Seven grants were announced this week to fund new crisis receiving centers, crisis stabilization units and crisis therapeutic home in Virginia.
Despite a plan for a crisis receiving center and stabilization unit near Augusta Health, no funds were allocated toward the project in this grant cycle.
Valley Community Services Board wants to build a $25 million facility to operate a 24-hour observation unit and a longer term stabilization unit to meet the mental-health needs of the region.
VCSB submitted an application to the Department of Behavioral Health in the summer of 2023. It has also requested $2.5 million from congressional directed spending.
In a previous interview with AFP, VCSB executive director Kimberly McClanahan said more than 60 temporary detention orders are issued per month in Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County in response to a major mental health crisis including suicidal ideations.
A community needs assessment report by Augusta Health showed mental health and substance abuse as top five needs in the area.
If and when funding is secured for the project, it will take approximately two years to get the facility up and running.
While the local facility did not receive funding during this grant cycle, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services said it anticipates further awards to continue building a stronger behavioral health crisis system in Virginia.
Grant awards
The behavioral health centers funded by these grants will advance a fully integrated, community-based continuum of crisis services ensuring same-day care for all Virginians. The grants are being administered through the VDBHDS.
“These projects will help ensure Virginians and their loved ones have somewhere to go when they need it the most,” said Nelson Smith, commissioner of the VDBHDS. “We are incredibly grateful to partner with Virginia’s community services boards (CSBs) as they work on the frontlines to provide this critical care throughout our Commonwealth.”
- Highlands Community Services Board: Highlands CSB recently opened a co-located CRC and CSU for adults that show promising outcomes for the individuals they serve. DBHDS will provide $1.75M in ongoing funds to support and continue the services they are providing in Abingdon.
- Loudoun Community Services: Loudoun is the one of the fastest growing counties in the nation, and county leaders identified the community need to increase services for individuals in crisis. DBHDS will provide $4.1 million in capital funding to construct a CRC and CSU.
- New River Valley Community Services Board: New River Valley has established successful CRC and CSU programs for adults. These new, one-time funds totaling $4.2 million will support the establishment of three new programs for youth through co-locating a CRC, CSU, and CTH. An additional $2.4 million in ongoing funds will ensure sustainability of the two existing sites and the three new sites. The CTH is part of the CSB’s REACH services array designed to meet the crisis support needs of individuals who have a developmental disability (DD) and are experiencing crisis events. REACH programs offer an additional layer of support to emergency services, the state hospital system, and caregivers who work the most closely with individuals with a DD.
- Region Ten Community Services Board: Region Ten covers the City of Charlottesville and five surrounding counties in Central Virginia, and currently operates a 16 bed adult CSU. A one-time award of $3 million will allow for construction of an adjoining 16 chair CRC. This project will be sustained with $1.7 million in ongoing funds.
- Richmond Behavioral Health Authority: RBHA serves as the regional office for the Richmond area, and they have long partnered with St. Joseph’s Villa in Richmond to operate a youth CSU. This ongoing funding of $1.3 million will provide resources for additional staff to maintain services for youth in the Henrico area and better support the newly opened CRC. Additionally, RBHA will receive a one-time award of $650,000 to make facility improvements to their operational adult CTH, and an additional $586,000 of ongoing dollars to support the service.
- Western Tidewater Community Services Board: Serving as the regional office, Western Tidewater will expand its existing array of REACH services by building a youth CTH to further meet the needs of youth with a DD in their area with $3 million in one-time funding and $3.1 million in ongoing funding starting in FY26. This program will provide short-term out-of-home crisis services and expand prevention resources.
The awards were funded through allocations from the General Assembly for 2025 and 2026 to expand access to care in Virginia.
Previous projects receiving grant funding were announced in December 2023 and March 2024
Behavioral health expansion awards
The Biden-Harris Administration announced $240 million in awards to launch and expand mental health and substance use disorder services in more than 400 community health centers across the country that care for more than 10 million people.
This included $3.5 million in funding in Virginia.
Health centers receiving funding included:
- Daily Planet, Inc in Richmond: $517,758
- Kuumba Community Health & Wellness Center, Roanoke: $600,000
- Neighborhood Health, Alexandria: $600,000
- Rockbridge Area Free Clinic, Lexington: $600,000
- Southwest Virginia Community Health, Saltville: $600,000
- Tri-Area Community Health, Laurel Fork: $599,996
Related stories
Mental health crisis center has support; momentum stalled until location, funding secured
VCSB working to respond to those in crisis; ease burden on hospitals, first responders
Virginia works to build infrastructure for same-day care for person in mental-health crisis
Region’s suicide rates almost double state, national average; treatment options in the works
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Crystal Graham
