CHESAPEAKE, Va. — A blue building sitting beside Chesapeake Integrated Behavioral Healthcare is helping to expand services to residents.
“It’ll bring the ability to act immediately,” said Chesapeake Deputy City Manager Dr. Wanda Bernard-Bailey.
It’s called the Chesapeake CARES Crisis Center Heron’s Cove. The purpose is to help stabilize those experiencing a behavioral health crisis.
“What we were seeing was a lot of folks having the need to go to the emergency room,” said Chesapeake Integrated Behavioral Healthcare Executive Director Ed Gonzalez. “In some situations, law enforcement had to be with them.”
Heron’s Cove has a “no wrong door” policy for accessing care. Individuals can walk in at any time to receive services. During an individual's stay, a multidisciplinary team will work together to assess the individual's needs and develop treatment interventions for ongoing care.
"This facility gives us an opportunity for an evaluation so that we can minimize those that have to go to the hospital," Dr. Bernard-Bailey said.
Thursday, city leaders cut the ribbon on the new center, opening up the door to an array of resources like therapy, psychoeducation and peer support.
“We’ll have a prescriber, a nurse practitioner, licensed professionals to provide counseling,” Gonzalez said.
Mayor Rick West said the facility will operate similarly to a hospital emergency department but with a different look.
“You’re going to see paint colors, furniture, plant life and all that was chosen intentionally to create a calm, therapeutic environment,”
City leaders say this is more than just a crisis center. It will also offer emergency services and house members of the Crisis Intervention Team.