Concerned Fairfax: Our Impact
OVERVIEW
Many of our members have become community leaders and advocates, including: NAMI Northern Virginia Board board members, Chairman of the Fairfax-Falls Church CSB, recipient of the Fairfax County Human Rights award, Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) educators, NAMI Family-to-Family facilitators, NAMI support group facilitators, captains of NAMI Northern Virginia Annual Walk teams, members of Health and Wellness Subcommittee of ADC Reentry Council, members of "Diversion First," and members and a commissioner of the Fairfax County Ad Hoc Police Policy Review Commission's CIT and Mental Health Subcommittee.
CF Member Appointment to the CSB Board of Directors
Gary Ambrose, a Concerned Fairfax member, was appointed to the Board of Directors, Fairfax-Falls Church CSB.
Current status: Gary Ambrose is chairman of the Fairfax-Falls Church CSB.
CSB Substance Use Disorder/Mental Health Committee
The CSB Substance Use Disorder/Mental Health Committee has invited Concerned Fairfax to join the committee as an Associate Member, joining organizations such as Inova Hospital, Pathways Homes, and The Brain Foundation in that status. Associate membership provides Concerned Fairfax another vehicle to advance its advocacy activities in conjunction with CSB.
Current status: CF is an Associate Member.
Behavioral Health Oversight Committee
The Behavioral Health Oversight Committee (BHOC) of the CSB advises the CSB on service needs for those with serious mental health or substance use conditions. The BHOC is comprised of CSB members as well as “associate” members, which are typically non-profit organizations who provide services to those individuals, often in collaboration with the CSB. Since 2014, CF has been an Associate Member, giving it the opportunity to actively participate in monthly meetings.
COMMUNITY SERVICES
Priority Population Guidelines / Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB)
The Community Services Board (CSB) always has more people who want its services than it has the resources to serve. In October 2014, in order to help it decide which people are most in need of its services, the CSB implemented Guidelines for Assigning Priority Access to CSB Services to use in making those decisions. These guidelines set forth descriptions of disorders involving serious mental illness, substance abuse, and intellectual disability. Several members of Concerned Fairfax (CF) actively participated in the development of these guidelines by providing detailed substantive comments.
In addition, at the suggestion of CF, the CSB developed its first-ever formal “appeals process” for individuals who are either denied services, or moved to a reduced service level. Several CF members served on the CSB workgroup that developed the appeals process.
In 2017, the CSB conducted a review of operation of the Guidelines and the Appeals Process. In July, it published proposed revisions and invited public comment. In response, members of Concerned Fairfax submitted comments and recommended changes to the proposal.
Both the Guidelines and the Appeals Process may found in the CSB section of the Fairfax County website. (http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/csb/about/priority-populations.htm)
Expanding Public Awareness of the CSB
One of the concerns CF members raised at initial meetings was that many had not been aware of the CSB at the time their family member needed services. In response, CF offered two suggestions to the CSB:
The first, which was adopted immediately, was to provide information packets to each Fairfax County public library for display with other materials of interest to the public. The decision to display is left up to the individual librarian. Although we do not know how many complied with the CSB request, a number of our members have reported that the materials are displayed in their local library. In 2017, CF members noticed that many libraries no longer displayed CSB information. CF then contacted the CSB communications office and requested that the supply be restocked. This was done in May 2017.
The second was to provide the packets to hospital emergency rooms to be given at discharge to patients who were treated for serious mental illness or substance abuse. In response, the CSB arranged for this idea to be considered by a regional hospital coordinating committee. In 2017, CF asked the CSB for status of this initiative. In April, the CSB advised that in response to our request it had arranged a process with local hospitals to ensure a continued supply of CSB information in the emergency departments.
Fairfax County Budget Process
Beginning with the 2015 budget cycle, CF has been fully engaged in advocating on behalf of the concerns of our community. In both 2015 and 2016, CF reviewed the draft budget proposals and prepared responsive comments. Those comments were delivered orally before the Human Services Council (HSC), which advises the Board of Supervisors on human services budget issues, and then before the Board itself. In 2016, a request for additional funding for permanent supportive housing was put forth by the Human Services Council in its recommendation to the Board. Several of our individual members have testified about their own experiences in seeking mental health services in the County. Members of the Board and the HSC have expressed appreciation for how helpful these individual testimonies are in helping them gain a fuller understanding of the issues.
In 2017, CF again testified before both the Human Services Council and the Board of Supervisors. The focus of our testimony was in support of the Diversion First program and the Community Rehabilitation Services Program (CRSP). We were gratified that the final budget provided support for these CF priorities.
