NC Launches $20M Plan to Remove Police from Mental Health Transport
North Carolina launches a $20 million initiative to replace police vehicles with civilian transportation services for mental health crisis cases.
North Carolina is taking a groundbreaking step to revolutionize how people experiencing mental health crises are transported to treatment facilities. A new $20 million state initiative aims to replace police vehicles and handcuffs with specialized civilian transportation services, marking a significant shift in approaching mental health care with dignity and compassion.
A new approach to mental health crisis transportation
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has launched a Non-Law Enforcement Transportation program to provide trauma-informed transportation services for individuals requiring transfer from emergency rooms to residential treatment facilities. This innovative approach represents a departure from traditional law enforcement-based transportation methods.
NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley emphasized the program’s importance, stating, “People in crisis need health care, not handcuffs. This program helps people experiencing a mental health crisis receive safe transportation to the inpatient care that they need.”
Addressing stigma & trauma in mental health care
The current system in many North Carolina counties relies heavily on law enforcement for mental health-related transportation, often involving police vehicles, sirens, and restraints. These practices can inadvertently traumatize individuals already experiencing mental health challenges.
Kelly Crosbie, Director of the NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services, explained the program’s broader impact: “Knowing a person may be transported in police custody can be a deterrent for people reaching out for the care that they need. This new program is part of our work to strengthen the North Carolina mental health crisis system, ensuring people in crisis can access support without fear or stigma.”
Implementation & funding details
The program will initially launch in two regions of North Carolina, selected through a competitive RFP process. Qualified transportation vendors can now apply for funding through the NCDHHS website.
This initiative is part of a larger $835 million investment by NCDHHS to transform North Carolina’s behavioral health system, which includes improving crisis response systems and reducing emergency department waiting times.
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