Prince William County Dedicates Crisis Receiving Center

Pictured above: Governor Glenn Youngkin wrote his intentions for those who will be receiving services at the CRC to see as a message of hope and support, while Chair At-Large Ann Wheeler and others look on.

Last month, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors purchased the old Gander Mountain site, on Worth Avenue in Woodbridge, to turn it into the Prince William County Crisis Receiving Center, or CRC, to provide immediate, urgent behavioral health care.

On Thursday, May 11, the Board of County Supervisors and Connections Health Solutions, the county’s contractor which will be operating the CRC, held a Community Dedication Ceremony for the CRC. The event was attended by local and state officials and community leaders.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin attended the ceremony.

“I am so pleased to be able to join all of you to really acknowledge, but more so, celebrate the bringing together of so many different capabilities, resources around one vision, which is to have a crisis receiving center here in Prince William County that will fundamentally change the way services are delivered to citizens in Prince William County when they have behavioral health needs.”

At full funding, the CRC, expected to be complete in late 2024, will have 16 23-hour observation units and 16 crisis residential beds where adults in mental health crisis can stay, typically, for three to five days. When completed, the CRC will also have eight 23-hour observation units and eight crisis residential beds for youth.

The CRC will be the first of its kind in Virginia to co-locate community service programs in one place to create a “no wrong door” community model to serve those in mental health crisis who can walk in to receive assessments and services. 

“Now, this facility is going to be state of the art. This facility is going to be the template,” Youngkin said.  “A facility that is not in a hospital setting, a facility that, in fact, is an inviting facility that has an opportunity for Virginians to come in and get help right now… a facility that works to decriminalize behavioral health services, a facility that provides support for Virginians suffering from substance use disorder, a facility that will be a beacon of hope for residents in Prince William County. And a facility that we want to copy across the commonwealth.” 

The CRC facility, once completed, will also house eight Community Services, or CS, programs including Access, Trauma, New Horizons Youth, Assertive Community Treatment, Peer Drop-In Services, Medication Assisted Treatment, Drug Offender Recovery Services and PATH/Homeless Services.

Co-locating the CS programs will provide a connection for people who may need further community-based services once the crisis has been addressed. 

Prince William Board of County Supervisors Potomac District Supervisor Andrea Bailey, who championed the CRC, thanked those in attendance for their help in making the facility a reality and her fellow Board of Supervisors members for voting to begin the work of establishing the CRC.

“I come humbly before you, thanking you for believing in the vision for your community… that when mental health is being swept under the rug, it is no longer so,” Bailey said. “I want to just acknowledge my wonderful colleagues on the board that voted unanimously for this project to go forward. We work hard in every entity to make sure that you're served at a higher level in Prince William County.”

Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chair At-Large, Ann Wheeler, said the CRC would be a place where people could come for help when they need it most.

“We all know that mental health issues can be debilitating, and the pandemic has served to only exacerbate the situation,” Wheeler said. “People are experiencing still unprecedented levels of stress and anxiety and the need for mental health services has never been greater. This center is designed to be a safe haven for those in crisis. It will provide immediate access to mental health services and support for those in need… This center will not only provide critical services to those in crisis, but may also serve as an inspiration for community education and outreach regarding mental health. By working together with community partners, we can all raise awareness about mental health issues together and reduce the stigma associated with seeking help.”

Wheeler also noted the wide support for the facility from the community, as well as the county’s state and federal delegation. “There's so, so many people here today who advocated for it and also are working to make it come to fruition. This is only possible because of the advocacy of so many people within our community and the partnerships on the local, state and federal level. I am forever grateful for our community's staunch support of this center.”

Matt Miller, Chief Growth and Development Officer Connections Health Solutions, echoed the need for people in crisis to get the care they need and to get it quickly.

“Currently, the immense strain on psychiatric beds and resources in the community are forcing individuals to seek care in emergency rooms. Or are they ending or ending up in jails out of necessity, some wait hours or days for treatment while others … are sent home without receiving complete treatment or a full behavioral health follow up plan,” said Miller. “Once this center opens, Prince William and the surrounding Northern Virginia community, will have access to a crisis response center that will relieve the pressure placed on these resources while allowing individuals access to high quality behavioral health, crisis care and a dedicated, safe and treatment-orientated environment.”

Prince William Board of County Supervisors Occoquan District Supervisor Kenny Boddye, whose district includes the CRC facility, told how his mother died from complications from mental health issues. Boddye said the CRC would heal minds in the darkest of times.

“I have no doubt that … if we had a facility like this, when my mother was growing up, her life trajectory would be much different. I take heart in knowing that this crisis receiving center will ensure that stories like my mom's, which again I know are not isolated, will be less common. In short, this facility will save lives.”

Other speakers at the dedication included Executive Director of the Prince William County Community Services, Lisa Madron, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Nelson Smith, Associate Superintendent of Prince William County Public Schools, Denise Huebner, and Little Union Baptist Church Pastor, Michael Sessoms.