Jamezetta Bedford Crisis Care Center Breaks Ground in Hillsborough

Construction Starts at Waterstone Drive

Orange County officials broke ground on the Jamezetta Bedford Crisis Care Center on Oct. 22 at Waterstone Drive in Hillsborough. The facility serves as a memorial to the late Orange County Commissioner Jamezetta Bedford, who died in June and was instrumental in the project’s development. The event, which was by invitation only, included attendance from local government officials, UNC Health employees, emergency service workers, and members of the Bedford family, as The Daily Tar Heel reported.

Key Clinical Takeaways:

• The center provides an immediate, 23-hour behavioral health urgent care unit for patients over age four.
• A 16-bed facility will offer short-term, crisis-based residential care for up to two weeks.
• The project aims to reduce reliance on local emergency departments and law enforcement for behavioral health interventions.

Service Delivery and Clinical Scope

The facility is designed to provide a dedicated space for behavioral health stabilization. Clinical services will include immediate evaluation and outpatient support for individuals arriving at the 23-hour urgent care unit. For patients requiring more intensive monitoring, the center will host a 16-bed residential unit where stays may last up to 14 days. These services target both pediatric patients over the age of four and adult populations.

Beyond acute clinical intervention, the center will feature a peer living room and a behavioral health resource library. These spaces are intended to foster a therapeutic environment that prioritizes long-term recovery over traditional, high-acuity hospital settings. By offering discharge planning and connections to community-based resources like housing and food assistance, the facility aims to help patients continue receiving the support they need.

Integration with Community Stakeholders

The project represents a collaboration between medical providers and public safety agencies. UNC Health Director of Psychiatry Services Barbara-Ann Bybel noted that the project has garnered support from a wide range of stakeholders, including law enforcement and community advocates. The goal is to establish the center as a routine component of community health rather than a destination reserved solely for acute crisis management.

According to Orange County Deputy County Manager Caitlin Fenhagen, the facility is designed to be trauma-informed and holistic. This approach seeks to provide a specialized alternative to the use of detention centers or overcrowded emergency departments for individuals experiencing behavioral health emergencies. Sophie Suberman, co-founder of the nonprofit Grow Your World, emphasized that the center’s focus on preventative care and upstream intervention is essential to reducing the long-term financial, cost, incarceration, and drug and crime burdens.

Construction and Operational Timeline

Construction at the Waterstone Drive site is slated for completion in the fall of 2027. Following the finalization of the facility, the center is scheduled to open for patient intake in early 2028. The development follows a period of planning focused on creating a compassionate, therapeutic model for behavioral health, reflecting the priorities championed by the late Commissioner Bedford in its development.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.