Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board

Diversion First represents tremendous culture change and demonstrates that system transformation is possible, positively impacting individuals, families and the community as a whole. Staff involved in Diversion First are dedicated to providing incredible services, instilling hope and improving the lives of the people they serve. - Lisa Potter, Director, Countywide Diversion Initiatives What is Diversion First? Diversion First is a cross-system initiative that offers alternatives to arrest and incarceration for people with mental illness, substance use challenges, and/or developmental disabilities who come into contact with the justice system for low-level offenses. Diversion First is not a singular program. It is a philosophy and approach that has been integrated across many county agencies. Launched in 2016, Diversion First was designed to avoid or reduce encounters with the criminal justice system, improve public safety, promote a healthier community, and provide a more cost-effective and efficient use of county resources. Since then, Diversion First has used the nationally recognized Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) as a framework to inform strategies and community-based responses related to the involvement of people with behavioral health issues involved in the justice system. The SIM identifies how people flow through the criminal justice system along six distinct intercept points, each with opportunities for intervention. Fairfax County offers services across this continuum, providing multiple points of access for services. Diversion First represents tremendous culture change and demonstrates that system transformation is possible, positively impacting individuals, families and the community as a whole. Staff involved in Diversion First are dedicated to providing incredible services, instilling hope and improving the lives of the people they serve. What are some of the services and programs associated with Diversion First? Since Diversion First launched, thousands of first responders (as well as magistrates, probation officers and dispatchers) have received Crisis Intervention Team and Mental Health First Aid training. This training provides necessary tools to understand behavioral health issues and de-escalate crisis situations.  The Merrifield Crisis Response Center (MCRC), located in the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health, serves as a 24/7 crisis intervention assessment site where law enforcement officers can connect people with services in lieu of arrest. Onsite Crisis Intervention Team-trained police officers and deputy sheriffs can take custody of individuals under an emergency custody order and transport them to the MCRC when behavioral health services are needed.  Teams also respond to behavioral health crises in the community. In addition to Mobile Crisis Units (CSB), multidisciplinary teams, including the Co-Responder (CSB and Fairfax County Police Department) and Community Response Teams (CSB and Fire and Rescue Department), comprised of public safety and clinical staff respond to behavioral health needs. These needs can range from an immediate crisis response to services for individuals who have frequent public safety encounters. The CSB and Department of Public Safety Communications have also partnered to have clinicians onsite at the 911 Operations Center. The Fairfax County Co-Responder Program is a partnership between the Fairfax County Police Department and the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB). It pairs a Crisis Intervention Team trained police officer with a CSB Crisis Intervention Specialist to respond to public safety calls that are related to behavioral health issues. Diversion First also provides opportunities for intervention through the justice system. Individuals booked at the Adult Detention Center (ADC) are screened using standardized tools to identify behavioral health issues. The CSB provides an array of behavioral health services within the ADC, including assessment, crisis intervention, medication evaluation and case management. The Sheriff’s jail-based addiction treatment and recovery program, Striving to Achieve Recovery (STAR), is led by certified peer recovery specialists with support from jail-based behavioral health and medical teams. Medication for opioid use disorders is also offered in the ADC. Jail-based teams provide post-release/re-entry services such as linkages to treatment, health care and housing. In addition, diversion engagement services help people to break the cycle of incarceration and psychiatric crisis. The court system is also a key Diversion First partner. The Supervised Release Program provides intensive pre-trial supervision in the community, providing accountability and support while reducing the number of days spent in jail. Three specialty dockets, the Veterans Treatment Docket, Recovery Court and Mental Health Docket, provide diversion through an intensive, structured process that integrates treatment and court supervision. Additionally, Diversion First includes community-based behavioral health treatment, peer recovery support, and housing to provide person-centered care, a connection to recovery, and a pathway out of the justice system. What are some key outcomes? More than 4,400 Diversions from potential arrest since 2016 26% decrease in the jail behavioral health population with misdemeanor charges from 2015 to 2024 64% increase in the number of Merrifield Crisis Response Center (MCRC) cases from 2016 to 2024 More than 80% of individuals transported to the MCRC by law enforcement in 2023 did not have a repeat visit related to criminal justice involvement within a year 66% increase in the number of jail inmates referred to CSB Jail-Based Services from 2015 to 2024 What is an example of a Diversion First success? Diversion First has evolved significantly since 2016. Every day, there are powerful examples of successful diversions from potential arrest: crisis response and intervention by community-based teams; behavioral health, recovery services and life-saving medications provided in the ADC; connections made through peer support; engagement with the most vulnerable people who have previously been unwilling to seek services; and Specialty Dockets that support people in making different choices. The 2024 Diversion First Annual Report offers many examples of how individuals’ lives have been positively impacted by their participation in various programs. National Recognition Fairfax County was recently highlighted by the National Association of Counties for its successes with Diversion First. Fairfax was designated a Stepping Up Innovator County in 2019—one of approximately 50 in the country. (Stepping Up, a national initiative to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in jails, is implemented in Fairfax County as Diversion First.)

