New River Valley Community Services highlights local crisis services and new Floyd peer center

Chris Taylor, executive director of New River Valley Community Services, told the Board of Supervisors that the agency serves Floyd County residents and recently opened a Floyd peer center and other local services.

Taylor said NRVCS served 741 Floyd residents in fiscal year 2024 — 352 minors and 389 adults — and that the agency places a master’s‑level clinician in each Floyd school. He described the new Floyd peer center as a drop‑in site for people with substance‑use or mental‑health needs; in its first month the peer center had about 30 visits and linked people to housing and other services. Taylor also outlined the Radford crisis continuum: an Emergency Custody Order (ECO) transfer process, a 23‑hour crisis facility and a crisis stabilization unit where people may receive short‑term treatment.

Why it matters: supervisors and staff said the county benefits from local behavioral‑health capacity, co‑response efforts with law enforcement and potential training for first responders. The board discussed co‑response programs in neighboring jurisdictions (clinicians riding with law enforcement) and the need for more crisis training in basic and in‑service sessions for first responders.

Discussion versus decision: this was a presentation and public‑service update; no action was taken. Supervisors asked staff to continue coordination on co‑response, mental‑health dockets and first‑responder training.

Ending: Taylor offered to return with additional statistics and updates; supervisors invited ongoing communication as NRVCS expands services in Floyd County.