A multi-year effort to strengthen behavioral health services through Virginia got an additional boost today as Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced an additional $25 million in funding.
The governor’s Right Help, Right Now plan has invested $1.4 billion in initiatives since its launch. The legislative efforts and financial investments reflect a holistic approach to behavioral health, addressing prevention, intervention, crisis care and recovery.
The additional funding announced today is earmarked to employ Special Conservators of the Peace, or SCOPs, across the Commonwealth to aid with individuals waiting for placement due to a crisis. The program both de-escalates the crisis and allows law enforcement to return to their core safety duties for their community. Presently, a patient in crisis remains in the custody of an officer until they can find a bed at a treatment facility.
“With the addition of SCOPs in emergency departments, we are not only reducing the strain on law enforcement but also creating safer, more appropriate environments for individuals in crisis to receive care,” said Youngkin.
Review: Right Help, Right now accomplishments
The Right Help, Right Now plan is guided by six pillars each addressing components of behavioral health care.
Same-day care
- The Virginia 988 Call Center expanded capacity to meet rising call volumes connecting residents to immediate, life-saving support
- The Commonwealth exceeded its year two goal of 70 publicly funded mobile crisis teams, with more than 100 teams now operational and providing statewide 24/7/365 service with an average response time of under 50 minutes
Relieving the burden on law enforcement
- Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services has provided and will continue to provide training for Community Service Board staff on informed consent, violence risk assessment and advanced directives to help better coordinate care for individuals in crisis
- The SCOPs program pilot in southwest Virginia has demonstrated success reducing law enforcement involvement and creating calmer, more supportive environments for patients in crisis
Expanding system capacity
- New crisis receiving centers, crisis stabilization units, and crisis therapeutic homes have been established. To date, three rounds of grant funding totaling $125 million have expanded capacity from 216 units to 663 operational or in-development facilities statewide
- The Adult Psychiatric Access Line has launched, supporting primary care providers with behavioral health consultation services
Substance use disorder and overdose prevention
- Virginia has reduced opioid-related fatalities through initiatives like expanded naloxone distribution, with 142,000 kits distributed through the REVIVE! opioid overdose and naloxone education program
- There have been coordinated efforts to combat fentanyl including major drug seizures and enhanced public awareness campaigns
- The First Lady of Virginia’s statewide It Only Takes One initiative is targeting at-risk communities to combat the fentanyl crisis throughout the Commonwealth
Workforce development
- Virginia will implement three new career pathways that include behavioral health technician assistant, behavioral health technician and master’s psychology practitioner
Prevention and innovation
- Expanded mandated benefits to include crisis services—mobile, residential stabilization and receiving centers—ensuring comprehensive insurance coverage, balance billing protection, and improved access
- Established the Reclaiming Childhood Task Force through Executive Order 43 to empower parents to increase positive youth mental health outcomes
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Crystal Graham
