Agenda 08-26-2025; 8-a - Minutes

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20 1 is a partnership between Orange County and the Town of Chapel Hill Police Department. She 2 said that the position is housed in Chapel Hill because they have the oversight required for this 3 crisis counselor. She said the team is the crisis counselor and the mobile team that has a peer 4 support specialist, an EMT, and a mobile crisis counselor. She said in the 10 months ending in 5 March 2025, the team has served 824 individuals, 1,395 events, and 98% of the events did not 6 result in, or were diverted from an arrest. She said the total personnel cost for the position is 7 $97,111 and that is partially offset by staff's first operating amendment, B04. She said that 8 provided $50,000 back for mental health and police work. She said the return of that money to 9 the general fund provides the opportunity to offset some of that. She said the effective cost is less 10 than $1 for a home that is appraised at $400,000. She said this small investment provides 11 preventative measures for community members in crisis. 12 Chair Bedford asked if this is related to the 911 position the County Manager discussed. 13 Travis Myren said part of the mobile crisis team is a response team and in addition to that 14 response team, the original program design had a crisis counselor that is in the 911 center that 15 would help divert calls and deescalate while the team is enroute. He said that in the recommended 16 budget, the DHHS grant has expired, and his recommendation was to preserve the response unit 17 but not the crisis counselor in the 911 center. He said they have applied for a grant to support the 18 entire team and if they receive that, they will contract with Chapel Hill. He said that Chapel Hill 19 has a crisis apparatus and supervision with all the appropriate training. He said that is why they 20 contracted with Chapel Hill instead of creating a county position. 21 Chair Bedford said that cleared it up. 22 Vice-Chair Hamilton asked how busy the 911 center is for a clinician, and she said that 23 Travis Myren said a lot of times they are taking regular calls because they do not have a lot of 24 opportunity. She said there is also a national phone number 988 that people can call. She said it 25 is not clear to her that the position is key. She said that she is assuming if the mobile team is 26 going out, they will make the contact. She said that paying a clinician in the 911 center may not 27 be a good use of tax dollars, because the position is not being fully used for their level of 28 credentialing. 29 Commissioner Carter said that as a family member of someone who struggles with mental 30 health issues, that call to the first person who picks up the phone and knows how to interact with 31 the caller, is essential. She said that even if a fraction of those individuals receives de-escalatory 32 engagement, then that saves the mobile crisis team from having to go out at all. She said that 33 they could learn more about the numbers if they continue this part of the pilot program. She said 34 these are good questions. She said this could give them more information. 35 Commissioner Fowler asked what happens to funding if they receive a grant. 36 Chair Bedford said it would go back into the General Fund with an amendment. 37 Commissioner Portie-Ascott said it is important to have a person who is a clinician who 38 can help them. She said that she received a call from a community member, and she also thinks 39 the clinician position is important. She said she supports the amendment. 40 41 A motion was made by Commissioner Carter, seconded by Commissioner Portie-Ascott, 42 to approve budget amendment OP-1304. 43 44 VOTE: UNANIMOUS 45 46