• Cabarrus County Government
• Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office/Cabarrus County Detention Center
• Cabarrus County Department of Human Services
• LiveWell Behavioral Health

People with mental health and substance use disorders are disproportionately represented in jails and often face significant barriers to treatment and successful reentry into the community. Early screening and assessment help identify behavioral health needs and connect individuals with appropriate treatment and supports. Case management and peer support can further strengthen connections to care, address barriers to services, and support continuity of care during incarceration and following release (SAMHSA, 2024).

These services align with the national Stepping Up Initiative, which emphasizes timely screening and assessment, connections to care, and data-driven strategies to reduce the number of people with mental illness in jails and improve outcomes for individuals involved in the justice system.

https://www.samhsa.gov/communities/criminal-juvenile-justice/about?utm

In 2016, Cabarrus County committed to becoming a partner of the national Stepping Up initiative. The initiative focuses on reducing the number of people with mental illness in jails. The concept of mental health overhaul is tremendous; however, acknowledging and responding to a problem that affects one of our own programs was a starting place.

According to the Stepping Up Initiative, two million people with serious mental illness are admitted to jails across the nation each year. Almost three-quarters of these adults also have drug and alcohol use problems. Once incarcerated, individuals with mental illness tend to stay longer in jail and upon release are at a higher risk of returning to incarceration than those without these illnesses.

In 2019, Cabarrus County Department of Human Services and Cabarrus County Detention Center partnered to maintain the Stepping Up Program initially launched through a state grant. The program under DHS supervision employed a team (3 staff) working with individuals both while incarcerated and post-release.

In June 2023, Cabarrus County Government and the Department of Human Services contacted CHA's newly formed Behavioral Health Division to assess interest in taking on oversight and expanding the Stepping Up program. CHA revamped the program to include 2 case managers, a licensed clinical social worker and a program manager to expand the program and to begin taking on the responsibility of ensuring individuals were fully screened for mental health needs, severe mental illness and suicidality.   Since that time the program has expanded to include 2 case managers, 2 full-time and 1 part time licensed clinicians providing coverage 7 days per week. CHA also supports individuals experiencing justice involvement through peer support services and weekly psychiatry consultation.

During the last 2 years the program expanded further to include support to individuals receiving medication for opioid use disorder through additional screening and linkage to treatment.

Updated August 2026

In 2025, CHA continued to strengthen behavioral health services within the Cabarrus County Detention Center, with a focus on identifying behavioral health needs early and connecting individuals to appropriate support. More than 6,000 individuals completed mental health screening, with approximately one in five requiring an elevated assessment. The program also expanded access to case management and peer support services, helping individuals with identified needs connect to additional behavioral health care and resources during incarceration and as they prepared to return to the community.