Office of Strategy Management for Health and Human Services

Fairfax County, Virginia

CONTACT INFORMATION: Our office is open 9AM-5PM M-F

703-324-4444
TTY 711

osmhhs@fairfaxcounty.gov

12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 333
Fairfax, VA 22035

G. Michael Lane ,
Director

Department Resources

Related Resources

HHS Program Accomplishments

Happy families, childrenn seniors

The purpose of Health and Human Services (HHS) Program Accomplishments is to highlight notable new or enhanced activities of individual Fairfax County HHS programs that improve program operations and/or client outcomes.

Benefits of this program include:

Sharing information about innovative practices or initiatives within HHS that could benefit other agencies throughout the county
Expanding the emphasis on measuring program performance and client outcomes, as well as consistently documenting such efforts and the resulting accomplishments

Criteria

The criteria used for selecting programs to be recognized are important principles in the delivery of health and human services and provide a consistent measure of objectivity in the selection of program accomplishments. Programs meeting at least two out of the following criteria will qualify a program for highlighting its accomplishment(s).

HHS Accomplishment Criteria Graphic

Juvenile Supervision

Assessment Unit

Assesses youth individually with the goal of targeting their specific risks and needs in order to reduce recidivism in criminal behaviors, decrease the impact of racial and ethnic disparities, and increase community safety.

Probation/Parole

Promotes positive behavioral change and reduces illegal conduct for those children and young adults who come within the court’s authority. The focus of parole supervision is also the successful reintegration of clients from the Department of Juvenile Justice Correctional Center into the community.

Link to Strategic Plan

Safety and Security
Empowerment and Support for Residents Facing Vulnerabilities

Operationalized the Assessment Unit that provides judges the ability to refer clients for an assessment and report prior to disposition; unit then informs judges on the individual youth’s risks and needs identified through the Youth Assessment Screening Instrument.

Implemented the Structured Trauma-Related Experiences & Symptoms Screener (STRESS) to identify clients in need of trauma-based interventions.

Focused efforts toward equitable outcomes by tracking placements by race and ethnicity and training staff in:

Equity and racial and ethnic disparities to ensure equitable service delivery
Family engagement to empower families to be successful in utilizing their strengths to address challenges

Improved client outcomes between FY18 and FY19 through evidence-based and trauma informed practices:

Increase from 66% to 77% of cases closed successfully, which means meeting all court-ordered obligations and demonstrating positive behavior at the end of the probation term
Increase from 62% to 69% of youth with no substance use at completion of probation

Learn more about Juvenile Supervision!

Court-Ordered Assessments and Evaluations | Juvenile Probation Services

Community Impact Unit

Program Overview

Community Impact Unit graphic

Increases the service delivery capacity of nonprofits and faith communities through strategic engagement and collaborative relationships to effectively achieve targeted results, strengthen communities, and address health and human services needs.

Supports partnerships through the Community Capacity Building Unit and the Community Interfaith Coordination Office.

Link to Strategic Plan

Effective and Efficient Government
Empowerment and Support for Residents Facing Vulnerabilities

Program Accomplishments

Incorporated One Fairfax into committees and workgroups; organized and facilitated a Food Equity Summit to examine the county’s food systems through a race and social equity lens.

Managed efforts with cross-agency and community representatives to enhance the alignment of community needs with Consolidated Community Funding Pool category areas.

Facilitated Fairfax County’s Census 2020 Complete Count Committee, bringing together partners to discuss issues relevant to their communities and to design targeted strategies to reach hard-to-count populations.

Engaged greater numbers of stakeholders and partners through:

flexibility in meeting times and locations;
centralization of interfaith communications resulting in the following changes between FY18 and FY19;

15% increase up to nearly 900 community contacts
31% growth to 89 community and county partners

Improved capacity to address community issues in 82% of organizations and county agencies. Additionally, nearly 87% of client organizations reported better opportunities to collaborate with other groups, which in turn, translates to greater capacity to implement programs and services in the community.

Learn more about the Community Impact Unit!

Community Capacity Building | Community Interfaith Coordination

Public Health Clinical Services

Program Overview

Prevents the spread of disease by providing assessment and treatment for health conditions and encouraging healthy behaviors.

Links to Strategic Plan

♦ Health and Environment

♦ Empowerment and Support for Residents Facing Vulnerabilities

Program Accomplishments

Partnered with George Mason University and implemented an integrated public health approach called SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) into the STI^* Clinic Services across the five District offices. SBIRT focuses on early intervention and treatment services for persons with substance use disorders, depression, and those who are at risk of developing these disorders by:

quickly screening adults;
identifying their needed level of treatment;
providing a brief intervention to increase their insight and awareness regarding substance use;
motivating behavioral change; and
referring to any needed specialty care.

Tracked data to monitor clinic flow and average times for specific clinic services to enhance scheduling and more efficiently meet patient service demand.

Implemented a food insecurity screening pilot at one site with the goal of linking children and families to food, health care, and other services for which they are eligible.

