REACH Services for Adults

If you or a loved one has an Intellectual Disability or a Developmental Disability such as autism, you know that these disabilities come with unique challenges.

When a crisis event occurs – whether it’s at home, work, school, or in the community – it can cause strong emotional reactions in all of us, but especially in those with specific needs.

The REACH program is specifically designed to give adults with intellectual or developmental disability (ID/DD) the resources and support they need in a crisis situation, so they can heal and move forward.

REACH is also available for children and teens under the age of 18. 

If you or someone you love is experiencing a psychological emergency, please contact our crisis line 24/7 at (757) 925-2484

What is REACH?

Regional Education Assessment Crisis Services Habilitation (REACH) is a crisis response program for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities who reside in the Western Tidewater Community Services Board service area (the cities of Franklin and Suffolk and the counties of Isle of Wight and Southampton). REACH is also available throughout the Region Five service area of Virginia, which includes the cities of:

• Chesapeake
• Williamsburg
• Eastern Shore
• Hampton-Newport News
• Middle Peninsula-Northern Neck
• Norfolk
• Portsmouth
• Virginia Beach
• Western Tidewater

REACH Can Help When:

Adults 18 and over experiencing mental health or challenging behavioral needs have been identified as having an intellectual or developmental disability

Adults experiencing a crisis have been identified as having an intellectual or developmental disability

Adults with ID/DD have limited coping skills and are more likely to be overwhelmed by traumatic events such as violence or substance abuse at home or a community or national tragedy

A change in typical behavior places the individual, caregiver, family member, or anyone else in danger

Supportive intervention may be required to effectively resolve the situation

What the REACH Program Offers

REACH services include:

• 24/7/365 mobile crisis response by Master’s level clinicians
• Training for the individual’s support system, including family and providers – this training will help you to better understand the ways that individuals with ID/DD process traumatic events and the specific ways you can help
• Supports and resources for those at risk of homelessness, incarceration, hospitalization, and/or becoming a danger to their self or others
• Prevention services

A crisis therapeutic home for adults in need of short-term crisis stabilization and prevention outside of their home (30 days or less for crisis stays and 5 days or less for prevention stays)

The ultimate goal of REACH is to support the least restrictive level of care necessary while striving to keep individuals stable within their home community.

Call the Regional REACH crisis line at 1-888-255-2989 for more information regarding services, resources, and/or training opportunities.