RALEIGH – UNC Health Care is ending its services at a behavioral health facility in Raleigh and will be laying off 246 employees, according to a layoff notice filed with the state of North Carolina. However, Wake County, which owns the facility, says it is seeking another provider.

The facility is called WakeBrook. It is located at 107 Sunnybrook Road.

“WakeBrook is owned by Wake County. UNC Health has been providing care and services at the facility for 10 years. Wake County is working to find another provider,” a spokesperson for UNC Health Care says.

UNC Health said it is relocating the primary care clinic at WakeBrook.

The end of UNC services is set for Sept. 30.

As for patients, UNC’s spokesperson said: “In the meantime, those patients will need to be seen at other clinics and hospitals. UNC WakeBrook’s primary care clinic will be relocating to 401 E. Whitaker Mill Road in Raleigh, joining several other behavioral health service providers in Wake County.”

That could leave some without access to the mental health help or substance abuse treatment they need.

“It’s just devastating, really,” says mental health advocate Ann Akland.

“A lot of people who go there are homeless. They don’t have anywhere to go. They don’t have insurance. A lot of them don’t have family support, many of them are addicts and they find a place there to detox,” she said.

Wake County ‘disappointed’

On July 10, Wake County said  it was “disappointed” by the UNC Health decision and “is working closely with its partner, Alliance Health, to secure a new service provider at the facility as soon as possible.”

“It’s unfortunate that after discussing several different proposals with UNC Health, we could not settle on terms for a service contract,” said Wake County Manager David Ellis. “WakeBrook is an important care center in our community, and we’re committed to minimizing the gap between providers, so we can continue to serve our residents battling mental health and substance use issues.”

Scott Doak, UNC Health Care’s chief human resources officer, signed the notice.

Wake County said it and Alliance Health “are currently in negotiations with a new provider that could deliver services at WakeBrook that would be similar to what UNC Health offers now.”

However, WakeBrook will close for a while.

“We do anticipate there will be gaps between when UNC leaves and a new provide starts, but we’re going to do everything we can to mitigate that and to keep that as short as possible,” said assistant county manager Denise Foreman.

According to the county, services include: detoxification for drugs and alcohol, crisis support, and inpatient psychiatric services. Wake County is also engaging with WakeMed and other community organizations on collective solutions that better support a healthier community – addressing medical needs, mental health needs, and personal challenges that present barriers to achieving optimal wellness and whole-person health.

Foreman said both UNC and Wake County had funded WakeBrook. However, UNC was shifting focus and would not be able to fund WakeBrook services moving forward, which left a big funding gap.

“It’s a pretty substantial gap and it was going to increase on an annual basis,” Foreman said.

Foreman declined to provide specifically how much of a funding gap UNC’s ‘s departure would leave.

Mental health advocate Ann Akland has fought to keep WakeBrook open.

Akland said UNC is leaving big shoes to fill.

“I do doubt, seriously, that they’re going to be anywhere near the level of quality of the services that have been provided,” Akland said. “And, a lot of that has to do with money.”

What about the workers?

The UNC Health Care spokesperson said the system is looking to find jobs for the affected workers.

“Our leadership, human resources team, and many others are working diligently to find new positions for these valued employees within the UNC Health system,” he said.

“For example, some WakeBrook employees will transition to positions at UNC Health Rex in Raleigh, UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill, and our new behavioral health hospital for children and adolescents in Butner,” he added.