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