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
One of the most frequent topics of discussion at CF meetings over the years has been the intersection of mental health, law enforcement and criminal justice systems. Our members have been active and vigorous advocates for reform. A key goal has been to direct individuals into treatment rather than into jail.
Fairfax County Ad Hoc Police Policy Review Commission.
This commission was instituted in March 2015 by the Board of Supervisors to review procedures concerning “police-involved incidents”- including the need for special Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) for police and others who encounter individuals who may be living with a serious mental health condition. A CF member served as one of the Commissioners; other members served on the Mental Health/CIT Subcommittee.
Crisis Intervention Training.
One of the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Commission was that members of the county police and the sheriff’s office should receive special training on how to interact with individuals who may be living with a mental health condition. The training, called “Crisis Intervention Training”, was rolled out in 2015. Three members of CF have provided one-hour peer and family-member training module presentations during the 40-hour CIT training.
Diversion First
In January of 2016, Fairfax County rolled out a program that enables the police to consider whether the actions of individuals involved in low level criminal offenses may be due to mental illness. If so, the police may direct these individuals to the CSB Services Board for assessment, rather than taking them to the jail. The CSB can then assist the individual with treatment and help arrange for necessary supports, with the goal of preventing further encounters with the police and the criminal justice system. The effort was chaired by CF member Gary Ambrose. Other CF members are active in the Diversion First Stakeholders Group.
Guidance on What to Do if Your Family Member is Arrested
Members of CF prepared a step-by-step guide to assist family members when their family member has been arrested and taken to the Fairfax Adult Detention Center. The guide, “Navigating the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center”, can be found on the NAMI Northern Virginia website.
Incarcerated persons living with a mental health condition
Gordon Dean and Gary Ambrose initiated making contacts regarding incarcerated individuals living with a mental health condition in the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. Bradley Ambrose was instrumental in the formation of a Mental Health Subcommittee of the Fairfax-Falls Church Reentry Council.
Current status: NAMI Northern Virginia/CF co-chairs the Subcommittee, along with Neighbor's Keeper. The Subcommittee is committed to working with OAR, Probation and Parole, Adult Detention Center, and the Sheriff’s office to bring NAMI Northern Virginia’s message of hope, education and support to individuals and family members. Further the committee is forming a mission and vision statement in order to work to support individuals living with a mental health condition who have become involved with the criminal justice system.
HOUSING
One of the earliest and most frequent topics of discussion at CF meetings is the need for long term supportive housing for those with serious mental illness.
CSB Collection of Housing Data
Information on size of the need for supportive housing in our area is imperative for progress. We have found that there is no database specific to our area describing the number of individuals who need (or will need) supportive housing. With input from CF, CSB began collecting data from clients on their housing needs and supports.
In 2017, CF actively participated in the formulation of a long-term supportive housing plan by the Long Term Care Coordinating Committee (LTCCC). In May, CF member Joe Pettit, along with Eleanor Vincent, COO of Pathway Homes, presented the LTCCC plan to the members of the CSB. Their presentation pointed out that the plan did NOT cover persons whose income was less than 30% of the Average Median Income, which would leave out most persons with chronic mental illness. In its own message endorsing the plan, the CSB recommended adding that coverage.
In 2017 CF testified about the need for supportive housing at a public hearing on the Governor’s budget before the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees of the Virginia Assembly.
Human Services Council Request for Supportive Housing Funding
CF provided testimony on the need for more supportive housing during 2016 budget hearings. As a result, the HSC recommended that the county increase its budget allocation for supportive housing by $286,000.
Housing Voucher Pilot
The budget amendment for a $3.25 million Housing Voucher Pilot we supported to the General Assembly was taken up by the State Senate, but not by the House of Delegates. Gary testified before the State Senators and delegates representing Fairfax County in January 2014. Now called the Permanent Supportive Housing budget amendment, it seeks funding of $1.1 million in FY15 and $1.4 million in FY16. The next step is discussion in a Conference Committee to determine whether the amendment will make it into the FY15 budget. CF members Joe Pettit and Gordon Dean have also been active advocates on this issue. A detailed description of the need for this housing was prepared by Joe Pettit.
YOUTH AND FAMILIES
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCS) website and posting of mental health services information
Expansion of mental health services information on FCPS website, prompted by inquiries by CF member Gordon Dean.
Current status: New information, including a link to NAMI Northern Virginia, is up and available through the FCPS website.
