RHA Hosts Local and State Partners to Discuss North Carolina Mental Health Services
February 4, 2026
On January 29, RHA Health Services’ Alamance Behavioral Health Center in Burlington, NC hosted a roundtable discussion with community partners. The successful discussion focused on crisis and mental health services — lifelines that serve countless North Carolinians every day. In attendance were behavioral health and substance use partners and advocates from the community and state, including Governor Josh Stein, NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services Director Kelly Crosbie, Secretary of Public Safety Jeff Smythe, Vaya Health CEO Tracy Hayes, and many more.
The Governor’s visit included a tour of the Alamance Behavioral Health Center to discuss opportunities to provide the best possible care for individuals facing mental health crises. RHA CEO Mickey Atkins said, “Having Governor Stein visit our Alamance facility reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the systems that help people during their most vulnerable moments. We’re honored to showcase the impact of these services.”
The Alamance Behavioral Health Center provides mental health and substance use services, and support for people with co-occurring developmental disabilities and behavioral health needs. The center is a collaborative operation of county, state, and the local management entity/managed care organization (LME/MCO), working together to increase access to behavioral health services, improve mental wellness, and enhance quality of life. Many people begin their journey at the center through the Behavioral Health Urgent Care, which is open 24/7 for people in crisis, and does not require an appointment or insurance. After a comprehensive clinical assessment, staff may connect individuals with outpatient services or recommend inpatient care at RHA’s on-site Facility-Based Crisis Center, where staff provide around-the-clock care and stabilization, and support for their ongoing recovery.
Since opening the Alamance Behavioral Health Center in 2024, data shows that diversion is successful, with 94% of individuals served by the Behavioral Health Urgent Care and Facility-Based Crisis Center being diverted from an emergency department. Visit rhahealth.org/c3 to learn more about the Alamance Behavioral Health Center.
To increase access to care, RHA also provides free 24/7/365 Mobile Crisis services — confidential, on-site intervention and stabilization services for individuals in their homes, workplaces, schools, or anywhere within the community where a crisis occurs. Mobile Crisis teams serve all ages and are especially helpful to individuals who do not have access to transportation. The Mobile Crisis team in Central North Carolina serves Alamance, Caswell, Franklin, Granville, Person, and Vance counties, and can be contacted by calling 1.844.709.4097 . Learn more about Mobile Crisis at rhahealth.org/mcm .
RHA valued the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to providing high quality care and increasing access to crisis services statewide while meaningfully connecting with our partners in this important mission. RHA Behavioral Health Vice President Sara Huffman said, “We were proud to host this discussion as these key partnerships have been and will continue to be vital in our ability to serve North Carolina. Strong community partnerships help us all succeed together!”
