Commonwealth Ctr For Children & Adolescents

The **Commonwealth Center for Children & Adolescents (CCCA)**, located in Staunton, Virginia, is the Commonwealth’s only state-operated acute psychiatric hospital for children and adolescents. It serves as a specialized facility providing short-term, intensive mental health treatment for youth—typically ranging from ages 4 to 17—who are experiencing severe emotional or behavioral crises. The center operates under the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) and functions as a critical safety net for families and communities throughout the state when local resources are unable to manage a child’s acute psychiatric needs.

In addition to providing comprehensive psychiatric care, the CCCA maintains an on-site educational program to ensure that students do not fall behind during their treatment. Because the facility serves a population with complex clinical needs, the school environment is highly structured and therapeutic, focusing on individualized instruction. The academic curriculum is designed to be flexible enough to accommodate varying lengths of stay, with educators working closely with the clinical team to integrate behavioral health goals with classroom learning, ultimately preparing the students for a successful transition back to their home school districts.