Many of our members have become community leaders and advocates, including: NAMI Northern Virginia Board board members, Chairman of the Fairfax-Falls Church CSB, recipient of the Fairfax County Human Rights award, Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) educators, NAMI Family-to-Family facilitators, NAMI support group facilitators, captains of NAMI Northern Virginia Annual Walk teams, members of Health and Wellness Subcommittee of ADC Reentry Council, members of "Diversion First," and members and a commissioner of the Fairfax County Ad Hoc Police Policy Review Commission's CIT and Mental Health Subcommittee.
CF Member Appointment to the CSB Board of Directors
Gary Ambrose, a Concerned Fairfax member, was appointed to the Board of Directors, Fairfax-Falls Church CSB.
Current status: Gary Ambrose is chairman of the Fairfax-Falls Church CSB.
CSB Substance Use Disorder/Mental Health Committee
The CSB Substance Use Disorder/Mental Health Committee has invited Concerned Fairfax to join the committee as an Associate Member, joining organizations such as Inova Hospital, Pathways Homes, and The Brain Foundation in that status. Associate membership provides Concerned Fairfax another vehicle to advance its advocacy activities in conjunction with CSB.
Current status: CF is an Associate Member.
Behavioral Health Oversight Committee
The Behavioral Health Oversight Committee (BHOC) of the CSB advises the CSB on service needs for those with serious mental health or substance use conditions. The BHOC is comprised of CSB members as well as “associate” members, which are typically non-profit organizations who provide services to those individuals, often in collaboration with the CSB. Since 2014, CF has been an Associate Member, giving it the opportunity to actively participate in monthly meetings.
COMMUNITY SERVICES
Priority Population Guidelines / Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB)
The Community Services Board (CSB) always has more people who want its services than it has the resources to serve. In October 2014, in order to help it decide which people are most in need of its services, the CSB implemented Guidelines for Assigning Priority Access to CSB Services to use in making those decisions. These guidelines set forth descriptions of disorders involving serious mental illness, substance abuse, and intellectual disability. Several members of Concerned Fairfax (CF) actively participated in the development of these guidelines by providing detailed substantive comments.
In addition, at the suggestion of CF, the CSB developed its first-ever formal “appeals process” for individuals who are either denied services, or moved to a reduced service level. Several CF members served on the CSB workgroup that developed the appeals process.
In 2017, the CSB conducted a review of operation of the Guidelines and the Appeals Process. In July, it published proposed revisions and invited public comment. In response, members of Concerned Fairfax submitted comments and recommended changes to the proposal.
Both the Guidelines and the Appeals Process may found in the CSB section of the Fairfax County website. (http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/csb/about/priority-populations.htm)
Expanding Public Awareness of the CSB
One of the concerns CF members raised at initial meetings was that many had not been aware of the CSB at the time their family member needed services. In response, CF offered two suggestions to the CSB:
The first, which was adopted immediately, was to provide information packets to each Fairfax County public library for display with other materials of interest to the public. The decision to display is left up to the individual librarian. Although we do not know how many complied with the CSB request, a number of our members have reported that the materials are displayed in their local library. In 2017, CF members noticed that many libraries no longer displayed CSB information. CF then contacted the CSB communications office and requested that the supply be restocked. This was done in May 2017.
The second was to provide the packets to hospital emergency rooms to be given at discharge to patients who were treated for serious mental illness or substance abuse. In response, the CSB arranged for this idea to be considered by a regional hospital coordinating committee. In 2017, CF asked the CSB for status of this initiative. In April, the CSB advised that in response to our request it had arranged a process with local hospitals to ensure a continued supply of CSB information in the emergency departments.
Fairfax County Budget Process
Beginning with the 2015 budget cycle, CF has been fully engaged in advocating on behalf of the concerns of our community. In both 2015 and 2016, CF reviewed the draft budget proposals and prepared responsive comments. Those comments were delivered orally before the Human Services Council (HSC), which advises the Board of Supervisors on human services budget issues, and then before the Board itself. In 2016, a request for additional funding for permanent supportive housing was put forth by the Human Services Council in its recommendation to the Board. Several of our individual members have testified about their own experiences in seeking mental health services in the County. Members of the Board and the HSC have expressed appreciation for how helpful these individual testimonies are in helping them gain a fuller understanding of the issues.
In 2017, CF again testified before both the Human Services Council and the Board of Supervisors. The focus of our testimony was in support of the Diversion First program and the Community Rehabilitation Services Program (CRSP). We were gratified that the final budget provided support for these CF priorities.
