Additional mental health support for Downtown and beyond. August 12, 2026 Asheville is expanding access to mental health resources for people experiencing crisis, with new partnerships touching both public safety and public transit. The Asheville Police Department and Asheville Fire Department's Resource and Engagement Support Team (REST) have partnered with RHA Health Services, supported by a Vaya Health grant, to place certified mental health professionals alongside first responders on select crisis calls. The pilot runs 60 days. Officers and REST firefighters will have a non-uniformed mental health professional on scene to help de-escalate situations and connect people directly with care, rather than simply making a referral. Learn more Sixty days is a short runway to judge impact, so Asheville Downtown is watching how the pilot performs and whether it becomes a permanent fixture. If it works as intended, it should mean fewer unresolved crisis calls Downtown and a stronger safety net for the people who rely on these services most. Asheville Rides Transit is adding mental health support too. As part of the City's new four-year, $54.9 million contract with RATP Dev, a crisis counselor will be stationed at the ART Transit Center at 49 Coxe Ave to connect riders in need with community resources. This is particularly critical as the transit center remains one of its most challenging areas in terms of calls for services related to safety and cleanliness. More info For Downtown, this is a meaningful program. Anyone visiting, living, and working Downtown likely regularly encounters people in crisis on the street, and until now the options have been limited. Having trained mental health professionals embedded in those responses means faster, more appropriate care for the person in crisis.

RHA launches RHA Cares Awards, recognizing 12 employees. This year, RHA Health Services launched the RHA Cares Awards, celebrating excellence across its company! RHA Health Services, LLC gathered in Atlanta for an award ceremony, enjoyed fellowship and food, and recognized the following recipients. The RHA Cares Excellence Award recognizes Direct Support Professionals throughout the company for their extraordinary impact. In the ceremony, CEO Mickey Atkins honored them as "leaders in the way they act, the way they present themselves, and the way they support the people RHA cares for." Here are the recipients of the 2025 RHA Excellence Awards: