North Carolina is investing over $17 million to improve mental health and substance use services in several counties, including Beaufort, Edgecombe, and Greene, as announced by Gov. Josh Stein and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday. This funding is part of the North Carolina Rural Health Transformation Program, which received more than $213 million in federal funding for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
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The allocated funds will be used for various initiatives, including:
- $4 million for certified community behavioral health clinics.
- $3 million to improve access to medications for opioid use disorder.
- $4 million for the expansion of Mobile Outreach, Response, Engagement, and Stabilization (MORES) teams.
- $3 million dedicated to early psychosis response services.
- $2.9 million for establishing rural crisis partnerships.
- $800,000 to expand the NC MATTERS perinatal behavioral health program.
The MORES initiative aims to enhance crisis response services for children and adolescents aged 3 to 21 in multiple counties, namely Beaufort, Edgecombe, Greene, Polk, Transylvania, and Wilkes. According to Gov. Stein's office, the program's goal is to support young individuals facing increasing emotional or behavioral challenges, enabling them to stay in their homes and communities while decreasing emergency department visits and the need for long-term residential care.
The funding designated for opioid treatment will facilitate the establishment of treatment units in Graham, Rutherford, Cumberland, Bertie, and Columbus counties.