|
Friends,
The health and well-being of our residents remains the County’s top priority, and in a changing world it is imperative that local government be responsive to the needs of those we serve. Nationally and locally, there is a tremendous need for behavioral health services and support. In Fairfax County we have undertaken an interdisciplinary, interagency, and holistic approach to meet these needs, while recognizing the level of care needed varies for each individual. We have positioned ourselves to not only meet the health needs of our County but to further our resilience as a community.
Our Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB), Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD), Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department (FCFRD), Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO), Department of Public Safety Communications (DPSC), and community partners have done an exceptional job in not only creating a system where the proper level of care is provided, but in tailored services to the need of the individual. These efforts are far reaching, and some examples include:
-
Partnering a CSB Crisis Intervention Specialist with a FCPD officer to respond to those in crises (Co-Responder Program).
-
Embedding a CSB Behavioral Health Liaison within DPSC to assist in identifying callers who may benefit from a behavioral health response.
- Providing a mobile crisis response to those experiencing a crisis.
- Partnering with the Sheriff’s Office to provide care to those who are incarcerated with behavioral health needs.
These few examples are a testament to delivery of services to those who need them in an equitable and effective manner. It is also because of the efforts that the county was well positioned to begin its implementation of the statewide Marcus-David Peters Act (Marcus Alert) on June 28th of this year. The Marcus Alert requires public safety and behavioral health agencies to coordinate response to behavioral health emergencies and divert individuals to care whenever feasible. The Marcus Alert law also established the Regional Crisis Call Center (RCCC) for those in crisis or those around someone in crisis to call for support. The RCCC also serves as the local answering point for 988. Our DPSC (9-1-1) still receives calls related to behavioral health concerns and can connect those that are in need of support to the RCCC, as appropriate.
FCPD along with the CSB are also planning a Telehealth Pilot program which will equip some patrol officers with tablets that connect them with a CSB behavioral health specialist. Enhancements such as these add to the impact and reach of services while not being resource intensive.
These efforts go beyond caring for those in need by also having a positive impact on public safety. Co-responder teams responding to calls can help to free up patrol officers to proactively mitigate crime throughout the county. As a county we are proud of where we are but know that now is not the time to be complacent, and we must continue to rethink and innovate how we serve all of our community.
Finally, a thank you to our public safety and behavioral health staff who do this work, and to our community for their unwavering support on efforts such as these.
| 
