Walk-In Behavioral Health Center in Granville County Celebrates a Successful Opening and Community Partnership

Oxford, N.C.– Local officials, law enforcement, health care providers, and other community partners came together Thursday to celebrate the opening of a new walk-in center in Oxford.

The center will primarily serve residents of Granville County, offering support and services to help people experiencing a behavioral health crisis in the same way an urgent care clinic serves people who need immediate help for physical health issues.

Vision Behavioral Health Services will operate the facility. Nicole Qualls, Vision’s Owner and Clinical Director, expressed her appreciation for the trust Vaya and the
community place in her agency, saying, “We are humbled by the opportunity to serve Granville County, and understand the responsibility given to us today.”

Donald Reuss, vice president of behavioral health and intellectual/developmental disabilities network operations for Vaya Health, recognized the outpouring of local support that made the walk-in center a reality.

“At Vaya, we’re thrilled to see this walk-in center come to life for this community,” said Reuss. “This is why we are passionate about the work we do, and none of it would be possible without the support from the people who call Granville County home.”

The new facility will offer an array of services to help individuals in crisis, including same-day assessments with recommendations for care, de-escalation, stabilization and safety planning. Other services, such as medication management and individual and group therapy will be available for individuals seeking ongoing support after a behavioral health crisis.

Granville County Commissioner Russ May called the opening a “giant step” in the county’s efforts to address mental health challenges and substance use recovery.

“We can never give up or stop trying. We must explore a full array of tools, and this clinic, I hope, will be such a tool,” said May, a member of Vaya’s Regional Board for Granville, Vance, and nearby counties.

In addition to May, officials attending the event included Granville County Sheriff Robert Fountain Jr.; state Sen. Mary Wills Bode; state Reps. Frank Sossamon and Matthew Winslow; Granville County commissioners Tony Cozart, Jimmy Gooch, Sue Hinman, Zelodis Jay, Tim Karan, and Rob Williford; and other community leaders.

To learn more about walk-in crisis centers and the services they provide, visit https://www.vayahealth.com/get-help/walk-crisis-centers/.

About Vaya Health
Vaya Health is a specialty managed care organization that oversees publicly funded behavioral health and intellectual/developmental disability services across a 32-county region of North Carolina. Vaya manages Medicaid, federal, state and local funding to meet member and community needs while advancing whole-person health. Together with our members, provider network and local partners, we’re moving forward to a healthier North Carolina. Access to care and crisis assistance is available 24/7 at 1-800-849-6127. Learn more at vayahealth.com.