Concerned Fairfax
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Concerned Fairfax is a group of people living and working in Fairfax County and the Cities of Fairfax and Falls Church who are working together to promote changes that will provide a better quality of life for individuals living with mental health conditions. Click here to learn about our impact in the community.
Got any questions about our work? Check out our Concerned Fairfax Advocacy FAQs. For more information about how to get involved, send us an email at execdir@nami-nova.org. Monthly MeetingsWhen: 2nd Monday of each month; 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Where: Virtual via Zoom - contact us to join Concerned Fairfax meetings SubcommitteesCommunity Service and Supports: We seek to support improvements in community services and supports through broad engagement with committees and agencies, including the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) and other community organizations.
Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Systems: Individuals living with mental health conditions may need special consideration and support. We seek to help improve outcomes for individuals living with mental health conditions who become involved with out law enforcement or criminal justice systems (See Guide for Family Members and Friends: Navigating the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center). Housing: Affordable and supported housing options are extremely limited throughout our community, and are particularly limited for individuals living with mental health conditions. We seek to determine what resources are available and to help develop and support implementation of creative solutions. Youth and Families: For more than 50% of individuals who develop a mental health condition, symptoms emerge before the age of 14. We seek to support youth, parents, and educators in early identification and treatment through education, support, and advocacy. Resources |
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Chairman Sharon Bulova Honors Gary A. Ambrose, Fairfax County
Gary Ambrose has positively impacted thousands of lives through his volunteer work. In 2015 alone, Gary served as Chairman of the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board and Chairman of the County’s Diversion First Initiative. The Diversion First Initiative was established as a program for nonviolent offenders, experiencing mental health crises, diverting them to treatment rather than holding them in jail. As a leader developing comprehensive policies, Gary knows how to balance conflicting demands, help his colleagues stay on target, and unite people from many different organizations and backgrounds. Driven by a family member’s serious mental illness, Gary has a special empathy and understanding of the challenges faced by those populations. He is personally invested in his volunteer work and constantly advocates for those who may not have the ability to speak for themselves. Gary served on Chairman Bulova’s Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission in 2015, and he is also an active advocate for mental illness on a national level. Gary also spends part of this time consulting with a service-disabled veteran-owned small business focused on helping veterans find careers in information technology. He has provided testimony before the Virginia General Assembly and is an active member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Northern Virginia. Chairman Bulova says, “Gary has turned personal experiences involving mental illness into powerful and skillful advocacy. He fosters understanding and appreciation for the issues surrounding mental illness and is making a real difference in bringing about meaningful policy changes in Fairfax County.” |
Fairfax County Diversion First meetings are open to the public; Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Pkway, Fairfax, VA; Rooms 2/3
Diversion program to start at mental health center, WUSA9--interview with Gary Ambrose
