Pediatric behavioral health stays at Charlotte-based Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center have dropped from four to six weeks to an average of 2.11 days since North Carolina expanded its MORES crisis response program to 20 counties, North Carolina Health News reported May 11.
The program — mobile outreach, response, engagement and stabilization — launched in 2023 and works with individuals ages 3 to 21 experiencing non-life-threaning emotional or behavioral health crises. Teams consisting of clinicians trained in adolescent care as well as a family peer support specialist respond within an hour and can provide follow-up support in the home for up to eight weeks.
Between June 2023 and Dec. 31, 2025, the MORES teams engaged with 645 children and families. Teams followed up on average 1.6 times per week during the eight-week period following initial contact. DHHS also reported that 96% of caregivers and 94% of adolescents said the service was appropriate for their needs.
Courtney Cortes, director of nursing for emergency services at the hospital, said behavioral health patients previously occupied 50% to 70% of pediatric emergency department rooms, with at least half classified as “preventable social holds.”
Since partnering with MORES teams, those patients account for fewer than 10% of pediatric rooms on a given day.
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