Lynchburg, VA – The U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance recently awarded Horizon Behavioral Health $550,000 over three years to support operations at the future Crisis Receiving Center (CRC) in Lynchburg, Virginia, and expand collaboration with the Lynchburg Police Department (LPD). The funds will embed Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) trained LPD officers within the center, alongside Horizon Clinicians and Peer Recovery Specialists, to provide a coordinated response to individuals experiencing behavioral health crisis.
In 2023, Horizon Behavioral Health rallied local and state support to begin establishing a Crisis Receiving Center (CRC) in the City of Lynchburg, to benefit residents across Central Virginia. With fiscal support from the City of Lynchburg, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), and the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority, the center is slated to begin construction this fall with plans to open its doors to the public in 2025. The existing building at Fenwick Drive will undergo extensive renovations during this time.
The center will be equipped to accommodate walk-in mental health evaluations, 23-hour observation, residential crisis stabilization, and detox services. This continuum of care will support timely placement in treatment services, keeping clients closer to their support networks, and offering more options for immediate treatment. All shown to improve long-term recovery and health outcomes of individuals served.
“On behalf of our beloved community, Horizon remains unwaveringly committed to the forward motion of this project, driven by the understanding that our community’s need for crisis services continues to rise,” says Melissa Lucy, CEO of Horizon. “We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to meet that need alongside stakeholders who share our resolve.”
## Horizon Behavioral Health has been the primary public behavioral healthcare provider in the Central Virginia region for more than 55 years. Horizon provides services to adults and children, addressing challenges with mental health, substance use and intellectual disabilities. Horizon is accredited by CARF International. This represents the highest level of accreditation that can be given to a behavioral health organization.
