Finding the right mental health support for your child can feel overwhelming. Where do you start? Who do you call? How much will it cost? These questions keep many parents up at night, especially when they notice their child struggling.
Fairfax County has a program that aims to make this process easier. Healthy Minds Fairfax works to connect kids and young adults with mental health services while breaking down the barriers that often get in the way.
Healthy Minds Fairfax started about 10 years ago with a much less memorable name: Behavioral Health Services for the Systems of Care.
A partnership between the Department of Family Services and the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, the program works with schools, private therapists and families to get kids the help they need.
The program has two main goals, according to Peter Steinberg, Healthy Minds Fairfax program manager, who appeared on a recent episode of the “County Conversation.”
“We try to increase access to children’s behavioral health services by also improving the quality of those services,” he said.
Free Therapy Sessions Through Schools
One of Healthy Minds Fairfax's key components is a short-term counseling program. Kids who attend Fairfax County public schools or City of Fairfax schools can get eight free therapy sessions. The program pays private therapists directly, so families don’t have to worry about insurance or upfront costs. This removes one of the biggest roadblocks to getting help.
Families earning up to 400% of the poverty level qualify. For a family of four, that’s about $128,000 per year. Families also need to be either uninsured or unable to find a provider within two weeks.
The process starts at school. School social workers, psychologists and counselors can assess whether a child might benefit from the program and make a referral.
Healthy Minds Fairfax also partners with George Mason University to train local mental health professionals in evidence-based practices that benefit children.
Providers get ongoing supervision to make sure they’re using the techniques correctly and helping families see real results.
What Parents Should Watch For
How do you know if your child needs help? Steinberg suggests looking for changes in behavior.
For example, if your child has unexpected bursts of energy, stops sleeping as much as usual or begins talking rapidly, he said, those can be warning signs.
The opposite can also be a red flag. If your child is sleeping more than usual, has less energy, or stops wanting to hang out with friends, something might be going on.
These changes could point to anxiety, depression or other mental health issues. That’s when it’s time to talk to the clinical team at your child’s school.
Youth Care Navigation: Finding the Right Fit
Sometimes families need more than a referral. Youth Care Navigation Services can walk families through the complete process of finding a therapist and getting started.
The service is like having a knowledgeable guide help you through what Steinberg calls “the behavioral healthcare maze.”
Care navigators get to know your family and your child’s situation. Then they figure out what level of care makes the most sense and find a provider who can meet those needs.
The service is free and available to youth and young adults up to age 25. Anyone can make a referral—parents, kids over age 14, young adults, or even someone who’s connected to the family, such as a clergy member.
Two Ways to Get Connected
Healthy Minds Fairfax offers two paths for finding help.
- Self-navigation through an online platform. This website lists mental health providers, substance use treatment resources, and practical help like transportation assistance and low-cost vet. The platform's links are kept up to date, and new resources are added regularly.
- Personalized care navigation through HopeLink Behavioral Health and Northern Virginia Family Services. Someone will meet with your family and do the work of finding the right provider.
Northern Virginia Family Services specifically helps Spanish-speaking families who face extra barriers. Their navigators help with language issues, lack of insurance, and transportation problems.
Dealing with Costs and Insurance
Paying for therapy is a major concern for most families. While the care navigation service is free, families are responsible for the cost of a therapist’s services.
Care navigators step up and work with insurance to find providers who accept a family's plan. If a provider doesn’t take insurance, they’ll help families determine if they can afford the out-of-pocket cost or find alternatives.
Different therapists have different payment structures: Some take insurance; some do not but will provide a statement that families can submit for reimbursement from their insurance. Others use a sliding fee scale based on income. The key is connecting families with services they can actually afford to keep using.
Everyone Has a Role
Healthy Minds Fairfax works because everyone involved has responsibilities.
School staff identify kids who might need help and make referrals. The program pays for services and connects families to resources. Private therapists provide the treatment.
Parents need to make sure their child can get to appointments, whether that’s in-person or virtual. For virtual sessions, kids need a private, quiet space.
Reducing Stigma
Views toward mental health care have improved over time, but stigma still exists. Steinberg credits programs like Our Minds Matter, which has chapters in every county middle school and high school, with helping change attitudes.
These student-led groups normalize talking about mental health. The groups teach kids that it’s OK to have a bad day and reach out for help and to check on friends who seem to be struggling.
The Community Services Board has also worked to reduce stigma around mental health treatment.
Getting Started
If your child is struggling, you have options. You can talk to the social worker, psychologist or counselor at your child’s school. They can refer you to the short-term counseling program if your child qualifies.
You can also directly contact Healthy Minds Fairfax's Youth Care Navigation Services. From there, you’ll find options for the self-navigation tool or the personalized care navigation service. To connect with a free individual care navigator, call 703-468-0040 or email youthcarenav@hopelinkbh.org.
The County Conversation Podcast
The “County Conversation” is a podcast featuring employees and subject matter experts from the Fairfax County Government discussing programs, services and items of interest to residents of Fairfax County. Listen to past episodes of “County Conversation.” To find other county podcasts, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/podcasts.
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