FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -  May 27, 2011
Cumberland County Mental Health Center
Sharon Yates, Public Relations Director
(910) 222-6108

Mental Health Center Receives Crisis Counseling Grant for Individuals Affected by Recent Tornadoes

FAYETTEVILLE - The Cumberland County Mental Health Center, in coordination with the State Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services, applied for and received a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Crisis Counseling Grant in the amount of $81,000. This grant allows for the hiring of additional full-time staff to go directly to any person in Cumberland County who has been negatively impacted by the April 16, 2011 tornadoes and provide free anonymous crisis counseling services.

This current grant is for 45 days, and the Mental Health Center has applied for an extension of the services for up to one year. The grant will allow individuals, families and children to get brief counseling services without having to open mental health charts. For individuals identified as needing more intensive services, referrals can be coordinated. Crisis counselors are all master's level staff.

Individuals interested in the services can call (910) 303-5933, 973-1649 or 988-7083.

There is also a 24-hour hotline available at (866) 451-7760.

For additional information regarding the crisis counseling, please contact Vince Wagner at (910) 222-6129.

Sally Shutt
Communications and Strategic Initiatives Manager
Cumberland County
P.O. Box 1829
Fayetteville, NC 28302
910-437-1921



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