In a move to bolster the support system for individuals grappling with the criminal justice system in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is pumping $6.5 million into Western North Carolina. The funding aims to directly strengthen services that offer alternatives to incarceration in hard-hit counties such as Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Rutherford, Surry, and Wilkes. This financial commitment seeks to address the intersection of mental health needs, substance use disorders, and the justice system.
NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai outlined the urgency of these programs, stating, "At a time when our western counties are struggling to rebuild infrastructure and meet daily needs, programs that help people avoid entering or remaining in the justice system are more important than ever," according to a release by the NCDHHS. Notably, LEAD (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion) programs are set to receive a significant part of the funding to help connect at-risk individuals with crucial support services instead of facing incarceration.
Community-based programs like Project Lazarus, HealthBook, and Vaya Health will utilize the funding to either establish or enhance their LEAD initiatives. These programs are designed to open up new pathways for law enforcement to redirect low-level, non-violent offenders away from the justice system and into treatment or community services, deterring further legal entanglements.
Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW, Director of the NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services, emphasized the far-reaching impact of such programs: "Our western counties impacted by Hurricane Helene need support for programs that prevent detention. When these types of programs aren’t available, people who need treatment for mental health and substance use disorders can end up in carceral settings," Crosbie explained in a statement obtained by the NCDHHS. Key to this approach is the provision of transitional housing and employment services, crucial for those reentering the community post-incarceration.
Organizations such as HealthBook, FIRST at Blue Ridge, Oxford House, and Freedom Life Ministries are recipients of the funds to support housing services. Additional funding is earmarked for HealthBook and FIRST at Blue Ridge to bolster their employment services. These initiatives are integral to reentry programs aimed at facilitating a smooth transition from incarceration back to community life, subsequently reducing the repeat involvement with the justice system.
This investment in diversion and reentry services is part of a more extensive strategy by the NCDHHS, which has previously announced $11 million directed at aiding those at risk of incarceration. Overall, the department is channeling a historic $835 million towards transforming North Carolina's behavioral health system, with $99 million earmarked to enhance justice-related services. More information on these transformative investments and strategic plans can be found in the state's behavioral health system report, "Transforming North Carolina’s Behavioral Health System: Investing in a System That Delivers Whole-Person Care When and Where People Need It," and the NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services Strategic Plan for 2024-2029.