Served nearly 28,100 unique clients across five clinics in FY19, based on more than 47,700 client visits. 99% of clients reported in FY19 that clinic services addressed their health needs.

^*Sexually transmitted infections

Learn more about Public Health Clinical Services!

Hypothermia Prevention Program

Hypothermia warning signs and contacts

Program Overview

Shelters adults over the age of 18 experiencing homelessness and at risk for hypothermia during the winter months.

Provides housing-focused case management; health, mental health and substance abuse services; employment assistance; and other services to move as many individuals experiencing homelessness into safe, stable, and permanent housing as possible. The program operates in collaboration with faith communities, civic organizations, businesses, and individual volunteers.

Program Accomplishments*

Coordinated with street outreach teams to connect unsheltered individuals to the program. For individuals not wishing to access the shelter, outreach teams continued to do wellness checks and to link them to community services.

Participated in Coordinated Entry, a means of streamlining and increasing program transparency, resulting in a more improved connection of clients to services.

Utilized the “low-barrier” best practice model, ensuring that no one is denied services and left to experience hypothermic conditions.

Implemented a By-Name List (BNL) approach to tracking program participants, where updates on individuals experiencing homelessness are reviewed at regular meetings, resulting in more involved and informed program operations.

Increased the number served to 1,091 individuals in FY18 (1,191 in FY19), and those who moved into permanent housing nearly doubled between FY17 and FY18.

*All program practices above are ongoing

Learn more about Hypothermia Prevention!

Education Services - Domestic and Sexual Violence Community Engagement Services (CES)

Program Overview

Raises awareness about domestic violence, sexual violence, teen dating violence, stalking, human trafficking, and related intervention and prevention services.

Program Accomplishments

Strengthened partnership with Fairfax County Public Schools in FY18. Education Services is now connected with sixteen high schools.

Expanded education on teen dating violence and related resources via in-person trainings and outreach packets. Program is developing a youth ambassador program as an approach to further disseminate teen dating violence information.

Improved procedures for data collection and reporting, and developed a web-based service request tool to improve coordination of activities within CES.

Increased the number of outreach and educational activities by 27% from FY17 to FY18, engaging over 8,800 customers in FY18. Outreach audience included not only youth, but also FCPS teachers and counselors.

Increased understanding of domestic and sexual violence in 85% of program participants.

Increased understanding of healthy relationships in 92% of Healthy Youth Prevention Education (HYPE) project participants. Education Services received Partners In Prevention Fund grant funding for HYPE training and is currently working toward establishing HYPE as an evidence-based program.

Learn more about Education Services!

Therapeutic Recreation Services

Program Overview

Enhances the quality of life and strives for independence for Fairfax County residents with disabilities and those at risk by:

providing opportunities for independence and involvement in community activities;
developing lifelong recreational interests;
responding to community challenges.

Provides support and advocacy to individuals who wish to participate in general recreation activities.

Program Accomplishments

Identified increased need in the number of individuals requiring a higher level of support, coupled with a gap in continuum of services for more independent school-aged individuals; recognized increased need manifested by higher frequency of aggressive behaviors by customers and unavailability of other community-based programs to meet increased need.

Restructured summer camp offerings to better support individuals based on need, age, safety concerns and no longer focused on primary disability and age; this led to a reduction in aggressive behaviors of 57% from one participant to another, and 36% reduction in aggressive behaviors from participant toward staff.

Designed single session programming for individuals needing less support; goal of programming through the Adventure Series is to build skills and confidence in activities (e.g., kayaking, snow tubing, etc.) so customers can pursue such activities outside county programming; this and other enhanced programming options contributed to 77% of participants reporting improved skills, knowledge, and abilities to participate in other leisure activities of their choice (FY18).

Leveraged existing resources to increase program opportunities for preschool aged kids with disabilities. Re-allocated staffing allowed offering a 6-day mini-camp at three elementary schools at no additional cost to Fairfax County.

Engaged preschoolers with disabilities in group play in a structured setting to help better prepare them for preschool; activities focused around social skill, gross motor skill, fine motor skill, and leisure skill development.

Increased number of partnerships to 16 and served nearly 17,300 customers in FY18. Collaboration with SACC and ITC now allow for year-round programming, including for kids two to five years of age; 91% of all participants reported a higher quality of life (FY18).

Benefited parents and caregivers with 80% reporting improvement in their overall health and well-being through respite opportunities including relaxation, enjoyment, time-off the daily routine, among other benefits (FY18).

Learn more about Therapeutic Recreation Services!

Supervised Visitation and Exchange Program: Stronger Together

Program Overview

Provides a family setting for quality parenting that offers the opportunity for safe contact between parents and children.

Assists families in building healthier relationships and maintaining consistent contact.

Follows ethical best practice standards recommended by the Supervised Visitation Worldwide Network.

Program Accomplishments

Improved procedures for case management and intake resulting in reduced wait times for program enrollment and the ability to serve more families.

