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8 <br /> INTRODUCTION : BACKGROUND <br /> 2015. Orange County BOCC adopted a Resolution supporting Stepping Up Initiative to Reduce the Number of People with Mental Illness in <br /> Jails. <br /> 2018. Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood raised the idea of including in the planning for the new Orange County Detention Center a <br /> separate area that would serve as a diversion unit for law enforcement. The planning for such a facility was not completed in time for <br /> consideration by the Orange County BOCC. At the time, Jail Mental Health Work Group stakeholders toured NC facilities that are providing <br /> services that might be a model for an Orange County facility. <br /> 2019. On April 25-26, NC DHHS and Orange County held a series of workshops — Sequential Intercept Mapping and Taking Action for <br /> Change (collectively referred to as SIM Workshop) with 32 local representatives of organizations involved in criminal justice (CJ), UNC <br /> Health, community treatment, and emergency medical services to address issues involving BH and CJ. The workshop identified gaps in <br /> current services and assigned priorities for action: a crisis center was assigned high priority. <br /> 2019. In November 2019, responsibility for addressing this high priority action item was assigned to the BHTF Subsequently, the <br /> Crisis/Diversion Facility Subcommittee was formed and tasked with bringing forth recommendations. <br /> 2020. In December, the Governor's Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice reported its findings and recommendations: three of the <br /> Task Force's recommendations relate directly to situations involving individuals with BH issues and criminal justice diversion. <br /> 6 <br />