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RICHMOND, VA — Governor Glenn Youngkin today participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Horizon Behavioral Health Crisis Receiving Center in Lynchburg, a major expansion of crisis services that will begin serving patients later this year. The facility is designed to give individuals in crisis immediate access to clinical care, stabilization, and a safe alternative to emergency departments. This center represents a significant investment in Central Virginia’s behavioral health system and builds on the progress of the Governor’s Right Help, Right Now plan.
The new center includes walk-in evaluations, 23-hour observation, crisis stabilization, detoxification services, 16 crisis receiving center chairs, and 16 crisis stabilization unit beds. The facility also provides a dedicated location for Emergency Custody Order (ECO) and Temporary Detention Order (TDO) transfers, shortening wait times and allowing law enforcement to return to their primary public safety duties.
“Expanding behavioral health crisis care in Lynchburg is a powerful step for Central Virginia,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “This center gives people a place where help is available right away, where families can find answers instead of uncertainty and where law enforcement can safely transfer individuals in crisis and return to protecting their communities. Horizon has been serving this region for decades, and today we build on that work by ensuring people can get the right help at the moment it matters most – right now.”
“Lynchburg has taken bold action to ensure Virginians in crisis are not left waiting or searching for help,” said Secretary of Health and Human Resources Janet V. Kelly. “This center offers immediate access to care, skilled and compassionate professionals, and a clear path to stability for individuals and families who need support right away.”
“Horizon gives Central Virginia something it has never had before: a place built for fast, safe, and expert crisis care,” said Nelson Smith, Commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. “This center reduces strain on hospitals, improves response times, and makes sure that people in crisis receive skilled support at the moment they need it.”
“The opening of this center shows what Right Help, Right Now looks like on the ground,” said Hallie Pence, Executive Director of Right Help, Right Now. “People in crisis will be able to walk through these doors and be seen quickly, getting the care they need. This is a place designed to bring calm, clarity, and real support to moments that can feel overwhelming.”
“For generations, Horizon has walked alongside this community during its most difficult moments,” said Melissa Lucy, CEO of Horizon Behavioral Health. “This new center reflects our commitment to meeting people where they are and giving them care that is timely, professional, and grounded in compassion. It is an investment in our neighbors and in the future of Central Virginia.”
“This center will make a real difference for families across Central Virginia,” said Senator Mark Peake. “It ensures that when someone is in crisis, they can get help close to home, from people who are prepared to respond quickly and safely. That is an important step forward for our region.”
“Lynchburg has needed a resource like this for a long time, and Horizon has delivered,” said Delegate Wendell Walker. “This center will help individuals in crisis get the care they need while easing the stress on families, law enforcement, and our hospitals. It is a strong step for our community and our Commonwealth.”
Horizon Behavioral Health, which has served Central Virginia for 56 years, will operate the center and continue its long-standing partnership with local hospitals, first responders, and community providers. Renovations began in 2023 to design the new facility to also house the region’s Crisis Intervention Team Assessment Center, improving coordination across local agencies and ensuring individuals under ECOs or TDOs are transferred to an environment designed specifically for behavioral health care. The center is supported by state and federal investments, including funding through the Right Help, Right Now behavioral health plan and the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority.
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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