Washington County supervisors will consider approving $300,000 in funding for a new support care transition home near Bristol, which is expected to open within a few months. The Isaiah 117 House, currently under construction between Bristol and Abingdon, will provide temporary care for children awaiting support placement in Washington County, Smyth County, and Bristol.

Targeting a Critical Need in the Region

According to Savanah Harrison, the location leader for the project and soon-to-be director of the house, the initiative addresses a pressing issue in the region. Nearly 35% of children entering support care across Virginia have been directly or indirectly impacted by opioid misuse, but that figure rises to at least 85% in the area the house will serve.

Harrison emphasized the need for a compassionate approach to the support care process. ‘These children will be welcomed into a home where they receive emotional support, basic necessities, and dignity during a difficult transition,’ she wrote in a letter to the board of supervisors. ‘Our goal is to reduce the trauma associated with the initial stages of support care and provide a more compassionate beginning for these vulnerable children.’

The house is being built as a joint project by Washington County, Smyth County, and the city of Bristol. Construction is nearing completion, with the facility expected to open in a few months. The project is part of a broader network of similar initiatives, with the first Isaiah House built in 2018 in Carter County, Tennessee. As of now, there are 66 such projects in 13 states, with 39 already operational and 27 under construction.

Funding and Grant Applications

The $300,000 needed for the project will be sourced from multiple parties. Washington County, acting as the fiscal agent, plans to apply for a $195,000 grant in fiscal year 2027 from the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority. The authority distributes funds from opioid settlement agreements to support programs that treat, prevent, and reduce opioid use disorder across the state.

Smyth County will contribute $40,000, the city of Bristol is providing $25,000, and Washington County is being asked to contribute an additional $40,000. The local funding comes from the direct opioid abatement money that localities receive.

The board will also be asked to approve a resolution supporting the grant application and another that would set up a cooperative agreement between the localities involved in the project, should the grant be approved.

Impact on Local Children and Families

Currently, many children in the region are removed from their homes due to opioid misuse by a parent or parents. Too often, they wind up waiting for hours and even days in a social services department office before being placed, according to Harrison.

The Isaiah 117 House will serve as a temporary home for children awaiting support care placement, offering them a more stable and supportive environment. This could help reduce the emotional and psychological trauma associated with the initial stages of support care, which is often chaotic and stressful for children.

‘Our goal is to provide a more compassionate beginning for these vulnerable children while also supporting our Departments of Social Services and support families,’ Harrison wrote.

The project is expected to be a model for similar efforts in the region. With the opening of the house anticipated in the coming months, the board’s decision on Tuesday could set the stage for a new approach to support care in the area.

The supervisors will deliberate on the funding request and related resolutions at a meeting starting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the auditorium of the county government building at 1 Government Center Place in Abingdon.