On Wednesday, NCDHHS announced a Connection to Care Peer Services grant award for peer support services in emergency departments.
A 3-year grant totaling $1.65 million was awarded to Cumberland County Hospital System (Cape Fear Valley Health) to provide peer support services for consumers presenting to emergency departments with distress related to behavioral health. The pilot aims to provide improved coordination of ongoing treatment and recovery and to reduce future utilization of ED services for behavioral health needs.
In the emergency department setting, peer support staff will:
- Engage with those who are presenting in the ED with Serious Mental Illness or Serious Emotional Disturbance
- Answer questions about recovery supports
- Provide support and education on how to access community resources and supports
- Help individuals connect to services and supports within their own communities
- Support individuals in establishing or developing strong connections and relationships within their communities
- Help individuals in finding or accessing resources related to employment, housing and other Social Determinants of Health
- Support hospital discharge
- Confirm individuals have connected to community resources and supports
- Track connections and referrals
Read the full NCDHHS press release here.