The plan will assist residents from Orange, Person and Chatham counties, but no location for a tri-county facility has been determined.
Barry Jacobs, chairman of the Orange County Board of Commissioners, called the plan to serve the needs of residents "a good partnership."
Commissioner Moses Carey had expressed concern about voting on the resolution before a public hearing could take place. "It's unusual to take action," he said.
But Carey opted to do so because the state deadline for action on the resolution was Tuesday.
Commissioners Alice Gordon and Steve Halkiotis raised questions about how the state would fund the tri-county plan.
The state has set aside $78 million statewide to set up these programs, even with the budget crisis, but has not budgeted money for individual counties.
"This is a state-level responsibility, and the counties don't run (mental health facilities)," Gordon said.
Gordon said she was concerned that the commissioners voted to approve the resolution without knowing how much of this money would be allocated to Orange County.
But Orange County resident Tom Maynard said the state has adequately planned for the resolution.
