Vote YES for Behavioral Health Crisis Diversion Facility

[Marilyn Krantz]

Dear Commissioners,
NAMI-Orange, which serves Orange and Chatham Counties, is providing this letter to underscore our support for the Orange County behavioral health crisis diversion facility (CDF). Across the nation there is broad recognition that behavioral health concerns are increasing and impacting every demographic group, income bracket, and age, especially our youth. NAMI operates throughout Orange County, and we know our community is no exception.

We believe that because the CDF will provide behavioral health care in a proper setting it will improve outcomes for individuals and families. Certainly, better care for those in crisis is of paramount importance. It also should be noted that the CDF’s impact will be widespread and will support County/municipal stakeholders who respond to behavioral health episodes every day.

 
We participated in the Orange County Sequential Intercept Mapping Workshop back in April 2019. The workshop resulted in a recommendation for a behavioral health crisis center. We have followed with great interest all the progress toward developing the CDF. NAMI-Orange is grateful to the Orange County Board of County Commissioners for your repeated endorsements of this project. Thank you.

NAMI-Orange now strongly supports your approval of construction funds, and we are excited that CDF construction will start soon. We are eagerly looking forward to the day the CDF begins operations and especially look forward to working with Orange County and all stakeholders to deliver enhanced behavioral health services in our community in the years ahead.

Sincerely.

Marilyn Bonilla Krantz MA JD

President, NAMI Orange County, NC

528 Cosgrove Avenue

Chapel Hill, NC 27514

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Marilyn Bonilla Krantz, JD MA

President

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Orange County, NC Inc.

Pronouns: (she/her/hers)

PO Box 4201

Chapel Hill, NC 27515

(954)732-3345

[Jean Hamilton]

Dear Marilyn Krantz,

 

On behalf of the Orange County Board of Commissioners (BOCC), thank you for sharing your viewpoints about the need for the Crisis Diversion Facility.

 

The BOCC will be deciding on the guaranteed maximum price for construction of the facility at our June 16, 2026 business meeting. .

 

Sincerely,

Jean

 

Jean Hamilton, Chair

Orange County Board of Commissioners

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From: Marilyn Krantz <pres...@namiorangenc.org>
Sent: Monday, June 15, 2026 2:27 PM
To: ALL_BOCC_MANAGER_CLERK <OCB...@orangecountync.gov>
Subject: Vote YES for Behavioral Health Crisis Diversion Facility

 

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