For years, families in Cabarrus County facing a behavioral health crisis have had limited local options for immediate care. When the Stephen M. Morris Behavioral Health Center (SMMBHC) opens in mid-2026, that will begin to change.
The center is the result of years of growing concern about access to mental health and substance abuse services — and a community-wide effort to create a better solution.
That effort began in 2016, when county officials formed a Mental Health Advisory Board to evaluate existing resources and identify gaps in care. Made up of representatives from school systems, local government, public safety and health organizations, the group worked to understand where services were falling short and what the community needed most.
By 2020, those challenges were clearly defined. A Community Needs Assessment identified behavioral health as one of the area’s most pressing concerns, with residents pointing to limited access, quality of care and cost as the biggest barriers. Seventy-six (76) percent of respondents cited access as a significant obstacle, while 72 percent listed affordability as an issue.
For many families, those barriers meant waiting until a situation reached a breaking point before help was available.
The findings underscored what many local leaders were already seeing firsthand: Cabarrus County needed better access to timely behavioral health services. For County Commissioner Stephen M. Morris, that growing need made finding a new solution a priority.
A turning point came when Morris attended a legislative conference in Washington, D.C., where he learned how other communities were expanding access to care through comprehensive behavioral health facilities — offering a clearer picture of what could be possible in Cabarrus County.
“There was nowhere to take a family member during an emergency situation. That’s when I realized how important it was to create an alternative for people in Cabarrus County,” said Morris. “At the conference, I learned how other communities had taken steps to address those needs.”
Morris was particularly interested in behavioral health urgent care (BHUC) models, which provide immediate, walk-in support for individuals in crisis. These models helped shape his understanding of how an effective solution could fit within a broader system of care.
Following the conference, Morris began meeting with local leaders and care partners to better understand what it would take to bring a state-of-the-art facility to Concord. That work included visiting similar facilities in other states and connecting with health care leaders nationwide. As planning progressed, leaders also began identifying the right provider to bring services to life — including Monarch, which already served Cabarrus County and surrounding communities.
To move the project forward, the county partnered with Charlotte-based architecture firm human eXperience to design the facility. Support at the state level soon followed, with N.C. Sen. Paul Newton and N.C. Rep. Kristin Baker helping secure a $32.5 million state grant for construction, which began in November 2024.
While the groundbreaking of the 59,300-square-foot facility marked a major milestone in expanding access to the area, its long-term success will depend on the provider delivering services.
With an established presence in the region, Monarch was selected to provide behavioral health services at the center.
“There simply are not enough services to meet the growing need for mental health and substance use disorders that our communities face,” said Peggy Terhune, CEO of Monarch. “This center, and the services Monarch will provide here, will directly address those needs for children, adolescents, adults and their families.”
Monarch has worked closely with local leaders and care partners to help shape the services that will be offered and how to best address the issues identified in the community. Monarch expects to serve more than 200 or more youth in 2027, with the goal of reducing barriers to care, improving response times and ensuring youth receive timely support.
“My goal is to provide hope that those children and families never had,” said Terhune.
As construction continues, the center represents a major step toward making timely, local behavioral health support more accessible for Cabarrus County families.
Learn more about the Stephen M. Morris Behavioral Health Center and Monarch’s role in expanding access to behavioral health care in Cabarrus County.