VCSB pursuing funding for crisis receiving center, other takeaways from Waynesboro City Council

Akhil Ganesh, Staunton News Leader
·4 min read

WAYNESBORO — A shorthanded Waynesboro City Council flew through their Monday night meeting with plenty of important information shared with the council.

Here's what we learned.

Valley Community Services Board updates plan for crisis receiving center

Dr. Kimberly McClanahan, executive director of the Valley Community Services Board, provided an update on the organization's push to build a new crisis receiving center (CRC) and crisis stabilization and detox unit (CSU-D).

  • Crisis Receiving Center: A 23-hour observation and intervention program used to help the consumer stabilize to the point where in-patient hospitalization is no longer required.

  • Crisis Stabilization and Detoxification Unit: A short-term (generally 5-7 days but can be up to 15 days) unit where the client can be stabilized through assessment, treatment, and medication. This is generally a step up from the crisis receiving center but a step below hospitalization.

The idea with those facilities is to alleviate the pressure on the emergency department at Augusta Health and the burden placed on law enforcement officers in cases of mental health crisis or substance use disorder crisis.

The CRC and CSU-D would have 16 beds for each, which will serve as flex beds for both crisis intervention and detox serving all genders. The CSU-D will additionally have the capacity for medical treatment through these issues.

At the current moment, VCSB has secured $1 million in America Rescue Plan Act funding from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DHBDS), but that still places the center about $29 million short of what VCSB needs. Other potential funding includes:

  • $1.5 million from DBHDS allocated in state general funds

  • A potential United States Department of Justice grant for $550,000

  • $684,722 in locality match funds

  • Potential for congressional direct spending in fiscal year 2025

VCSB submitted a grant proposal to DHBDS on June 15, but the outcome of that grant is still unclear with no state budget in place yet. The hope is for full funding or mostly full funding for that proposal.

It remains unclear if Opioid Abatement Settlement funds could be used towards a detox center. The organization is looking for additional grant funding, and is exploring 501(c)(3) status for funding in the future.

If funding can be secured, McClanahan projected it would take about two years for the facility to be constructed and get up and running. VCSB is attempting to secure a location within five minutes of Augusta Health, both for ease of access and for a shorter turnaround time on laboratory tests that the hospital will provide.

WARM shelters provide update after being named CDBG funding recipient

Waynesboro City Council passed a resolution approving their Community Development Block Grant annual action plan, paving the way for funding for the Rosenwald Community Center, The LIFEworks Project's Bread Basket food pantry, and the Waynesboro Area Refuge Ministry shelter operation.

Brian Edwards, board chairperson for WARM, gave a presentation to city council updating them on their activities.

Edwards said that since the pandemic was declared over, the ministry has shifted their focus from emergency shelters to cold weather shelters. The CDBG funding was not the only influx of money for the group, as the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge also provided funding for the expansion of the cold weather shelter. The goal now is to expand the available number of beds from 35 to 70.

"We have some needs to grow and have more beds at certain Waynesboro churches," Edwards said, adding that he wanted to utilize churches in Staunton and Augusta County more.

The other avenue for help is the Ruth VanCleve Anderson House, a brick and mortar center that has been in operation for 11 years. That house is a center for unsheltered mothers and their children. WARM is in the process of moving their administrative offices out of that building, and will open up space to allow another mother and their children to move in to the facility. At present, the facility houses five mothers and seven children.

Quick Hitters

  • Waynesboro City Council approved a conditional-use permit for the Heritage Hill Bed and Breakfast on Sherwood Avenue to allow for temporary small events. Conditions on the permit include that events must have less than 100 guests, have bathroom facilities available for events of over 25 people (including one that is ADA compliant), and have drinking water available for guests.

  • Council passed a resolution of support for an application to the Virginia Clean Water Revolving Loan fund. According to city manager Mike Hamp, the hope is that the loan will involve forgiveness from the state. If that option exists, the city will look at bringing in $9 million for their wastewater treatment facility.

  • Council ended their meeting with a closed session on the "acquisition of real property" and "legal counsel," specifically dealing with Nature's Crossing Technology Center.

—Akhil Ganesh is the Government Reporter at The News Leader. You can contact him at aganesh@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @akhildoesthings.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: VCSB pursuing funding for crisis receiving center, other takeaways from Waynesboro City Council