Insights and early outcomes shared during a recent panel at the National Association of Counties (NACo) highlight how Prince William County, Virginia, is redefining what a mental health crisis response system can look like.  

In Prince William County, Virginia, a mental health crisis used to mean a long wait in a crowded emergency department, a likely transfer to a facility far away, and a law enforcement officer tied up for the night escorting someone in crisis through a system not built to fit their needs. For those willing to seek help on their own, the emergency department was often the only option, meaning hours of waiting for care that could have been provided faster, closer, and in a setting designed for behavioral health.

In late 2025, the county opened a Crisis Receiving Center (CRC)— a 24/7 psychiatric emergency center built to meet individuals in crisis with immediate, specialized care. Operated by Connections Health Solutions, the Connections Prince William crisis response center was designed to provide rapid assessment, stabilization, and connection to ongoing support. The early numbers are hard to ignore.

First month’s outcomes

In just 30 days, the CRC saved local law enforcement over 900 hours. Out-of-county state hospital transfers dropped from 43% to under 5%, and there was a reduction in emergency department utilization and need for inpatient psychiatric admissions.

Those numbers reflect more than operational efficiency; they represent a structural shift in how crisis care is delivered. Emergency departments are seeing relief. State hospitals are preserving beds for those who truly need long-term inpatient care. Officers are returning to patrol faster. Most importantly, individuals are receiving care designed specifically for behavioral health emergencies.

A leader with a plan for change

Hon. Andrea Bailey, Supervisor of Prince William County, championed this project from day one. With decades of corporate and small-business experience, she understood that good intentions don't build systems, sustained advocacy does.

"For too long, our residents have lacked timely, appropriate care during a crisis," Bailey said. "This center changes that."

She credits alignment with former Governor Youngkin’s “Right Help, Right Now” initiative and the operational partnership with Connections Health Solutions as the combination that turned vision into reality.

More than a building, a fully integrated system

The Connections Prince William County CRC is the result of a public-private partnership between Prince William County and Connections Health Solutions, combining local leadership with national expertise in psychiatric emergency care.

Unlike traditional crisis models that operate in silos, this center was intentionally designed with co-located services under one roof. Peer Recovery Specialists, ACT Teams, Youth Services, and Medication-Assisted Treatment providers work alongside crisis clinicians in real time. That means when someone stabilizes, the handoff to ongoing care happens immediately—not days or weeks later. Instead of discharging individuals back into the community with a phone number and a referral, this center connects them directly to providers before they leave the building.

By accepting voluntary walk-ins alongside Emergency Custody Orders (ECOs) and Temporary Detention Orders (TDOs), the center eliminates the traditional bottleneck at hospital emergency departments. Law enforcement officers transfer custody quickly and return to service. Families can walk in without navigating a complex system. Trained behavioral health experts, not ED staff—lead psychiatric stabilization from the start.

“This isn’t just a building,” Bailey said. “It’s a bridge between emergency response, stabilization, and long-term recovery.”

A model with momentum

This model of psychiatric emergency care has proven effective in other states. Now, Prince William County is demonstrating that with the right leadership, sustainable funding, and a strong public-private partnership, communities can transform crisis response.

Prince William County didn’t just open a center—it redefined what crisis response can look like. With measurable outcomes in its first month and an integrated, co-located model built for sustainability, the Connections Prince William County Crisis Receiving Center offers a blueprint for communities nationwide seeking a smarter, more humane approach to mental health emergencies.