Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board

Criminal behavior that results in charges can sometimes stem from the challenges associated with substance use and mental health issues. Often times, these behaviors occur when a substance use or mental health issue goes undiagnosed and untreated. To  reduce these incidents and support the health and wellness of individuals in the community, the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) supports three specialty dockets in collaboration with, the Fairfax County Courts, the Office of the Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney (OCA), the Fairfax Office of the Public Defender, Virginia State Probation, Fairfax County Court Services, and the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Department.   These programs offer individuals the opportunity to engage in behavioral health services as an alternative to incarceration. The three specialty courts include Recovery Court, Veterans Treatment Docket, and the Mental Health Docket. According to the Adult Treatment Court Best Practice Standards, these courts should not be adversarial like the regular court system, but are collaborative spaces where prosecutors, defense, and a judge are all on the same side to provide defendants the help they need. Specialty Dockets aim to reduce recidivism, improve positive client outcomes, enhance public safety, and empower participants to change their own lives through engaging in an evidence-based recovery journey. Specialty Dockets aim to reduce recidivism, improve positive client outcomes, enhance public safety, and empower participants to change their own lives through engaging in an evidence-based recovery journey. The CSB supports these dockets in multiple ways.  They provide staff in the roles of Docket Coordinator (Behavioral Health Supervisor) and Treatment Coordinator (Behavioral Health Senior Clinician).   The Docket Coordinator is the administrative lead of a docket team. One of the major roles of this position is to oversee the referral and entry process which includes determining eligibility through the use of evidence-based screening tools which determine both criminogenic risk and level of treatment need.   To be eligible for most of the dockets an individual must have both high criminogenic risk and high treatment needs.  The Treatment Coordinator serves as a care coordinator and liaison between the participant’s behavioral health treatment providers and the other agency team members including the judges.   Both positions also provide case management support as needed as well as facilitate evidence-based groups such as MRT and Seeking Safety for docket participants.  The Mental Health Docket also has a Behavioral Health Specialist I who provides skill building services and supports care coordination efforts.   In addition to directly staffing the docket teams, the CSB acts as a treatment provider for many participants of the Specialty Dockets. Participants are involved in various CSB programs including residential treatment, Behavioral Health Outpatient Programs, the Addiction Medicine Clinic, Turning Point, Intensive Case Management and Assertive Community Treatment. Who Qualifies for the Specialty Dockets? Individuals with charge(s) in Fairfax County. Event(s) that lead to the charge(s) were the result of symptoms associated with an underlying substance use disorder (SUD) or serious mental illness (SMI). Individuals assessed to meet high risk of criminal recidivism and high treatment needs by a validated assessment tool. (The Veterans Treatment Docket also has a low criminogenic risk/high treatment need track.) Office of the Commonwealth Attorney approves for legal eligibility. Individuals must be willing to undergo intensive treatment and supervision for their SUD or SMI as opposed to following the traditional approach to the legal process in exchange for reduced or dismissed charges at program completion. For Recovery Court and Mental Health Dockets, must be a Fairfax County Resident. Recovery Court The Recovery Court launched in Circuit Court in 2018 and expanded with a second track in August 2024. The program now includes two age-specific treatment tracks to create  a more relevant group experience for participants: the 18-25-Year-Old Track and the 26-Year-Old and Older Track. This program has a minimum requirement of 14 months to complete the five phases of the program though the length may vary   depending on individual progress and  the choices made during the program. The average length of treatment in the Recovery Court is 18 months. Participants must also be working on and making progress towards individual treatment goals within each phase. The Recovery Court has served 90 individuals and 29 of those individuals have successfully completed the program. Recovery Court (formerly known as the Adult Drug Treatment Court) enhances public safety through cost-effective, research-based interventions that prioritize rehabilitation over incarceration. Mental Health Docket The Mental Health Docket or Mental Health Court was established in July 2019. In order to be eligible to participate in this docket, an individual must be diagnosed with a serious mental illness as defined by DSM-5 and determined to show a likely connection between the treatment-based mental illness and their criminal behavior. The program length ranges from 12 to 24 months but can take longer depending on treatment-based progress. There are four phases, and the individual must meet individualized treatment-based goals in order to advance through the phases. Since its launch, the Mental Health Docket has served 71 total individuals, 37 of whom have successfully completed the program. The Fairfax County Mental Health Docket aims to divert eligible defendants with diagnosed mental health disorders into judicially supervised, community-based treatment, designed and implemented by a team of court staff, including Probation Officers, and mental health professionals. Veterans Treatment Docket The Veterans Treatment Docket was established in February 2015 to serve eligible individuals identified as high risk and high need. Over time, the treatment team noticed that there was a portion of the population that would benefit from services associated with the docket but were not meeting the high risk – high need qualification. In July 2022, the Low Risk – High Need track was started in an effort to increase the reach to those individuals who qualify. To participate in the Veterans Treatment Docket, an individual must be discharged from any branch of the United States military, the reserves, or the National Guard. Additionally, they must meet criteria for a major mental health and/or substance use disorder. Since its inception, the Veterans Treatment Docket has served a total of 93 individuals, with 65 successfully completing the program. The mission of the Fairfax County Veterans Treatment Docket is to serve justice-involved veterans and the community. The docket aims to return productive, law abiding veterans to our community, reduce recidivism and improve public safety by providing individualized comprehensive treatment and supervision responsive to veterans’ unique strengths, needs and culture. Attend a Docket Graduation Each of the Dockets host graduation ceremonies that are open to the public and feature recognition of graduates, guest speakers, and light refreshments. The Veterans Treatment Docket will be hosting a graduation on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. in Courtroom 5J of the Fairfax County Courthouse, featuring Brigadier General Stephen D. Mundt U.S. Army (Ret.) as the guest speaker. To stay up to date on future graduations, follow the CSB on social media. To Access CSB Services To access any of the above-mentioned services, call 703-383-8500 (TTY 711). Multilingual staff are available at CSB locations, including at community-based sites and youth medication-assisted treatment clinics. Staff at the CSB Entry & Referral Call Center can take calls in English and Spanish, and language translation services for other languages are available by telephone when needed. 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.

