Orange County NC Website
2 <br /> This Facility will offer behavioral health crisis services and allow for law enforcement and hospital <br /> ED diversion. The Subcommittee, under Tony Marimpietri's leadership as Chair, has met diligently <br /> and frequently over the last two years, to address this high priority need. The process has included <br /> a lengthy literature review of best-practices and elements for a crisis/diversion facility, studying <br /> existing state and national crisis/diversion facilities, seeking input from critical local stakeholders, <br /> looking at use case scenarios, examining available data and determining the appropriate scope <br /> and function for an Orange County Facility. <br /> In April 2021, the BOCC received a presentation with the detailed findings and recommendations <br /> of the Subcommittee's work. An overview of these findings and recommendations has previously <br /> been shared with the Behavioral Health Task Force, the Justice Advisory Council and Orange <br /> County's law enforcement leaders. These presentations have been met with broad support and <br /> interest. It is the Behavioral Health Task Force's strong belief that the proposed Facility, and its <br /> evidence-based, holistic, trauma-informed policies and practices, will lead to necessary <br /> enhancements in Orange County crisis system capabilities, will increase diversion and deflection <br /> from the criminal justice system and will improve healthy and safe outcomes for residents of <br /> Orange County. <br /> Since April, the Subcommittee has continued its work to plan for the next phase of implementation, <br /> with a specific focus on stakeholder use and operational needs and facility design specifications. <br /> This effort, which included subject matter and use expertise from a wide variety of crisis <br /> stakeholders, has resulted in updates to the scope of services and design. This Progress Report <br /> will address these updates and share the roadmap for implementation. <br /> Finally, special recognition from the BOCC is proposed for Tony Marimpietri, who voluntarily took <br /> on the role of Chair of the Subcommittee. Mr. Marimpietri's expertise as a retired Senior Project <br /> Manager at the Research Triangle Institute (RTI), and member of the National Alliance on Mental <br /> Illness (NAMI) Local Board, has been invaluable to Orange County. Tony has spent over two <br /> years and hundreds of hours of work leading the Subcommittee and guiding its work. This <br /> important effort to address Orange County's critical gap in behavioral health crisis services would <br /> not be possible without his efforts. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with receiving this updated <br /> information. <br /> SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goals are applicable <br /> to this item: <br /> • GOAL: FOSTER A COMMUNITY CULTURE THAT REJECTS OPPRESSION AND <br /> INEQUITY <br /> The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race or color; <br /> religious or philosophical beliefs; sex, gender or sexual orientation; national origin or ethnic <br /> background; age; military service; disability; and familial, residential or economic status. <br /> • GOAL: ENSURE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY <br /> The creation and preservation of infrastructure, policies, programs and funding necessary <br /> for residents to provide shelter, food, clothing and medical care for themselves and their <br /> dependents. <br /> • GOAL: CREATE A SAFE COMMUNITY <br /> The reduction of risks from vehicle/traffic accidents, childhood and senior injuries, gang <br /> activity, substance use and domestic violence. <br />