Monday, January 12, 2026

NCDHHS, Vaya Health to Celebrate Opening of First AYA House for Justice-Involved People in Rowan County

MEDIA ADVISORY — Credentialed media are invited to attend the opening of a new resource for people reentering their community following incarceration. NCDHHS Director of the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Disorders Kelly Crosbie will be on-site to celebrate the opening of AYA House in Rowan County on Friday, Jan. 16, at 10:30 a.m.
KANNAPOLIS
Jan 12, 2026

Credentialed media are invited to attend the opening of a new resource for people reentering their community following incarceration. NCDHHS Director of the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Disorders Kelly Crosbie will be on-site to celebrate the opening of AYA House in Rowan County on Friday, Jan. 16, at 10:30 a.m. 

AYA House ensures people who are involved in the justice system have access to housing and supported employment services, tailored to their needs, to promote community-based integration and stabilization. 

AYA House operates six diversion and re-entry locations in Cabarrus County. This is the first location in Rowan County and will serve adult men transitioning from jail or prison in Vaya Health’s eastern-most counties: Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Franklin, Granville, Person, Rockingham, Rowan, Stokes and Vance. AYA House provides wrap-around support and services, including employment and education, with these resources being designed to build long-term stability and independence. 

NCDHHS awarded $1.5 million from a federal Expanding Supports for Justice Involved Adults-Community Based Initiatives grant to Vaya Health, which partnered with AYA House.  

What:   
AYA House Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

Who:        
Kelly Crosbie, Director, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, Substance Use Disorders, NCDHHS    
Dennis Brown, Executive Director, AYA House
Tracy Hayes, CEO, Vaya House 

When:    
Friday, Jan. 16, 10:30 a.m.

Where:    
2205 Harkey Ave, 
Kannapolis, NC 28081

Media:     
Credentialed media should RSVP to news@dhhs.nc.gov if they plan to attend. Director Crosbie will answer questions from the media following the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

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