People from racial and ethnic minority groups are more likely to have experienced symptoms of mental illnesses or disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic.¹ The Richmond Highway area of Alexandria, which represents one of the most ethnically and economically diverse areas of Fairfax,² has limited mental health community-based services.  

This is why a group of people, led by retired school social worker Felicea Meyer-DeLoatch, came together to address the local need for culturally competent, accessible, community based behavioral health care on Richmond Highway. Their work resulted in the opening of The Growth and Healing HUB, which provides affordable, inclusive behavioral health and wellness services to children and families in southern Fairfax County.  

“As a retired school social worker in this region, I was very aware that there were students who needed help beyond the school walls, but there was little to no therapeutic services in the area.  “Children, youth, and families need a comfortable, safe place, close to home where they can get the specific support they need.  This is not the free mental health clinic, this is the mental health and wellness clinic for our community.” said Ms. Meyer-DeLoatch, MSW, LCSW, Founder and CEO of The Growth and Healing HUB. “That is why we opened our doors – to give hope to our kids and their families.”    

The need for affordable and culturally-competent mental health services on Richmond Highway

According to the Richmond Highway Market Assessment Study, the population of this region is more likely than the rest of Fairfax County to be Black or Hispanic. Area households have a median income of just under $81,000 as compared with $118,780 countywide. Thirteen percent of Richmond Highway residents make less than $25,000 a year.³  

“Mental health care access is about more than insurance coverage. It is about connecting with services that meet the cultural and health literacy needs of the person,” said Erika Logan, community health specialist with the Fairfax County Health Department and project manager for Stronger², a community initiative to improve health literacy within communities of color. “One of our roles in public health is to listen to and support community-driven solutions. It is our hope that with the support of The Growth and Healing HUB, Richmond Highway will no longer be a mental health desert.” 

The HUB accepts major insurance companies, self-pay, and community members who need financial support for services are offered a sliding fee scale. 

“Services at The HUB are delivered by trauma trained and culturally competent clinicians, using best practice interventions. The HUB will serve its mission to turn no child, youth, or family member away due to an inability to pay, delivering growth, healing, and wellness to all including a grossly underserved community,” said Ms. Meyer-DeLoatch. 

Training the next generation of behavioral health professionals 

The HUB will provide internships, training, and supervision for master and doctoral level students studying in the mental health and psychiatric fields.  

“We will have a vibrant link to a future workforce by accepting students for internships and offering continued licensing supervision upon their internship completion,” said Ms. Meyer-DeLoatch. 

Sources  

¹ National Institutes of Health 

² Richmond Highway Market Assessment Study, February 2021 

³ Fairfax County Demographics 

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