FISHERSVILLE, Va. — Gov. Glenn Youngkin has joined state and local partners to break ground on the Valley Crisis Receiving Center, a key project in the administration’s Right Help, Right Now behavioral health initiative.
The ceremony took place at Augusta Health Medical Center in Fishersville, about a mile from where the new facility will be built.
“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 is expected to begin next year.
The center will include 16 Crisis Receiving Center chairs and 16 Crisis Stabilization Unit beds and will be operated by the Valley Community Services Board. Planned services include around-the-clock medical screening, clinical evaluations, peer support and care coordination. The region’s Crisis Intervention Team Assessment Center will relocate to the new building after it opens, improving transfer times and offering a more therapeutic setting for individuals under Emergency Custody and Temporary Detention Orders.
Valley crisis teams respond to more than 1,180 crisis interventions each year across Augusta and Highland counties and the cities of Staunton and Waynesboro. They also work closely with area hospitals and law enforcement agencies.
“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 design of the building emphasizes privacy, mobility and quick access to clinical staff. The Valley CSB also led efforts to establish Transfer of Custody agreements with Augusta Health security, reducing time law enforcement officers spend in emergency departments and allowing them to return to patrol 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 in partnership with Augusta Health, Western State Hospital, regional CSBs and regional first responders.
“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 lawmakers also voiced support for the project.
“Our region is strongest when solutions are designed here by people who understand the needs of our communities,” said Sen. 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 Del. 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 Del. Ellen McLaughlin. “Many families will benefit from getting the right help and the resources they need.”
More than $16 million in state behavioral health funding and regional partnerships will support the construction and initial operation of the facility.
The Right Help, Right Now initiative is a three-year, $1.4 billion overhaul of Virginia’s behavioral health system. The program aims to expand crisis services, strengthen community-based care, improve the behavioral health workforce and ensure that individuals in crisis have someone to call, someone to respond and a safe place to go.
