Centra, Mental Health Services

Centra Child & Adolescent Acute Psychiatric Program

Established in 1986, Centra Child & Adolescent Acute Psychiatric Program treats children and adolescents who need immediate, intensive help with severe emotional or behavioral problems. Designed to provide short-term, acute, inpatient care for children ages 5 through 17, Centra Child & Adolescent Acute Psychiatric Program offers crisis stabilization, diagnostic evaluation, focused therapy, daytime treatment and further referral.

Our multidisciplinary team uses a systems approach to therapy that recognizes the relationship between biological, psychological and social aspects of development and functioning. Our program helps patients and families identify their own resources and limitations, as well as helping them identify and rely on their strengths to resolve problems.

Location, Contact Information and Driving Directions

Centra Child & Adolescent Acute Psychiatric Program
Centra Virginia Baptist Hospital
3300 Rivermont Avenue
Krise building, 6th Floor (Krise-6)
Lynchburg, VA 24503
434.200.4137 (phone) and 434.200.4145 (fax)

For driving directions, please click here.

The following regulations apply to patients, family members and visitors:

• All patients and guests are expected to remain free of alcohol and drugs for the duration of the treatment.
• Tobacco products are strictly prohibited.
• Each patient is responsible for his or her own laundry. Laundry facilities, available at scheduled times for patients' use, are located on the unit. Younger patients will be assisted by staff.
• Patients may send and receive postal mail. No internet or email is available.
• Patients have scheduled phone times during the day. Only calls between patients and those individuals approved by the legal guardian are allowed.
• Visitors may not being snacks or meals to patients.
• TV time is scheduled and limited to one hour per day.
• Visitors are asked to leave cell phones in their vehicles.
• When sending flowers or other gift items to patients, no glass or metal is allowed. For more information, please click here.

Visiting Hours

Visiting hours are from 11:00 to 12:00 a.m. and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. daily. Only immediate family members and clergy may visit. There may not be more than four guests at a time. Any family visitor under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Friends are not allowed to call or visit during a patient's stay.

To view or print a program brochure, please click here or on the image above.	To view or print Information for Families, please click here or on the image above.

Clothing Regulations

Clothing, enough to last 3 or 4 days, should be free of drug, sex, alcohol, violent or morbid subject matter.

• Shoes without laces and socks must be worn at all times.
• Adolescent females must wear bras.
• Midriff/stomach area must be covered at all times.
• Clothing that is torn above the knee may not be worn.
• Shorts must be at mid-thigh or longer.
• Sunglasses, hats and coats may not be worn on the unit.
• Clothing must be drawstring-free and without belts.

Permissible Items

Permissible items include sleepwear, robes, personal hygiene products (shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, etc.), family photos (without frames, please), stuffed animals and pillows/blankets from home. Items that may be kept in the nursing station for patients' use include make-up, blow dryers, curling irons/hair straighteners, hair picks, glass items, aerosol cans and sugar-free hard candy.

Non-permissible Items

The following items are not allowed on the unit:

• Any and all drugs, alcohol or tobacco products.
• Cell phones, headphones, CDs, CD players, MP3 players, iPods and other personal electronics.
• Colognes and perfumes.
• Spiral bound notebooks and journals.

The average length of stay for a patient on the unit is 5 days. If overnight accommodations are required for families traveling from out of the area, please ask about our single-bed hospitality room.

Click on the names below for information about our dedicated professionals.

Medical Director, J. Gregory Fisher, M.D.

Stephanie Loveridge, Unit Manager

Brent McCraw, Director of Acute Psychiatric Services

To make a referral, please call Centra Mental Health Intake & Resource Center at 434.200.4444 or 800.947.5442.

For Centra Child & Adolescent Acute Psychiatric Unit, please call 434.200.4137.