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NEWS
Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | March 23, 2023
County moves to buy vacant superstore for mental health facility MENTAL HEALTH, from page 1 U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D) visited the building Monday, March 20, along with a cadre of local and state officials. They gathered inside to hear Lisa Madron, executive director of the county’s Community Services Board, describe plans for the ambitious goal: to give people a place to be assessed and treated for conditions ranging from serious mental illness to addiction, depression or anxiety. The facility will use the “crisis now” model, which is new to Virginia but well established in Arizona. It serves both walk-ins and those brought in by police under a “temporary detention order” because they are at risk of harming themselves or others. The facility will offer shortterm and overnight services. An urgent-care component, staffed by a medical doctor and nurses, will dispense medications and manage those needing to detox or experiencPHOTO BY JOHN CALHOUN ing drug withdrawal. U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D) center, is flanked by Supervisor Andrea Bailey, D-Potomac, left and state Sen. Jeremy McPike, The facility will also house about D-29th, right, and Del. Briana Sewell, D-51st, far right. Photo by John Calhoun 130 county employees involved in existing support programs, from to purchase the building for about leave the county to seek help,” BodThe federal grant brought Kaine trauma services to mental health to Woodbridge to tour the facili$20 million, approved in a 6-2 vote dye said. drop-in programs and peer-based rety Monday, March 20. He said he that was not on the board’s agenda. Facility the result of state, covery groups, Madron said. was excited about the groundbreakIn interviews after their meeting, federal grants Because patients need different Supervisors Kenny Boddye, D-OcBoddye and Weir said the super- ing-to-Virginia model of care Prince levels of care, it will offer “reclincoquan, Jeanine Lawson, R-Brentsvisors have not settled on how the William County is pursuing and ers,” for people needing up to 23 ville, and Bob Weir, R-Gainesville, county will pay for the building. wanted to learn about it firsthand. hours of assessment and treatment, After visiting the building, Kasaid the board had learned two Weir said the board discussed taking as well as beds for those who need ine attended a roundtable discussion weeks ago that the building’s owner the money from the the county’s reto be admitted for three to five days, on mental health issues at Sentara planned to sell it at auction on March serve funds, which amount to more Madron said. Northern Virginia Medical Center, 22. The timing forced the supervithan $150 million, then borrowing to Based on a county needs assesswhere he heard from local providers sors to make a quick decision to put pay it back. ment, the facility is planning to open about the many challenges facing in a bid. The purchase is not a sure The center is expected to cost with 16 recliners and 16 beds for the mental health system: low insurthing, as the county could be outbid. about $2.7 million a year to run, adults and eight recliners and eight ance reimbursement rates; a shortThe results of the auction were not Madron said, which is the projected beds for youth. The youth numbers age of training programs because known at press time. gap between what patients’ private may be increased to 16 and 16 beLawson and Weir said they could insurance or Medicaid will pay and of low pay for university instruccause the contractor hired to run the tors; and lagging salaries for mental not support what will remain uncovered. center suggested the purchase. The county has cobbled together health professionals, which discourdoing so might During a brief $15 million to cover start-up costs. age people from entering the field. be more cost-ef“I don’t have any Kaine said he would take that discussion be- The money includes $4.5 million fective, Madron doubt that when this fore the vote, from federal COVID-19 relief funds; input back to the Senate, where he said. Lawson said the a $2.5 million grant from the Virginia serves on the health, education, laThe goal is is up and running purchase felt General Assembly; $2 million from bor and pensions committee. In the not to turn anyit’s going to be rushed. Weir the state’s Department of Behavior meantime, he said, “I don’t have any one away and to successful, and it’s objected to the Health and Developmental Services; doubt that when this is up and runoffer the right going to be a model quick timeline a $2 million gift from the Potomac ning it’s going to be successful, and level of care. as well as many Health Foundation; and $2 million in it’s going to be a model for others.” “The reason this for others.” Reach Jill Palermo at jpalermo@ model works conditions of a federal earmark won by Kaine and - U.S. SEN. TIM KAINE (D) is because it fauquier.com the sale, in- U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D). starts where the cluding that the individual is. 156,000-squareHOW TO REACH US They’re not asked, ‘Are you eligible? foot building would remain partialADDRESS: Fauquier Times, 53 South Third St., Suite 100, Do you meet this criteria?’ And then ly occupied by a flooring store. The Warrenton, Virginia 20186 ISSN 1050-7655, USPS 188280 put someplace,” she said. Instead, building sits on 12 acres on Worth Published every Thursday by Piedmont Media LLC PHONE: 540-347-4222 HOURS: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, “they walk in and it’s ‘How can we Avenue in Woodbridge and was last PUBLISHER MANAGING EDITOR, 24-hour answering service help you? What do you need?’ … So, assessed at $15.7 million. Catherine M. Nelson, PRINCE WILLIAM TIMES SUBSCRIPTIONS 540-347-4222 Jill Palermo, 703-608-3739 this model is brain-changing.” “There’s no transparency to this,” Call 540-347-4222 cnelson@fauquier.com jpalermo@fauquier.com Need help with your subscription? Weir said in an interview after the Supervisors decide RETAIL SALES MANAGER REPORTERS Call 540-878-2413 or email vote. “We literally dumped this on Anthony Haugan, 540-878-2492 to bid for the building vgrayson@fauquier.com Cher Muzyk, Cell: 703-909-0349 cmuzyk@fauquier.com Missed your paper? County officials have been dis- the public. That’s no way to do busiahaugan@fauquier.com Call 540-347-4222, Shannon Clark, cussing the need for such a facili- ness.” 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Thursday CIRCULATION MANAGER sclark@fauquier.com But Boddye said buying the buildty since 2021. It was announced in Nancy Keyser, 540-878-2413 Subscription: $49.95 per Anya Sczerzenie, nkeyser@fauquier.com year within the United States. July 2022 that the county would rent ing would ensure the county’s ongoasczerzenie@fauquier.com Includes e-edition and access to CLASSIFIED SALES MANAGER the old Gander Mountain store for ing use of the space after it has spent princewilliamtimes.com SPORTS EDITOR Jeanne Cobert, $434,000 a year with an annual esca- an expected $18 million to transform POSTMASTER: Send address Peter Brewington, 540-270-4931 changes to: Fauquier Times, 53 lator that would push the rent to al- it. He said the center is clearly need540-351-1169 jcobert@fauquier.com South Third St., Suite 100, pbrewington@fauquier.com most $1 million a year by the eighth ed. Warrenton, Virginia 20186 To place Obituaries, Classifieds and Legal/Employment ads: “I know lots of families who have year of the lease. Periodicals postage paid at Call 540-270-4931 or email Warrenton, Virginia and at But on Tuesday, March 21, the su- kids who have had mental health jcobert@fauquier.com additional mailing offices pervisors made an unexpected move crises, and right now, they have to