The CSB is thrilled to announce that the Addiction Medicine Clinic (AMC) at the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health in Merrifield is now offering extended hours to better serve you! Starting immediately, AMC’s new hours of operation are: Monday - Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday - Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. These extended hours will help ensure that support and care for individuals with opioid use are accessible, even during non-traditional business hours. At the AMC, we offer services such as Medication Assisted Treatment (Suboxone/buprenorphine) and admission to Office-Based Addiction Treatment (OBAT) for ongoing recovery support. For more information, contact the Addiction Medicine Clinic at 703-559-3188, or reach out to CSB Entry and Referral Services by calling 703-383-8500 or emailing csb@fairfaxcounty.gov. No appointment? No problem. Walk-ins are welcome on a first-come, first-served basis Friday through Sunday!

The Diversion First 2024 Annual Report is now available. The 2024 report demonstrates impacts and successes of the program’s ninth year. Diversion First offers alternatives to incarceration for people with mental health concerns, substance use concerns and/or developmental disabilities who come into contact with the criminal justice system for low-level offenses. The continuum of services is designed to more efficiently use resources to prevent repeat encounters with law enforcement, create a safer community and promote healthier lives. Since its beginning in 2016, Diversion First has helped over 4,400 people avoid arrest. Read the 2024 Annual Report and learn more about Diversion First.

Substance use disorders and mental health issues can be scary and confusing. But the adage remains true that knowledge is power. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), research-based prevention programs can significantly reduce early use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) supports a primary prevention approach to promote positive mental health. Locally, the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) plays an active role in the prevention efforts of the Fairfax community. The Wellness, Health Promotion and Prevention (WHPP) team strengthens our community’s emotional health and ability to handle mental health and substance use challenges through trainings, workshops, presentations, and campaigns. Attend a Health & Wellness Training The CSB is proud to offer a series of educational programs designed to support the well-being of individuals, families and communities. These sessions focus on mental health, substance use prevention, and strategies to build resilience and save lives. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) Gain a deeper understanding of how early adversity affects brain development, long term health and resilience. Learn what we can do—individually and collectively—to promote well-being across the lifespan. Mental Health First Aid This course introduces risk factors and warning signs of mental health issues, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches how to help someone who is in crisis or experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge. Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Education Learn how to recognize the sign of an opioid overdose and how to safely administer naloxone to reverse a heroin/opioid overdose. Talk. They hear you. Designed for parents and caregivers of children, teens, and young adults for having open, ongoing conversations about underage drinking and substance use. Question. Persuade. Refer. (QPR) Learn three simple yet powerful steps anyone can use to help prevent suicide and support someone in emotional distress. Looking for ways to support mental health, prevent suicide and reduce substance misuse in your community? Here are a few ways to engage, connect and take action: Join a Community Group Suicide Prevention Alliance of Northern Virginia (SPAN) A regional coalition of CSBs and community partners working together to raise awareness and share resources to prevent suicide. Fairfax Prevention Coalition A partnership of parents, youth, schools, healthcare providers, government agencies, law enforcement, faith-based organizations, media, nonprofits, businesses, policymakers and volunteers, working together to combat substance misuse in our community. Utilize Additional Resources Lock and Talk Open conversations about suicide can save lives, reduce stigma and encourage help-seeking behaviors. Lock your medications and firearms and talk with loved ones about safety and mental health. Online mental health screening Brief screenings are the quickest way to determine if you or someone you care about should connect with a behavioral health professional. Wellness Activities Stay up to date on WHPP’s activities and events in the community. Request CSB Staff to Present at your Event To Access CSB Services For CSB Non-Emergency Behavioral Health Services, call CSB Entry & Referral at 703-383-8500 TTY 771, Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You may also walk-in at the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and Friday 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For emergency mental health or substance use services, walk-in services are available 24/7 at the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health or call 703-573-5679 TTY 711. If someone with a developmental disability is experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis, call REACH, a 24/7 regional crisis stabilization and crisis prevention service for children, youth and adults with developmental disabilities, at 855-897-8278. If you or someone you know is experiencing a substance use crisis, call the Fairfax Detoxification Center 24/7 at 703-502-7000, TTY 703-322-9080.