Ideally, a youth receiving support from the CSB’s Youth and Family Services Team feels better due to those services and interventions. Behaviors will have stabilized, and the youth will have improved their level of functioning in all areas of their life — at home, in school and in their community. - Christine Heaton, LPC, LMFT, Manager – Youth & Family Outpatient Services, Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board About Youth and Family Services The CSB Youth and Family Services Team provides a variety of behavioral health services for individuals ages 3-18 and their families. Youth and Family Outpatient Services provides evidence-based interventions and trauma-informed therapeutic supports for children and youth who have an emotional disability or are at risk of one, mental health concerns, substance misuse and/or co-occurring disorders. Services include individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy and case management, as needed. Psychiatric evaluations and medication management services are also available. There are Youth Medication-Assisted Treatment clinics that can help with substance use issues, including the use of opioids. Services are tailored to address the needs of each individual and are provided in an office setting or through telehealth. Services target specific mental health conditions to reduce symptoms and substance misuse, and focus on behavioral changes, coping strategies and improving the individual’s level of functioning. In addition to CSB locations, Outpatient Services are also now also co-located in 3 County Community Centers. The Juvenile Forensic Program provides services to youth involved with the Fairfax Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. Services include psychological evaluations, mental health and substance abuse assessments, case management and treatment. The program staff serves the Juvenile Detention Center, Shelter Care II, Stepping Stones, Foundations, and the Beta Program. The Youth Intensive Program hosts the Resource Team and Wraparound Services.  Staff attend multi-agency meetings to provide behavioral health guidance and expertise to families. Staff help meeting participants understand options available for youth who have significant mental health and/or substance use issues and help match services and supports to family needs. Depending on the youth and family’s needs, staff may provide help in accessing Comprehensive Services Act (CSA) services for both community-based services and out-of-the-home placements through a team based planning process. Services are provided to youth with high risk/acute needs, or those who are at risk of out-of-home placements, such as those who have been hospitalized frequently, as well as those who may be in need of a residential placement or those returning from a residential placement. Who in the community is eligible and where do they go for assistance? Any youth residing in Fairfax County or the cities of Fairfax or Falls Church, between the ages of 3-18 (or older if still in a Fairfax County or Falls Church school), are eligible to complete a screening and assessments to assess behavioral health needs. Access varies based on the services. The best way to learn more is to contact CSB’s Entry and Referral Services. What are the outcomes or improvements in people’s lives after they have received services?? Ideally, a youth receiving services from the CSB’s Youth and Family Services Team feels better due to those services and interventions. Behaviors will have stabilized, and the youth will have improved their level of functioning in all areas of their life—at home, in school and in their community. Individuals’ mental health will have improved, and the youth has more tolerance for challenging moments and the coping skills to get them through those times. Families will have received support navigating systems and services, and obtained help accessing the supports they need. Could you share some stories of successes? Success in behavioral health comes in many ways. A child had experienced a home invasion trauma. After participating in play therapy for 6 months, they were no longer fearful at night and felt safe again. The Youth and Family Resource Team worked with a youth who experienced several non-fatal opioid overdoses. The Case Manager was able to access CSA funds and helped the youth get into a treatment program all the way in Michigan! They did well there and completed the program. They are still sober. During their first session receiving CSB Outpatient Services, a teenager shared that the CSB clinician was their seventh therapist and that they believed there would be an eighth. The clinician worked closely with them and maintained a productive relationship. Through their sessions, the teenager discovered their substance misuse had been self-medicating their depression. The teenager worked with the CSB clinician to successfully develop new coping skills and reduce their mental health symptoms.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and help is available for people of any age with mental health concerns. It’s never too late to focus on wellness and reduce stress. The impact of mental health on physical health can be significant, and the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) has many resources available to support everyone in living a healthy and fulfilling life. The CSB provides mental health services to the community, and help is available 24/7. Getting help or supporting a loved one who is struggling with mental health challenges can feel overwhelming. The warning signs are not always obvious, but you can learn how to recognize them and what to do if you observe them. