Cherokee and Haywood Counties Launch Innovative Co-Response Program for Mental Health Crises

In a significant step toward addressing mental health challenges in rural communities, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with Haywood County, has been selected to pilot a groundbreaking Co-Response program. Funded by a $1.1 million award from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the initiative aims to transform how law enforcement responds to mental health crises, prioritizing professional care over traditional policing methods.

Sheriff Dustin Smith and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office announced the program, which will deploy mental health professionals to respond to crisis calls, reducing the need for armed deputies in non-criminal situations. “We live in a mental health desert,” the Sheriff’s Office stated, highlighting the frequent and often dangerous confrontations that arise when deputies respond to individuals in crisis. The Co-Response model seeks to address this by ensuring that mental health professionals, rather than law enforcement, take the lead in such situations.

The $1.1 million grant, effective immediately and extending into the next year, will fully fund one full-time equivalent (FTE) Team Lead and two FTE Crisis Counselors for Cherokee County, as well as two FTE Crisis Counselors for Haywood County. The funding covers all startup and operational costs, including equipment and travel, with no county match required. Vaya Health will administer the program, working closely with Appalachian Community Services to deliver care to those in need.

“This program represents a new way of responding to individuals in crisis,” the Sheriff’s Office said, emphasizing that the initiative will not only connect people with vital mental health resources but also allow deputies to focus on criminal calls for service. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office expressed gratitude to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and Governor Josh Stein’s office for their support in making the program a reality.

Sheriff Smith and his team are eager to collaborate with Vaya Health and Appalachian Community Services to support the community during its most challenging moments. The Co-Response program marks a significant step forward in addressing the mental health needs of rural North Carolina, offering a model that could inspire similar efforts statewide.