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RICHMOND, VA - Governor Glenn Youngkin yesterday joined state and community partners to launch construction of the Valley Crisis Receiving Center (CRC), a major step forward in strengthening crisis response through the Commonwealth's Right Help, Right Now behavioral health transformation and ensuring individuals experiencing a behavioral health emergency have a dedicated place to receive immediate care and stabilization. The groundbreaking ceremony was held at Augusta Health Medical Center in Fishersville, VA, located approximately one mile from the future site of the new center.
"This is how we build a system that responds to every Virginian with urgency, dignity, and compassion," said Governor Glenn Youngkin. "Instead of waiting in a hospital hallway or in the back of a police vehicle, people in crisis will walk into the new Valley Crisis Receiving Center - a space designed to help them reclaim stability and hope. The Valley region is demonstrating innovation, accountability, and a commitment to public safety in action. Together, we are delivering the right help, right now."
Construction will begin next year for the center, which will include 16 CRC chairs and 16 Crisis Stabilization Unit beds and will be operated by the Valley Community Services Board (CSB). Services will include 24/7 medical screening, clinical evaluation, peer support, and care coordination. The region's Crisis Intervention Team Assessment Center will relocate into the new building after it opens, which will allow for faster transfers and more therapeutic environments for individuals under Emergency Custody and Temporary Detention Orders.
Valley crisis teams currently respond to more than 1,180 crisis interventions per year across Augusta and Highland Counties and the cities of Staunton and Waynesboro. They work closely with local law enforcement and hospitals across the region.
"The Valley has a history of building smarter pathways into care, and this center continues that leadership," said Secretary of Health and Human Resources Janet V. Kelly. "Families will gain faster access to treatment, hospitals will stay focused on medical emergencies, and individuals will receive care with dignity at the moment they need it."
The facility design supports privacy, mobility, and rapid access to clinical engagement. The Valley CSB also championed Transfer of Custody agreements with Augusta Health security. This partnership reduces the time officers would otherwise remain in emergency departments and allows them to return to their core public safety duties more quickly.
"We are designing the future of crisis response. This approach connects therapeutic care, modern infrastructure, and efficient law enforcement coordination," said Nelson Smith, Commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. "By reducing processing times and creating a consistent statewide model, we are building speed into the system and helping officers return to their core public safety duties more quickly."
"I am proud to see this groundbreaking in the Valley where I grew up," said Hallie Pence, Executive Director of Right Help, Right Now. "This facility will provide the resources Virginians need regardless of the day of the week or the hour of the day. People deserve real care without delay, and the Valley is proving what happens when compassion and collaboration drive bringing resources to serve its own community."
The Valley CSB will operate the center with support from Augusta Health, Western State Hospital, regional CSBs, and first responder agencies.
"This center is deeply personal for our community," said Dr. Kimberly McClanahan, Executive Director of the Valley Community Services Board. "Every person who enters will be welcomed into a place where calm, care, and connection are the standard. Recovery can begin immediately, and no one will face a crisis alone."
Local leaders reinforced the importance of the investment.
"Our region is strongest when solutions are designed here by people who understand the needs of our communities," said Senator Mark Obenshain. "This investment supports public safety, strengthens our workforce, and improves quality of life in the Shenandoah Valley."
"With this center, families will know exactly where to turn, any time of day," said Delegate Chris Runion. "By creating a reliable process for officers to transfer individuals into clinical care, we are supporting both community safety and timely treatment."
"This center has been a long time coming. I'm so grateful for Governor Youngkin and this administration for recognizing the importance of this in our community," said Delegate Ellen McLaughlin. "Many families will benefit from getting the right help and the resources they need."
The facility is supported by more than $16 million in combined capital and operating investments through state behavioral health funding and regional partnerships.
Governor Youngkin's Right Help, Right Now initiative is a three-year, $1.4 billion transformation of Virginia's behavioral health system focused on expanding crisis care, strengthening community-based services, improving the behavioral health workforce, and ensuring Virginians in crisis have someone to call, someone to respond, and a safe place to go.
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