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, some warning signs include, but are not limited to: Changes in sleeping habits or feeling tired and low energy. Excessive worry or fear. Trouble concentrating or making basic decisions. Peculiar behavior or avoiding friends and social activities. Thoughts of self-harm. Negative self-talk. The CSB has free online training courses and tools for all residents of Fairfax County and the cities of Falls Church and Fairfax. They include: A Mental Health First Aid training course can help individuals understand mental illnesses, seek timely intervention and save lives. The course has a fee of $25, with limited stipends available. This program teaches participants how to help people who are experiencing a mental health concern, or potentially could be, and offers ways to: Assess for risk of suicide or harm. Listen nonjudgmentally. Give reassurance and information. Encourage appropriate professional help. Encourage self-help and other supports. Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) is a suicide prevention training explaining three simple yet powerful steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. The training teaches you to recognize the warning signs of suicide, ask tough questions and offer hope, and get help to save a life. Lock and Talk trainings can help prevent suicide by safely securing and storing firearms and poisons, including medications that can be misused. These steps are known as lethal means safety and can also help prevent accidental drug overdoses. The CSB has a limited supply of free locking medication boxes and trigger locks that fit a wide variety of firearms. Take a confidential online mental health screening. Completing an anonymous screenings can help you determine if your recent thoughts or behaviors may be associated with a common, treatable mental health issue. Practicing healthy self-care strategies can improve your mental health. Exercise. Even a small amount can make a big difference in your day. Connect with someone. Make a phone call or visit with a friend or family member. Start a cycle of encouragement. Tell others what you appreciate about them. Listen to music that inspires and motivates you. Write a poem about a subject you care deeply about or an article on a topic you find interesting. For more information on how Fairfax County is recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month, there is a Fairfax County Government NewsCenter article that highlights tips, events and resources. 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.

May has been recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month by Mental Health America since 1949. The purpose is to highlight the importance of mental well-being, educate the public, reduce stigma and promote support for those affected by mental health conditions. In a continued commitment to supporting mental health in our community, Supervisors Dalia Palchik and Rodney Lusk introduced a request to recognize May 2025 as both Mental Health Awareness Month and Youth Mental Health Awareness Month in Fairfax County. The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the designation. To mark the occasion, Supervisor Palchik will visit the Youth Medication Assisted Treatment (YMAT) clinic on May 19, 2025.  During the visit, she will present the official proclamation recognizing the importance of mental health awareness and the county’s dedication to supporting youth and families. The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) offers life-changing services to address mental health concerns at any age. With a growing demand for youth mental health support, the CSB’s services for children and adolescents are expanding rapidly to meet the community’s needs. Through its Youth and Family Services Team, the CSB provides evidence-based treatment to individuals ages 3 to 18 in need of behavioral health services. These specialized services include individual and family counseling, psychiatric diagnostic evaluations, medication management, parenting groups, peer support, crisis response, recovery supports to include medication assisted treatment (MAT), intensive services and more. Youth Medication Assisted Treatment Youth Medication-Assisted Treatment (YMAT) is the use of FDA-approved medications in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies to treat substance use disorders and prevent opioid overdose. These medications ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings, supporting young people on their path to recovery. In response to the allocation of opioid settlement funds, the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) is building upon an already robust offering of services for youth and their families affected by opioid use. One immediate action taken by the CSB was to expand the current YMAT services being offered at the Sharon Bulova Center in Merrifield to extend to the Gerry Hyland Government Center in South County which will, together, serve 150 youth annually. Community-Based Behavioral Health Services The CSB’s Youth & Family Community-Based Services Team is reducing barriers to treatment by giving individuals the opportunity to access high-quality, affordable health care and supports in the communities in which they live. Community-based behavioral health services are now available for youth and families at three community centers: James Lee Community Center in Falls Church Hybla Valley Community Center in Alexandria Herndon Resource Center in Herndon The CSB’s Youth & Family Community-Based Services Team is reducing barriers to treatment by giving individuals the right to access high-quality, affordable health care and supports in the communities in which they live. To Access CSB Services To access any of the above-mentioned services, call 703-383-8500 (TTY 711). Multilingual staff are available at CSB locations, including at community-based sites and youth medication-assisted treatment clinics. Staff at the CSB Entry & Referral Call Center can take calls in English and Spanish, and language translation services for other languages are available by telephone when needed. 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.