Frontier Health expands access to behavioral health services across the region

Over the past year, Frontier Health has made significant strides in expanding and strengthening behavioral health services for the communities it serves. In November 2024, Frontier Health partnered with Planning District One Behavioral Services to relocate Wise County Behavioral Health Services from Big Stone Gap to Norton, Virginia. This move created an opportunity to expand much-needed services in the region. The center now provides counseling, psychiatric care, addiction recovery, and peer support for adults, children, and youth; improving access to coordinated, comprehensive care. In May 2025, Frontier Health launched Virginia's Place in Johnson City, Tennessee, a residential re-entry housing program designed to support individuals transitioning from incarceration back into the community. Funded by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the program combines stable housing with mental health care, substance use treatment, and life-skills support to help residents rebuild their lives and successfully reintegrate into their communities. Through infrastructure funding awarded by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Frontier Health expanded access to care through facility upgrades at the Charlotte Taylor Center and Hawkins County Behavioral Health locations. Improvements included the addition of offices, group therapy spaces, and redesigned entryways to better serve both clients and staff. During this time, Frontier Health also opened a new Children's Walk-In Center and launched an Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program in Kingsport, Tennessee, which were two services that community members had specifically identified as critical needs. In addition to these facility and program improvements, Frontier Health has strengthened community-based services through several key initiatives, including the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) grant, the Co-Response Program in partnership with local law enforcement, expanded school-based services, and the launch of a new Urgent Care service. Together, these programs increase access to crisis response, virtual care, and same-day mental health services, ensuring individuals can receive timely, person-centered support when they need it most. Frontier Health has also invested in evidence-based clinical training to equip staff with the specialized skills needed to meet the evolving needs of the communities it serves. While significant progress has been made, Frontier Health remains focused on addressing ongoing behavioral health needs across the region. The organization continues to work with local, state, and national partners to strengthen the behavioral health workforce and expand access to services, particularly for licensed therapists, nursing staff, nurse practitioners, case managers, and direct support professionals. Frontier Health also continues to collaborate with community partners to address critical service gaps, including expanding substance use recovery services and re-entry housing, while exploring additional treatment resources for children and adolescents experiencing crisis or involvement with the justice system.