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Horizon Behavioral Health outlines crisis services expansion and new ‘scribe receiving’ center
Summary
Horizon Behavioral Health reported program growth, mobile response integration with Marcus Alert, and a new behavioral health receiving center under renovation with an expected opening in early 2026 pending licensure.
Horizon Behavioral Health provided its annual update to the Bedford County Board of Supervisors Wednesday, highlighting service growth, new crisis‑response programs and a planned behavioral health receiving center.
“On this page, you will see our portfolio services,” Alyssa Lucy, Horizon’s presenter, told the board. She said Horizon launched two community‑based programs during the year — co‑responder and mobile response teams — aimed at reducing hospital readmissions and meeting people in crisis where they are. Lucy also described the mobile response teams’ role within Virginia’s Marcus Alert framework to improve responses to mental health crises.
Horizon reported increases in client volume and community engagement: the organization facilitated 1,851 community events and trips in FY24, completed 1,659 adult prescreens for emergency custody cases in FY24, and served 2,134 individuals through emergency services. Horizon connected 27 individuals with severe mental illness to permanent supportive housing and said Project Link, which supports pregnant and parenting women with substance use disorders, received 246 referrals from a local birthing hospital; six infants were born substance‑free to mothers enrolled in the program this year, the agency said.
Lucy described an upcoming ‘‘scribe receiving center’’ renovation and licensure process: renovations are expected to finish in October, and Horizon anticipates applying for licensure and credentialing providers; staff said an opening around March 2026 is likely but will depend on the timing of licensure. The facility is to offer walk‑in mental health evaluations, up to 23‑hour observation, residential crisis stabilization and detox services, Lucy said.
Horizon also reported grant activity: a rural health outreach HRSA grant supporting adults with serious mental illness is in year 3, with 127 referrals since inception and high rates of avoiding psychiatric hospitalization among participants; a SAMHSA family‑treatment grant initiated July 30, 2020, was described as active through July 29, 2025. Horizon encouraged board members and the public to follow its social media for updates and offered to answer follow‑up questions.
No public comments were made on the presentation.
