In 2015, the National Association of Counties, Council of State Governments and the American Psychiatric Association launched the Stepping Up initiative, dedicated to reducing the overincarceration of people with mental illness and improving responses to behavioral health needs in jails and communities.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors adopted a Stepping Up resolution in 2015, and Fairfax was designated a Stepping Up Innovator County in 2019, one of approximately only 50 in the country. Locally, we have implemented Stepping Up as Diversion First. 

Fairfax County was featured in the Stepping Up 10-year celebration at the National Association of Counties' Annual Conference. NACo's video highlights the county's transformation and tremendous cross-system collaboration since Stepping up was launched.