a program, revealing that over 97% of youth in development centers have a mental health diagnosis, and more than half have substance use disorder. The justice system involvement can exacerbate trauma or psychological distress, increasing risks of future criminal activity, lower educational achievements, and employment challenges.
“Justice-involved youth frequently face significant challenges in accessing community-based behavioral health care,” noted Deputy Secretary William Lassiter of the NC Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. “With the support of DHHS and the partnership between New Hope and Alliance Health, these young individuals will now have the opportunity to receive essential, crisis behavioral health services in an environment that prioritizes both their safety and well-being. This initiative represents a meaningful step toward ensuring that youth in secure custody receive the comprehensive care they deserve.”
The initiative will help mitigate current obstacles that hinder timely and appropriate mental health support for these young individuals. The New Hope Treatment Centers program, slated to start later this year, aims to assist youth who have significant mental health needs affecting their everyday lives, including those on suicide watch, experiencing psychosis or substance withdrawal, or displaying aggressive behavior.
“We want to focus on care over punishment,” emphasized Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW, Director of the NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services. “Getting young people the support they need will help them lead safe and healthy lives in their communities when they return home to their families and communities.”
Sean Schreiber, Chief of Innovation and Strategy at Alliance Health, expressed appreciation for the collaboration, stating, “Alliance Health appreciates the opportunity to partner with NCDHHS on this much-needed initiative that is consistent with our ongoing commitment to bringing care directly to people who need it, whether that is at a street medicine event, through a mobile crisis team, or to these justice-involved youth.”
Key Program Components
- Crisis intervention strategies tailored to each participant
- Comprehensive assessments to determine mental health needs
- Clinical interventions by trained mental health professionals
- Whole Person Care coordination addressing non-medical needs
“New Hope could not be prouder to be part of this partnership with NCDJJDP, NCDHHS and Alliance Health,” remarked Mike O’Connor, Chief Relationship Officer. “This project is right in line with New Hope’s mission which calls us to serve traditionally underserved populations with complex issues. The collaborative spirit that led to this pilot has been outstanding, and we cannot wait to get started improving the lives of North Carolina’s most vulnerable youth.”
Youth eligible for the program will be assessed by a mental health team, with up to ten participants receiving services in a dedicated facility space. The collaboration aligns with Governor Josh Stein’s Executive Order 33, emphasizing improved mental health care access for justice-involved individuals in North Carolina.
NCDHHS’s commitment to enhancing mental health care, particularly for those in the justice system, is underscored in their strategic plan. Additional details about these efforts can be found in the one-year progress report of the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services 2024-2029 Strategic Plan.
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