MONTPELIER, Vt. - In response to recent cuts and closures in inpatient psychiatric care, Washington County Mental Health Services is enhancing community-based mental health services through a new federal designation as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC). Last month, Vermont eliminated four inpatient beds at the Vermont Psychiatric Hospital in Berlin, and in January 2025, Central Vermont Medical Center will close its inpatient unit, replacing some mental health technician roles with licensed nursing assistants.
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State Representative Anne Donahue, R-Northfield, has experienced the challenges in accessing care locally, having previously been treated at the Central Vermont Medical Center’s unit prior to its closure. "There’s no access to inpatient care anywhere close to home, and as anybody knows, if you need to go to the hospital for care, you want to be close to home. In mental health care, you want to be close to family and friends who can help you," Donahue stated.
Washington County Mental Health Services aims to streamline access to support with a single entry point for services, allowing individuals to receive help without navigating a complicated mental health system. CEO Beth Sightler noted, "What we don’t want is for people to have to understand the entire mental health system in order to get good services."
According to the Vermont Department of Mental Health, CCBHCs now serve almost 80% of the state. The new initiative will not replace inpatient care but will focus on providing earlier community-based support, although some individuals may still require hospital-level care. Cheryl Wilcox from the Vermont Department of Mental Health described it as a "one-stop shop" where individuals can have their needs addressed efficiently and coordinate with various providers to avoid repetitive storytelling.
To support this expansion, Washington County Mental Health Services has announced 40 job openings and aims to attract individuals impacted by recent healthcare layoffs. Sightler mentioned that there has been movement within the healthcare sector, leading many to explore new career options.
While advocates like Donahue acknowledge the importance of preventative care, she emphasizes that crisis-level care is essential and must be adequately addressed. "That doesn’t take away the need in some situations for that highest level of inpatient care, no matter what your health care crisis is," Donahue remarked.
The CCBHC designation also mandates higher standards of care, ensuring 24/7 crisis access and prohibiting the maintenance of waitlists or denial of services due to lack of insurance. Additionally, Washington County Mental Health Services has begun construction on a new mental health urgent care facility in Montpelier and is conducting a community needs assessment to identify remaining gaps in services.