Expanded networking and collaboration with private and regional partners, including Arlington and Montgomery counties, to support program development, training, and the formation of a Supervised Visitation and Exchange Advisory Board.

Developed communication and educational materials about program policies and services including a video and a parent guide.

Increased number of families served by 12% from FY17 to FY18, as well as the number of visitations and exchanges by 31%, by expanding the program from three days to five days of services per week.

Reported that in FY18, 91% of clients built a relationship with the child during visitation, and 70% of clients learned information to help them care for their child.

Learn more about the Supervised Visitation and Exchange: Stronger Together Program!

E3 Program - Permanency and Life Skills

Program Overview

Assists youth in foster care to achieve legal permanency or to develop lifelong connections prior to exiting foster care.

Program Accomplishments

Created in 2018, E3 is a job readiness summer program providing classroom-based job skill development and leadership training to youth who are not eligible for the Northern Virginia Educating Youth through Employment (EYE) program. E3 served 10 youth in FY18 and 13 youth in FY19 aged 16 to 20 years.

The Unit promoted future independence by helping youth pursue higher education and vocational goals. For this purpose, the Permanency and Life Skills unit utilized Family Partnership Meetings, home visits, and one-on-one meetings. Supports included intensive training and guidance in career path opportunities, as well as summer work experience through the EYE program and internships. One third of youth ages 18-21 were enrolled in higher education or vocational programs upon exiting foster care in FY18.

Since E3 began operating in FY18, the outcomes reported below apply to youth served by the Permanency and Life Skills Unit.

Decreased median time during which youth received permanency services from 11 months to 7 months (a 36% drop). Reasons for ending services include the youth achieving permanency or making lifelong connections.

Increased from 80% in FY17 to 90% in FY18, the proportion of youth ages 18-21 exiting foster care who were enrolled in high school or earned a HS diploma or GED (FY18).

Learn more about E3!

Father Engagement

Program Overview

Helps strengthen families by effectively engaging fathers to build stronger relationships between fathers and their children.

Program Accomplishments

Minimized participation challenges encountered by clients referred to the Dad's Parenting Groups. Challenges included inflexible work schedules, conflict with fathering responsibilities, incarceration, lack of transportation, and other basic needs. Addressed barriers by:

a. providing some financial assistance for transportation to eligible fathers

b. working around clients’ schedules to provide in-home parenting and fathering
support when necessary

c. providing resource navigation to access community-based resources

Implemented the Protective Factors Survey in FY18 to more effectively measure the protective factors of fathers in five areas: family functioning and resiliency, social support, concrete support, nurturing and attachment, and knowledge of parenting and child development.

Engaged fathers and the child welfare practitioners working with their families in decision-making around pursuing services related to unresolved trauma, family conflict, or other supports.

Increased percentage of program graduates who maintained or increased time spent with their children from 64% in FY17 to 73% in FY18.

Learn more about Father Engagement!

Adult Day Health Care

Program Overview

Promotes the health and independence of adults who do not have the ability for complete independence and requires daytime assistance, while offering them a vibrant, stimulating, and nurturing alternative to more restrictive and costly long-term care options.

Provides respite for caregivers.

Program Accomplishments

Launched a collaborative marketing effort that strategically promoted to internal audiences while leveraging existing communication avenues used by related Fairfax County programs; created new messaging and imagery to change the perception of the service; and created a digital home and blog to provide caregivers with valuable content relevant to their ‘real life.'

Increased collaboration with county agencies (i.e., CSB and NCS) to train staff in supporting the inclusion of older adults with developmental disability into Adult Day Health Care and other services.

Provided highly-individualized care through learning about participants’ likes, dislikes, family make-up, former occupation, and other personalized factors.

Increased number of admissions by 17% and conversion rate from 27% to 37%.^*

Increased the rate of caregivers reporting that participants experienced a positive impact on their physical health to 90% (FY18).

Reported that 97% of family caregivers experienced less stress when their loved one attended one of the Centers (FY18).

Learn more about Adult Day Health Care!

Housing Support Services - Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocacy Services

Program Overview Housing Support Services - Domestic and Sexual Violence

Facilitates access to emergency or permanent housing and educates and assists clients and families to move toward self-sufficiency.

Program Accomplishments

Collaborated in developing the Domestic Violence Bridging Affordability Program (DVBA), which has the primary goal of supporting families fleeing domestic violence. Two-year assistance from DVBA’s multiple partner agencies benefit families, helping them to stay safe and building a self-sufficiency plan.

Linked clients to educational and employment resources, as well as child care assistance during DVBA program participation.

Served 28% more persons, in FY18 than in FY17, seeking housing resources such as emergency shelter, singles or family shelter, and coordination and referral to other resources offering housing assistance.

Helped 20% of program clients secure safe and stable housing in FY18. Outcome is almost entirely based on availability of housing and economic resources available in the county during the given fiscal year.

Learn more about Advocacy Services!

Department Resources

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