The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services recently announced a $20 million investment made possible by the NC General Assembly in Non-Law Enforcement Transportation, a promising practice of providing trauma-informed transportation for people in mental health crises who need to be transported from emergency rooms to residential treatment. In the past, much of this transportation was provided by law enforcement, but non-law enforcement transportation provides a safe, therapeutic alternative for people already in mental health distress.
“People in crisis need health care, not handcuffs,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley in a press release. “This program helps people experiencing a mental health crisis receive safe transportation to the inpatient care that they need.”
Currently, many counties across North Carolina rely on law enforcement to transport individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. This often involves the use of police vehicles, lights, sirens and, in some cases, handcuffs — all of which can unintentionally turn a routine transfer into a traumatic experience. The new transportation program aims to decriminalize and destigmatize the process of seeking mental health care.
“We want people and families feeling comfortable reaching out for mental health crisis support when they need it,” said Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW, director of the NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services. “Knowing a person may be transported in police custody can be a deterrent for people reaching out for the care that they need. This new program is part of our work to strengthen the North Carolina mental health crisis system, ensuring people in crisis can access support without fear or stigma.”
NCDHHS is working closely with many community partners to ensure the mental health crisis transportation program is designed to effectively reduce the burden on law enforcement to conduct mental health-related transportation services and ensure officers can focus on their core responsibilities.
The new transportation program will initially operate in two regions of the state, which will be identified through a competitive request for proposal process. The RFP is now open, allowing qualified transportation vendors to apply for funding. Eligible transportation vendors can access and apply for the RFP on the NCDHHS website.
The initiative is part of NCDHHS’s broader $835 million investment to transform North Carolina’s behavioral health system, including efforts to build a crisis response system, decrease emergency department boarding times and provide faster access to care for all North Carolinians in need of mental health treatment.
Contributed article.
