VB Strong Center to continue providing services through September 2024
Program designed to last 27 months nears five years as federal grants wind down
The VB Strong Center, a partnership between Sentara Health and the City of Virginia Beach, is committed to empowering those affected by the City of Virginia Beach Municipal Center mass tragedy on May 31, 2019, in their journeys to healing and resiliency. After multiple extensions beyond its original 27-month mandate, the Center will continue providing services until September 30, 2024, a period of almost five years.
“Long after it was supposed to close, the VB Strong Center team continues offering services and programs to meet the needs of those affected,” said Bernie Boone, president of Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital and system executive for behavioral health. “We opened VB Strong Center in a matter of weeks with Justice Department funding slated to last 27 months. We’ve kept it going for almost five years and we’re proud to have been part of the healing process.”
The 2019 grant from the U.S. Justice Department funding the VB Strong Center was extended in 2022 under management by the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) Foundation. The Foundation manages grants for health systems across Virginia.
“This initiative is a shining example of public-private collaboration between the City of Virginia Beach and Sentara Health to meet community need,” said VHHA President and CEO Sean T. Connaughton. “Sentara’s quick work to establish the VB Strong Center exemplifies its commitment as a not-for-profit health system.”
“Sentara is a strong partner with the City of Virginia Beach in our ongoing resiliency efforts,” said Patrick Duhaney, Virginia Beach city manager. “They remain committed to providing mental health services through their community-based programs once the VB Strong Center funding comes to an end.”
“Sentara Behavioral Health Services are always available in the community,” added Boone. “The Sentara Behavioral Health Care Center at Landstown Commons, our outpatient programs, our emergency departments, and our inpatient units are all available to help.”
Unrelated to the Municipal Center tragedy, Sentara established a system behavioral health task force in 2021 in response to the growing need for services across Virginia. In 2023, the system introduced Sentara Opioid Bridge to Recovery to help emergency department patients with opioid use disorder connect with community programs and maintain sobriety during treatment.
Also, Sentara became the provider of Employee Assistance Program services, which include individual counseling and crisis intervention, for the City of Virginia Beach and Virginia Beach Public Schools on January 1, 2023.
“Our work has resulted in more expansive and comprehensive behavioral health services,” said Nedra Moncrief-Craig, system director of behavioral health services. “We have hired dozens of multidisciplinary providers to help us meet patients where they are, provide direct services, or connect patients with resources in their communities. Behavioral health is a growing part of the Sentara mission to improve health every day.”
“Long after it was supposed to close, the VB Strong Center team continues offering services and programs to meet the needs of those affected,” said Bernie Boone, president of Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital and system executive for behavioral health. “We opened VB Strong Center in a matter of weeks with Justice Department funding slated to last 27 months. We’ve kept it going for almost five years and we’re proud to have been part of the healing process.”
The 2019 grant from the U.S. Justice Department funding the VB Strong Center was extended in 2022 under management by the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) Foundation. The Foundation manages grants for health systems across Virginia.
“This initiative is a shining example of public-private collaboration between the City of Virginia Beach and Sentara Health to meet community need,” said VHHA President and CEO Sean T. Connaughton. “Sentara’s quick work to establish the VB Strong Center exemplifies its commitment as a not-for-profit health system.”
“Sentara is a strong partner with the City of Virginia Beach in our ongoing resiliency efforts,” said Patrick Duhaney, Virginia Beach city manager. “They remain committed to providing mental health services through their community-based programs once the VB Strong Center funding comes to an end.”
“Sentara Behavioral Health Services are always available in the community,” added Boone. “The Sentara Behavioral Health Care Center at Landstown Commons, our outpatient programs, our emergency departments, and our inpatient units are all available to help.”
Unrelated to the Municipal Center tragedy, Sentara established a system behavioral health task force in 2021 in response to the growing need for services across Virginia. In 2023, the system introduced Sentara Opioid Bridge to Recovery to help emergency department patients with opioid use disorder connect with community programs and maintain sobriety during treatment.
Also, Sentara became the provider of Employee Assistance Program services, which include individual counseling and crisis intervention, for the City of Virginia Beach and Virginia Beach Public Schools on January 1, 2023.
“Our work has resulted in more expansive and comprehensive behavioral health services,” said Nedra Moncrief-Craig, system director of behavioral health services. “We have hired dozens of multidisciplinary providers to help us meet patients where they are, provide direct services, or connect patients with resources in their communities. Behavioral health is a growing part of the Sentara mission to improve health every day.”
By: Dale Gauding