On October 12, 2026, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety’s Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (DJJDP) and New Hope Treatment Centers inaugurated PIVOT (Pathways to Independent Value Opportunity Transformations), an enhanced behavioral health unit at the C.A. Dillon Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Butner. This unit, supported by a $3.5 million investment from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services as part of a two-year pilot program, aims to provide critical crisis intervention and stabilization services for youth referred from other juvenile facilities.
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DJJDP Deputy Secretary William Lassiter highlighted the pressing behavioral health needs of youth in the juvenile justice system, noting that their circumstances often hinder access to appropriate community-based mental health services. “PIVOT is a step in the right direction to ensuring that youth can access enhanced therapeutic services,” Lassiter stated, emphasizing the unit's role in addressing both behavioral health and criminogenic needs in a secure environment.
The partnership between DJJDP, New Hope Treatment Centers, and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) intends to deliver comprehensive mental health support. Clinicians from New Hope will collaborate with DJJDP staff to conduct assessments, provide crisis intervention, and deliver holistic care tailored to each youth's individual needs.
New Hope Treatment Centers Chief Operating Officer Matt Simon expressed pride in the collaboration, stating, “Robust trauma-informed treatment must be at the root of effective juvenile rehabilitation programs. We hope this is just the beginning of a turning point with how our system supports the intersection of juvenile justice and mental health.”
According to a 2025 point-in-time count, 99.4% of youth in North Carolina’s youth development centers have at least one mental health diagnosis, with these youth averaging 4.7 distinct diagnoses, and some having as many as 12. More than half of the juvenile detention population is also assessed with mental health needs.
North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai emphasized the importance of providing proper care to youth in the justice system, stating, “Most youth in North Carolina’s justice system face complex mental health challenges, and providing them with proper care has the power to change their trajectory.”
Kelly Crosbie, Assistant Secretary for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services, underscored the need for youth to receive the best possible support. “The PIVOT unit is an important step toward making sure young people receive compassionate, trauma-informed treatment that meets their needs.”
The establishment of this new unit supports Governor Josh Stein’s Executive Order 33, which aims to improve access to mental health care for individuals involved in the justice system. By integrating intensive crisis intervention services at C.A. Dillon, PIVOT is poised to enhance coordination between mental health care and secure custody.