Meeting the Behavioral Health Needs of Vance and Franklin Counties

Mental health is an essential component of overall health, yet for too many people in Vance and Franklin counties, accessing the right behavioral health care at the right time has been a challenge. Recognizing this growing community need, Maria Parham Health has made a significant, multi-faceted investment in behavioral health services—expanding and renovating emergency care spaces, developing new outpatient treatment options and working with community partners to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.

These efforts represent more than improvements to hospital facilities. They reflect a commitment to building a continuum of behavioral health care that meets people where they are—from individuals experiencing an immediate behavioral health crisis to those who need ongoing treatment and support.

Creating Safe Spaces for Behavioral Health Patients

For individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis, the Emergency Department is often the first point of contact with the healthcare system. Maria Parham Health recognized that these patients have unique needs and that emergency care environments must provide safety, privacy and dignity while also supporting the care teams responsible for their treatment.

In 2025, Maria Parham Health began a major, multi-phase renovation of its Emergency Department in Henderson, creating dedicated spaces specifically designed to meet the needs of behavioral health and mental health patients.

The approximately $5 million project was made possible through funding allocated to Maria Parham Health in October 2023 through a collaborative effort involving the Vance County District Attorney's Office, Granville-Vance Public Health, the Vance County Board of Commissioners and the North Carolina General Assembly. The investment reflected a shared community commitment to strengthening mental health and substance use treatment services in the region.

The renovated areas provide purpose-built spaces that promote safety, privacy and dignity for patients experiencing behavioral health crises while also improving patient flow, operational efficiency and staff safety. The first phase of the Henderson renovation received its Certificate of Occupancy in August 2025, and a second phase was completed later that year.

The project was the result of years of collaboration between Maria Parham Health and community leaders who recognized the need for a safer, more appropriate environment for individuals experiencing mental health crises. The new spaces are designed to reduce risks to patients and staff while helping ensure that individuals in crisis can receive care in an environment specifically designed for their needs.

Extending the Investment to Franklin County

Maria Parham Health recognized that the need for improved behavioral health emergency care extended beyond Henderson and Vance County. As a second phase of the broader project, Maria Parham Franklin in Louisburg underwent its own Emergency Department renovation, bringing the same focus on behavioral health, safety and patient-centered care to Franklin County.

Construction began in July 2025 with the goal of creating designated areas within the Emergency Department tailored to individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges. The renovation was designed to provide a safer, more supportive environment for patients and care team members while improving hospital efficiency and patient flow.

Maria Parham Franklin received its Certificate of Occupancy for the renovated Emergency Department in January 2026. The project included the restoration of three Emergency Department rooms with enhanced privacy and safety, along with structural and patient-flow improvements designed to create more functional and compassionate spaces for patients and staff.

Together, the Henderson and Louisburg renovations represent a substantial investment in behavioral health infrastructure across the two-county region. Rather than requiring residents to travel outside their communities to find an appropriate emergency care environment, Maria Parham Health has worked to strengthen behavioral health care close to home.

Expanding Access Beyond the Emergency Department

Maria Parham Health's behavioral health strategy does not end when a patient leaves the Emergency Department. Recognizing the importance of providing appropriate levels of care before and after a crisis, Maria Parham Franklin also developed an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for adults age 18 and older.

The program provides structured, evidence-based behavioral health treatment for individuals who may not require inpatient hospitalization but need more support than traditional outpatient therapy or medication management can provide. It can also serve individuals transitioning from a higher level of care who need additional structure and therapeutic support as they return to their daily lives.

Services include psychiatric evaluation and treatment, group psychotherapy, activity therapy, crisis prevention planning and discharge planning. The program also incorporates virtual therapy, helping address barriers such as transportation and scheduling.

The IOP provides an important middle level of care between traditional outpatient services and inpatient hospitalization—giving Franklin County residents an additional local option for treatment while allowing patients to remain connected to their families, jobs and communities.

The expansion of behavioral health services at the Franklin campus was identified as a priority in Maria Parham Health's community health improvement planning, with the goal of increasing utilization of available local mental health and substance use services.

Taking Behavioral Health into the Community

Maria Parham Health also understands that improving behavioral health requires more than building facilities and expanding clinical services. It requires changing the conversation around mental illness and making it easier for people to ask for help.

Maria Parham Franklin took that message directly into the community through its "Stomp the Stigma" initiative. Held in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the inaugural Stomp the Stigma 5K brought community members together in Louisburg to promote mental health awareness, wellness and open conversations about behavioral health. The event was designed to encourage individuals to seek help when needed and demonstrate that mental health is an important part of overall well-being.

The initiative also translated community engagement into direct charitable support. Following the 2025 Stomp the Stigma 5K, Maria Parham Franklin and premier sponsor Vaya Health donated $5,000 to First in Families of North Carolina. The funds are being used to support Franklin County residents in need of mental and behavioral health assistance through First in Families' community-based network of services.

The effort illustrates Maria Parham Health's belief that community benefit extends beyond the hospital walls. By partnering with organizations already serving local residents, the hospital can help strengthen the network of resources available to people experiencing behavioral health challenges.

A Continuum of Care for the Community

Taken together, Maria Parham Health's behavioral health investments demonstrate a comprehensive approach to a complex community health challenge.

In Henderson, the hospital has invested in purpose-built Emergency Department spaces designed to provide safer, more appropriate care for patients experiencing behavioral health crises. In Louisburg, Maria Parham Franklin has brought the same commitment to its Emergency Department while simultaneously expanding access to structured outpatient behavioral health treatment through its Intensive Outpatient Program.

And through initiatives such as Stomp the Stigma, Maria Parham Franklin is helping bring behavioral health conversations into the community, reduce stigma and direct resources toward local organizations supporting residents in need.

These investments also demonstrate the value of collaboration. The Henderson Emergency Department renovation was made possible through a partnership among healthcare, public health, law enforcement, local government and state leaders. The Stomp the Stigma initiative has brought together Maria Parham Franklin, Vaya Health and community organizations such as First in Families of North Carolina.

The result is a growing continuum of behavioral health support across Vance and Franklin counties—one that encompasses crisis care, emergency services, inpatient and outpatient treatment, community partnerships, education and prevention.

Maria Parham Health's approach recognizes a fundamental truth: behavioral health is health. By investing in safer emergency care, expanding treatment options and working to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental illness, Maria Parham Health is helping create healthier, more resilient communities while ensuring that residents can access compassionate behavioral health care closer to home.