Chapel Hill and Carrboro residents experiencing crises have a new avenue for support, as the Crisis Assistance, Response, and Engagement (CARE) team, originally launched in Chapel Hill, begins service in the neighboring town with plans to widen operating hours. Funded through a partnership between Orange County and the local towns, this expansion was made possible by a significant increase in funding from the NC Department of Human Services (NC DHHS), which dedicated $790,640 to Alliance Health for the CARE team's operations, according to a statement obtained by the Town of Carrboro.
Last year, the Chapel Hill-based CARE team logged over a thousand responses that included well-being checks and outreach to those without homes, Chapel Hill Police Chief Celisa Lehew noted the growth of this program and its effort to support the community by expanding its coverage, the team's success evident in the sustained collaboration and engagement with the local government and community organizations. Aiming to bridge the gap between emergency services and the nuanced demands of various crises, the CARE team's approach has been touted for connecting residents with more appropriate and compassionate resources, as highlighted by Orange County Board of Commissioners Chair Jamezetta Bedford; they expressed pride in bringing CARE's services to Carrboro with the intention of soon reaching an even broader county-wide scope, the Town of Carrboro website details.
Carrboro's addition to the CARE program represents part of its police department's commitment to addressing issues that don't necessarily require law enforcement but rather tailored responses suited for individual needs. Police Chief Chris Atack conveyed optimism about the program, mentioning that it will facilitate real-time care and essential assistance for those in difficult circumstances, highlighting the importance of timely and appropriate interventions for the well-being of the community.
Meeting the goal of making the CARE team more accessible involves the hiring of additional staff for a second mobile unit, which is anticipated to extend service availability beyond the current weekday schedule of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and they plan sharing new operating hours at a later date, signifies the CARE team's commitment to responding proactively to crisis calls without waiting for situations to escalate. The CARE team comprises a crisis counselor, a peer support specialist with lived experience, and a community emergency medical technician for in-person interventions, and these resources are supplemented by another crisis counselor within Orange County's 911 call center to offer immediate advice and support over the phone according to information released by the Town of Carrboro. Furthermore, with ongoing program evaluation led by the UNC School of Government and insights from a community-based advisory team, the future of the CARE initiative promises a continuing evolution tailored to the needs of its residents.
