Integrated Family Services is thrilled to announce the opening of our Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC) Center in the fall of 2025. This initiative, funded by Trillium Health Resources, is designed to provide immediate support and intervention for individuals experiencing behavioral health crises. The BHUC is an extension of our existing crisis services, enhancing our ability to offer timely, compassionate care to those in need.
What is a Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center?
The BHUC is a 24-hour service that offers rapid, short-term stabilization for individuals four years or older experiencing a behavioral health crisis related to a mental health (MH) disorder, substance use (SU) disorder, and/or Intellectual Developmental Disorder (I/DD) diagnosis or any combination of the above. A BHUC is an alternative, but not a replacement, to a community hospital Emergency Department (ED) where trained professionals triage, assess, evaluate, and intervene to assist individuals whose crisis response needs are deemed to be urgent or emergent. A BHUC is a service containing triage, crisis assessment, interventions, disposition, and discharge planning.
Benefits to Our Community:
- Immediate Access to Care: Reduces wait times and provides a safe, supportive environment for those in crisis.
- Reduced Emergency Department Strain: Diverts non-medical behavioral health emergencies from hospital EDs, freeing up resources for other medical emergencies.
- Comprehensive Support: Offers a seamless connection to needed services and community resources.
- Community Well-Being: Promotes safety, stabilization, and recovery for individuals and families.
Who Can Access BHUC Services?
While not every individual with a behavioral health emergency will meet entrance criteria, the BHUC is specifically designed for those who meet criteria for urgent and emergent. According to the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) an urgent and emergent status determination consists of the following:
| Urgent | Emergent |
| Moderate risk or incapacitation in one or more areas of safety or physical, cognitive, or behavioral functioning related to a MH/IDD/SU diagnosis | Imminent danger to harm self or others due to symptoms of a mental illness or substance use or any related medical complications |
| Moderate symptoms and distress that may quickly escalate without prompt intervention | Risk to self or others related to behavioral health distress |
| Thoughts of harm to self or others | Risk related to safety and supervision |
| Acute stressors and symptoms which may include impaired reality testing, self-care, intoxication or withdrawal | Severe incapacitation which may include impaired reality testing, self-care, intoxication or withdrawal |
Upcoming Community Stakeholder Meetings:
IFS will host community stakeholder meetings near the opening date to provide education about the BHUC, including the service model, entrance criteria, and the referral process. These sessions are designed to ensure our partners are well informed and prepared to support individuals in need of this service.
The BHUC reflects our ongoing commitment to enhancing the crisis continuum as well as Trillium Health Resources’ intent to improve access to behavioral health care and addressing the urgent needs of our community. As the funding partner for this initiative, Trillium Health Resources has played a critical role in making this vision a reality. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the well-being of individuals and families across the region.
We look forward to working with you to make this vital service a success.
