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Colonial Behavioral Health outlines mobile crisis, permanent supportive housing and new crisis center after $2M federal award
Summary
David Co of Colonial Behavioral Health told council CBH received a one-time $2 million federal award, described mobile crisis and permanent supportive housing services, and updated the council that a regional crisis services center (Center for Support and Wellness) is under construction and expected to open later this year.
David Co, representing Colonial Behavioral Health, gave City Council a broad update on Feb. 12 about services, partnerships and facility construction funded in part with recent support. Co noted CBH's five-decade history serving the region and said the agency serves roughly 238–258 Williamsburg residents annually (about a quarter children, two-thirds adults and the remainder seniors).
He described two services added in recent years: a mobile crisis team, deployed a little over a year and a half ago to provide on-site crisis assessment and intervention in homes, schools and other locations, and permanent supportive housing where CBH and partners work with the state Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to house individuals, including some who left the House of Mercy. Co said mobile crisis utilization is increasing but still growing gradually.
Co outlined Marcus Alert planning (local co-response protocols for mental-health crises), partnerships with local organizations (including school- and jail-based services) and challenges such as workforce recruitment and federal/state funding uncertainty. He said CBH is participating in a state-level federal application to become part of a certified community behavioral health clinic model that could change reimbursement and staffing possibilities.
Co confirmed a one-time federal award of $2 million and described a new Center for Support and Wellness under construction that will include a CIT assessment area (four slots), 12 chairs intended for 23-hour stabilization, and an 8-bed crisis stabilization unit with short stays; construction is underway and the project was described as scheduled to open later this year. He asked council to consider partnership and coordination as CBH implements these services and offered tours of facilities.
Councilmembers thanked CBH for services and raised questions about transports when local state hospitals are full; Co noted long distances and operational strains on law enforcement when transports go to other regions.
