Woodburn mental health programs moving to Merrifield
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| The Merrifield Center building nears completion. |
The new Merrifield Center under construction on Willow Oaks
Corporate Drive, off Route 50, has been
designed to offer a comforting environment to clients served by the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB), many of whom are affected by mental
illness or substance abuse.
Corporate Drive, off Route 50, has been
designed to offer a comforting environment to clients served by the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB), many of whom are affected by mental
illness or substance abuse.
The new building will house employees from the Woodburn mental
health center on Woodburn Road in Annandale and other CSB facilities throughout
the county.
health center on Woodburn Road in Annandale and other CSB facilities throughout
the county.
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| An illustration of the Merrifield Center by Jon Seagull. |
The Merrifield Center will have lots of natural light, colors
from nature, and areas on the grounds for outdoor therapy sessions, says CSB
spokesperson Belinda Buescher. There will also be a separate
entrance and waiting room for people brought in by the police because they were
acting violently or erratically.
from nature, and areas on the grounds for outdoor therapy sessions, says CSB
spokesperson Belinda Buescher. There will also be a separate
entrance and waiting room for people brought in by the police because they were
acting violently or erratically.
“Consultants worked with the county to provide
advice on how to set it up so walking in would not increase your anxiety,”
Buescher says.
advice on how to set it up so walking in would not increase your anxiety,”
Buescher says.
The 200,000-square foot building is scheduled to be
completed in September, says Katayoon Shaya, project coordinator with the Fairfax
County building design and construction department. The building’s
environmental sustainability elements are expected to qualify it for a Silver LEED rating from the U.S. Building Council.
completed in September, says Katayoon Shaya, project coordinator with the Fairfax
County building design and construction department. The building’s
environmental sustainability elements are expected to qualify it for a Silver LEED rating from the U.S. Building Council.
About 420 CSB employees—nearly half of the CSB workforce—will be
relocated to the Merrifield Center, with the first group expected to move there in
November. The top floor will be leased by Inova.
relocated to the Merrifield Center, with the first group expected to move there in
November. The top floor will be leased by Inova.
The CSB provides services for people with mental illness,
substance abuse issues, and intellectual disabilities who live in Fairfax
County and the cities of Falls Church and Fairfax. The CSB also operates the
Infant and Toddler Connection program for children up to age 3 with
developmental delays.
substance abuse issues, and intellectual disabilities who live in Fairfax
County and the cities of Falls Church and Fairfax. The CSB also operates the
Infant and Toddler Connection program for children up to age 3 with
developmental delays.
Fairfax County acquired the land for the new building from Inova
in return for the Woodburn Center, which Inova plans to demolish to accommodate
further expansion of Fairfax Hospital.
in return for the Woodburn Center, which Inova plans to demolish to accommodate
further expansion of Fairfax Hospital.
The Woodburn Center provides emergency services for people
in psychiatric crisis, along with outpatient services and a behavioral
health services clinic. These programs will have a lot more space in the new
building, Buescher says.
in psychiatric crisis, along with outpatient services and a behavioral
health services clinic. These programs will have a lot more space in the new
building, Buescher says.
In addition, CSB staff in leased space on Jermantown Road in
Fairfax that provide wellness, mental health first aid and prevention services,
outpatient substance abuse services, and a non-emergency call center will move
to the new building. Another outpatient center in leased space in Fairfax that
primarily deals with substance abuse
issues is also moving to the Merrifield building.
Fairfax that provide wellness, mental health first aid and prevention services,
outpatient substance abuse services, and a non-emergency call center will move
to the new building. Another outpatient center in leased space in Fairfax that
primarily deals with substance abuse
issues is also moving to the Merrifield building.
“It will be wonderful to consolidate all of these services in
one place,” Buescher said. “We’ll have staff with
expertise treating substance abuse, emergency services, and a day treatment
program for mothers with substance abuse issues—along with a childcare facility
for the children of mothers in treatment.”
one place,” Buescher said. “We’ll have staff with
expertise treating substance abuse, emergency services, and a day treatment
program for mothers with substance abuse issues—along with a childcare facility
for the children of mothers in treatment.”
People recovering from mental illness will have a welcoming
place to come for the day, have lunch, and use computers, while staff will be on
hand to help them apply for jobs or find training programs. People further down
the road of recovery will help newer clients.
place to come for the day, have lunch, and use computers, while staff will be on
hand to help them apply for jobs or find training programs. People further down
the road of recovery will help newer clients.
The Merrifield Center will also have a health clinic, which
will provide basic screenings, and a pharmacy for clients served by the CSB,
many of whom don’t have access to healthcare.
will provide basic screenings, and a pharmacy for clients served by the CSB,
many of whom don’t have access to healthcare.
CSB facilities at the Heritage Center in Annandale and in Alexandria,
Mount Vernon, Springfield, Kingstowne, and Reston are not moving to the new
building.
Mount Vernon, Springfield, Kingstowne, and Reston are not moving to the new
building.
Whether people quality for CSB services depends on several
factors, Buescher says. If it’s an emergency, everyone qualifies. In some
cases, CSB might be the only place that can handle people with certain
disabilities. If people have Medicaid, CSB will do the initial assessment.
There’s a sliding scale to determine fees, with no fees charged to people with
the lowest incomes.
factors, Buescher says. If it’s an emergency, everyone qualifies. In some
cases, CSB might be the only place that can handle people with certain
disabilities. If people have Medicaid, CSB will do the initial assessment.
There’s a sliding scale to determine fees, with no fees charged to people with
the lowest incomes.
Even if people ividual don’t qualify for CSB services, the
agency can refer them to other services in the community. That’s critical, she
said, because, “when people are encountering a particular need for the first
time, it’s difficult to know where to go for help.”
agency can refer them to other services in the community. That’s critical, she
said, because, “when people are encountering a particular need for the first
time, it’s difficult to know where to go for help.”
Great article! Thanks!
Falls Church Community Services Board programs will begin moving to the new building in January 2015.
So is it still called Woodburn? Or something else?