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Right Help, Right Now
Governor Youngkin's Behavioral Health Care Three-Year Transformation
December 2024 | News and Updates
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Prioritizing Mental Health This Holiday Season | |
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Dear Friends,
During this season of gratitude, I want to start with a heartfelt thank you to all our stakeholders and community members who partner with us to transform the way Virginia delivers behavioral health. Meeting and getting to work with you is truly such an honor. The work in this space is not only benefitting Virginia today but also strengthening the system to build a more resilient Commonwealth for future generations.
While the holidays bring joy to many, it can also be challenging for those who have lost loved ones as their absence is felt even more deeply during gatherings. This time of year can also amplify mental health struggles, making it important to acknowledge these challenges and support one another. So, with gratitude towards all of the work that has been done, I also encourage you to reach out to someone who may be having a difficult time during this season. Communities are made stronger by the individuals that constitute them, and I am grateful to have you all in our community.
Kind regards,
Hallie Pence
Executive Director
Right Help, Right Now
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Celebrating Two Years of Right Help, Right Now!
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On December 11, 2024, Governor Youngkin marked two years of progress under the Right Help, Right Now behavioral health transformation plan. Attendees gathered in Richmond to reflect on the achievements of this initiative, which has invested $1.4 billion to improve behavioral health care across Virginia. Highlights from the event included the expansion of mobile crisis teams to over 100, providing 24/7/365 coverage, increasing chair and bed capacity at crisis facilities to 663, and reducing overdose fatalities by 23%. Governor Youngkin also announced $35 million in new funding to expand the Special Conservators of the Peace (SCOPs) program, which offers alternative custody in crisis situations, easing the burden on law enforcement and creating safer environments for individuals in need. | |
Virginia's Fight Against Fentanyl: Progress in Seizures and Overdose Reduction | |
On November 26th, the Governor held a press conference addressing the progress made in Virginia on seizure of fentanyl and reducing fatal fentanyl overdoses. During Operation FREE (Fentanyl Awareness, Reduction, Enforcement, and Eradication), the Commonwealth confiscated more than 550 pounds of illicit fentanyl over a 45-day period this fall. Additionally, from June 2023 to June 2024, Virginia recorded an estimated 23% reduction in the number of fatal overdoses compared to the previous 12 months, marking the third-highest reduction nationwide. The collaborative work being done across the Secretariates of Health and Human Resources, Public Safety and Homeland Security, and Education, together with the Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General, is truly saving lives. | |
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Reclaiming Childhood Youth Mental Health Summit | |
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Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Reclaiming Childhood Youth Mental Health Summit on November 21, 2024!
As part of the Summit, Governor Youngkin announced Executive Order 43, a pivotal step toward addressing the youth mental health crisis in Virginia. This Executive Order empowers parents to protect children from addictive social media, introduces a Social Media and Mental Health Toolkit, and establishes the Reclaiming Childhood Task Force to drive actionable solutions. Together, we are committed to creating healthier futures for Virginia’s youth.
For those who were not able to attend, you can find the remarks from our Keynote Speaker, Harrison Haynes, a social work student at James Madison University. You may also visit the Summit website to explore resources such as the Reclaiming Childhood pledge to reduce screen time, practical tips for parenting in a digital age, videos like the community conversation with First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin and Jonathan Haidt, and details about Executive Orders 33 and 43.
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Visiting Virginia's Community Services Boards (CSBs) | |
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Over the past few months, we have traveled across the Commonwealth to visit CSBs and the Behavioral Health Authority (BHA), and crisis stabilization units (CSUs), to see the incredible work being done to provide accessible, community-based behavioral health and developmental services. These organizations play a vital role in supporting individuals and families through a wide range of programs, from crisis intervention and detox services to developmental care and mental health treatment. Highlights include visits to the Rappahannock Area CSB, Harrisonburg-Rockingham CSB, and the Highlands CSB, as well as the Sunshine Lady and Arbor House CSUs, which provide critical stabilization and recovery services tailored to their regions.
Additionally, I toured St. Joseph’s Villa and the Richmond BHA, which offer comprehensive services, including youth stabilization units and crisis receiving centers. These visits underscore the dedication and expertise of the professionals at the forefront of behavioral health care in Virginia. I look forward to continuing these visits and engaging with the individuals delivering such vital care to communities across the state. Together, we are ensuring that every Virginian has access to the Right Help, Right Now.
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