In July 2022, Wake County engaged Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) to assess our county’s behavioral health crisis service system. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the current continuum of crisis services and compare those to national best practices. This study helps identify strengths and gaps in available services and makes recommendations for system improvements, most needed services and most effective uses of county funds. It also takes into consideration potential state and federal policy changes that might impact behavioral health services in the coming years.

HSRI completed their work in May 2023 and the final report is available.

Moving forward, the County and partners will use this report to help guide our decisions. We will deliberately and thoughtfully review the findings and recommendations and work with partners to continue to improve the crisis continuum in Wake County.

Wake County, Alliance Health announce new provider to deliver inpatient services at WakeBrook Behavioral Health Facility

Wake County and Alliance Health are pleased to announce a new partnership with WakeMed to help reestablish operations of the 28-bed inpatient psychiatric unit at the WakeBrook Behavioral Health Facility in Raleigh.

After WakeBrook reopens, WakeMed will share the campus with Recovery Innovations (RI) who will provide three other services including:

• Crisis and assessment services
• Alcohol and drug detoxification unit
• Facility-based crisis services.

While a firm timeline for opening the inpatient unit has not yet been established, WakeMed will coordinate care with Wake County and Alliance to make these important services available as quickly as reasonably possible.

Read more. 

New Provider for WakeBrook Behavioral Health Facility

Globally recognized organization to offer services this fall.  

Wake County and Alliance Health are excited to announce a new partnership with RI International to assume operations of three of the four primary crisis services offered at the WakeBrook Behavioral Health Facility in Raleigh.

RI will transition into the facility later this fall as UNC Health prepares to end all services offered at the location on Saturday, Sept. 30.

RI is a nationally recognized leader in delivering behavioral health services. Established in 1990, the organization has a proven record of providing trauma-informed and person-centered crisis services and operates similar programs across the country. They have a local and national leadership team with significant experience diverting people experiencing behavioral health crisis from emergency department settings.

The organization has a proven record of working collaboratively with law enforcement and other first responders to enhance consumer experience. They are a pioneer of the “living room model of crisis care” a best practice recommendation that creates a safe and trauma-informed environment for individuals in crisis.

Once the contract is finalized, RI will assume operations of:

•        Crisis and assessment services

•        Alcohol and drug detoxification unit

•        Facility-based crisis services

The priority for all parties will be to set up the crisis and assessment services first, followed by the alcohol and drug detox unit and crisis services later this year. Wake County expects all three to be up and running by early 2024.

While the County had hoped to avoid any gaps in service at WakeBrook, there will be a period where the facility must close to transition from UNC Health to RI. The goal is to keep this timeframe as short as possible and get all staffing and programs operating under RI quickly. More updates will follow regarding a reopening date.

Next Steps

Now that RI has been selected to operate crisis and assessment, facility-based crisis, and non-hospital detoxification services offered at WakeBrook, Wake County and Alliance Health will continue their focus to reinstating the inpatient psychiatric unit for adults 18 and older that will end by September 30.

Alliance will evaluate options for inpatient care to meet the unique needs of Wake County’s most vulnerable residents.  

Wake County and Alliance are using the newly published Wake Crisis Assessment Report to help guide decisions and work with partners  to improve the crisis continuum in our community.

Wake County, Alliance Health to Secure New Provider for WakeBrook Facility

UNC Health to End All Services by October

After several months of negotiations, Wake County is disappointed to share that they have not been able to reach an agreement with UNC Health to provide ongoing services at WakeBrook Behavioral Health Facility beyond Fiscal Year 2024.

As a result, UNC Health will discontinue all services at WakeBrook by Sept. 30, 2023, and the county is working closely with its partner, Alliance Health, to secure a new service provider at the facility as soon as possible.

“It’s unfortunate that after discussing several different proposals with UNC Health, we could not settle on terms for a service contract,” said Wake County Manager David Ellis. “WakeBrook is an important care center in our community, and we’re committed to minimizing the gap between providers, so we can continue to serve our residents battling mental health and substance use issues.”

The County and Alliance Health are currently in negotiations with a new provider that could deliver services at WakeBrook that would be similar to what UNC Health offers now. They include detoxification for drugs and alcohol, crisis support, and inpatient psychiatric services. Wake County is also engaging with WakeMed and other community organizations on collective solutions that better support a healthier community – addressing medical needs, mental health needs, and personal challenges that present barriers to achieving optimal wellness and whole-person health.

How the Contract Negotiations Started
In March 2023, UNC Health told Wake County that they were changing their service delivery model to focus on children and adolescents. Therefore, they would be ending the detox and facility-based crisis programs at WakeBrook by June 30, and the remaining two programs would end by Dec. 31, 2023.

After some discussion, the County and UNC Health agreed in April 2023 to extend the contract for inpatient and crisis assessment services an additional year, through June 30, 2024, with the other two services running through Nov. 30, 2023.

However, when news of the contract fluctuations reached  WakeBrook staff, it caused uncertainty among the employees. Some left their positions, and it became difficult for UNC Health to hire temporary clinical personnel. Due to staffing shortages, UNC Health had to reduce the number of patients they could serve sooner than anticipated.

In early July 2023, UNC Health officially notified the County that an agreement would not be reached and they plan to cease all services at WakeBrook by Sept. 30. As word spreads that negotiations were unsuccessful, additional staff losses may occur, which could result in further capacity challenges.

Knowing this, Wake County has authorized Alliance Health to accelerate the pursuit of a new service provider at WakeBrook. Once an agreement is finalized, the County will share this information with the public. The county is committed to making the transition as smooth as possible for patients, staff and the community.    

Joint Statement for July Service Updates 

As we continue to hold frequent, collaborative conversations about patient services at WakeBrook, Wake County, UNC Health and Alliance Health would like to share an update taking place at WakeBrook this summer. 

As previously shared, UNC Health will continue to provide key services at WakeBrook in the coming months. However, due to staffing shortages and difficulties in hiring temporary behavioral health caregivers, some residential services will be provided at a reduced capacity earlier than anticipated. The priority is to ensure we have appropriate staffing levels in order to provide safe care. 

The Alcohol and Drug Detoxification unit is closing mid-July, however detoxification services are still available through the Facility-Based Crisis Unit on the WakeBrook campus. The same services and high-quality care patients deserve will continue, but more patients will be seen in an outpatient setting. We are committed to working with other healthcare providers in the region to address the behavioral health needs of our community. 

We are dedicated to ensuring that this transition is as seamless as possible for all parties involved and will continue to provide updates to stakeholders, staff and the community. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out via the contact form below

UNC Health’s current contract runs through June 30, 2023; however, Wake County and UNC Health have agreed to extend that contract for inpatient and crisis assessment services an additional year, through June 30, 2024.

UNC Health also will provide other services at WakeBrook until November 30, 2023, which will allow new providers additional time to take over the delivery of services at this location.

The county is working with Alliance Health, our managed care organization, to find another entity to operate at WakeBrook. Our goal is to make the transition with minimal disruption in services for the patients and their families, as well as the providers.

WakeBrook is a behavioral health facility located in Raleigh that offers a continuum of services for people dealing with mental health and/or substance abuse disorders.  

Services offered at WakeBrook include: 

• Crisis and assessment services
• Inpatient psychiatric unit for adults 18 and older
• Alcohol and drug detoxification unit
• Facility based crisis services