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
One of the most frequent topics of discussion at CF meetings over the years has been the intersection of mental health, law enforcement and criminal justice systems. Our members have been active and vigorous advocates for reform. A key goal has been to direct individuals into treatment rather than into jail.
Fairfax County Ad Hoc Police Policy Review Commission.
This commission was instituted in March 2015 by the Board of Supervisors to review procedures concerning “police-involved incidents”- including the need for special Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) for police and others who encounter individuals who may be living with a serious mental health condition. A CF member served as one of the Commissioners; other members served on the Mental Health/CIT Subcommittee.
Crisis Intervention Training.
One of the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Commission was that members of the county police and the sheriff’s office should receive special training on how to interact with individuals who may be living with a mental health condition. The training, called “Crisis Intervention Training”, was rolled out in 2015. Three members of CF have provided one-hour peer and family-member training module presentations during the 40-hour CIT training.
Diversion First
In January of 2016, Fairfax County rolled out a program that enables the police to consider whether the actions of individuals involved in low level criminal offenses may be due to mental illness. If so, the police may direct these individuals to the CSB Services Board for assessment, rather than taking them to the jail. The CSB can then assist the individual with treatment and help arrange for necessary supports, with the goal of preventing further encounters with the police and the criminal justice system. The effort was chaired by CF member Gary Ambrose. Other CF members are active in the Diversion First Stakeholders Group.
Guidance on What to Do if Your Family Member is Arrested
Members of CF prepared a step-by-step guide to assist family members when their family member has been arrested and taken to the Fairfax Adult Detention Center. The guide, “Navigating the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center”, can be found on the NAMI Northern Virginia website.
Incarcerated persons living with a mental health condition
Gordon Dean and Gary Ambrose initiated making contacts regarding incarcerated individuals living with a mental health condition in the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. Bradley Ambrose was instrumental in the formation of a Mental Health Subcommittee of the Fairfax-Falls Church Reentry Council.
Current status: NAMI Northern Virginia/CF co-chairs the Subcommittee, along with Neighbor's Keeper. The Subcommittee is committed to working with OAR, Probation and Parole, Adult Detention Center, and the Sheriff’s office to bring NAMI Northern Virginia’s message of hope, education and support to individuals and family members. Further the committee is forming a mission and vision statement in order to work to support individuals living with a mental health condition who have become involved with the criminal justice system.
HOUSING
One of the earliest and most frequent topics of discussion at CF meetings is the need for long term supportive housing for those with serious mental illness.
CSB Collection of Housing Data
Information on size of the need for supportive housing in our area is imperative for progress. We have found that there is no database specific to our area describing the number of individuals who need (or will need) supportive housing. With input from CF, CSB began collecting data from clients on their housing needs and supports.
In 2017, CF actively participated in the formulation of a long-term supportive housing plan by the Long Term Care Coordinating Committee (LTCCC). In May, CF member Joe Pettit, along with Eleanor Vincent, COO of Pathway Homes, presented the LTCCC plan to the members of the CSB. Their presentation pointed out that the plan did NOT cover persons whose income was less than 30% of the Average Median Income, which would leave out most persons with chronic mental illness. In its own message endorsing the plan, the CSB recommended adding that coverage.
In 2017 CF testified about the need for supportive housing at a public hearing on the Governor’s budget before the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees of the Virginia Assembly.
Human Services Council Request for Supportive Housing Funding
CF provided testimony on the need for more supportive housing during 2016 budget hearings. As a result, the HSC recommended that the county increase its budget allocation for supportive housing by $286,000.
Housing Voucher Pilot
The budget amendment for a $3.25 million Housing Voucher Pilot we supported to the General Assembly was taken up by the State Senate, but not by the House of Delegates. Gary testified before the State Senators and delegates representing Fairfax County in January 2014. Now called the Permanent Supportive Housing budget amendment, it seeks funding of $1.1 million in FY15 and $1.4 million in FY16. The next step is discussion in a Conference Committee to determine whether the amendment will make it into the FY15 budget. CF members Joe Pettit and Gordon Dean have also been active advocates on this issue. A detailed description of the need for this housing was prepared by Joe Pettit.
YOUTH AND FAMILIES
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCS) website and posting of mental health services information
Expansion of mental health services information on FCPS website, prompted by inquiries by CF member Gordon Dean.
Current status: New information, including a link to NAMI Northern Virginia, is up and available through the FCPS website.