The Village Network Breaks Ground on New Therapeutic Stabilization Center
The Village Network is celebrated the construction of an expanded residential treatment center for youth in Bethesda, Ohio, on October 9, 2024. This expansion will introduce 16 short-term residential beds and 4 crisis stabilization beds, helping to address the critical shortage of youth mental health services in the region. The addition of crisis stabilization services in Bethesda will allow for rapid intervention and stabilization of youth experiencing acute mental health crises.
“This Therapeutic Stabilization Center will serve as a bridge between acute crisis and long-term stability,” stated Rich Graziano, President & CEO of The Village Network. “We are filling a vital gap in the continuum of care, providing a much-needed alternative to hospitalization or, worse, incarceration.”
The new facility aims to address the dire need for mental health services in southeast Ohio. Chris Doud, Village Network Clinical Director for the southeast region, noted that “Appalachia has been left behind for too long. We suffer from the highest rates of poverty and infant mortality in the state.” He continued, “Kids in our region are being disproportionately affected by economic and social forces well outside of their control, and their mental health is suffering. It’s time for a change.”
Treatments at the new facility will align with best practices in youth mental health care, offering a more appropriate and less restrictive environment for treatment than traditional hospital settings. At the heart of The Village Network’s treatment philosophy is the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics, a groundbreaking approach that recognizes the profound impact of early life experiences on brain development and behavior.
The construction of this facility is possible due to the support and partnership of The Mental Health and Recovery Board of Belmont, Harrison, and Monroe Counties, the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Coshocton, Guernsey, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, and Perry Counties, The Jefferson County Prevention & Recovery Board, the Washington County Behavioral Health Board, and The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.