Stokes officials hope to create mental-health coordinator job

(Winston-Salem Journal) - Stokes County officials are working to create a local go-between position for providers of mental-health services and residents who have developmental disabilities, substance-abuse problems and mental illness.

Mental-health advocates in the county urged commissioners in July to consider a mental-health coordinator position as a solution to what they called a failing mental-health system in North Carolina.

As a result, County Manager Bryan Steen is planning the position with the county’s social-services department.

They are meeting with area hospitals and emergency responders, and working with the state to determine a salary and classification for the job, Steen said.