Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board

The Program for Assistance in Transitioning from Homelessness (PATH) is a service within the Intensive Community Treatment Division at the CSB. The work can be challenging as well as rewarding. The teams are persistent, determined and share self-insights that lead to success for individuals in our care. - Bob MacMurdo, CSB Division Director, Intensive Community Treatment Services About the Program for Assistance in Transitioning from Homelessness (PATH) Services The Program for Assistance in Transitioning from Homelessness (PATH) is a service within the Intensive Community Treatment Division at the CSB. There are four separate programs within this division, including Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), Intensive Case Management (ICM), and Discharge Planning for individuals in state hospitals as well as the population adjudicated Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI). Clinicians provide services including hands on case management, resource connections, individual live service plans, ongoing advocacy, and crisis intervention. The work can be challenging as well as rewarding. The teams are persistent, determined and share self-insights that lead to success for individuals in our care. The PATH program focuses on supporting some of the community’s most vulnerable individuals: adults experiencing homelessness, those with serious mental illness and individuals with co-occurring disorders. PATH provides engagement and case management services to unsheltered individuals. Who in the community is eligible, how do you access this service, and where do you go to get help? All adults experiencing homelessness in Fairfax County are eligible for services, regardless of immigration status. The PATH program is a community outreach and engagement initiative. Typically, people don’t come to us—we go to them. PATH staff conduct weekly outreach in Fairfax County, visiting locations such as tent cities, wooded areas, under bridges, bus stops, drop-in centers, and shelters. During outreach, PATH staff identify individuals who meet the program's criteria. Once eligible individuals are identified, staff engage with them and provide consistent outreach to build rapport and trust. The PATH program also receives referrals from various non-profit areas, such as the Lamb Center and shelters in the community such as Kennedy shelter, Embry Rucker shelter, and Baileys shelter. PATH additionally receives referrals from the police department, community members, other CSB programs, and the Fairfax County Health Department, Adult Protective Services unit, and Office to Prevent and End Homelessness. PATH staff partner with different community programs as well as the Health Department to deliver holistic treatment to homeless adult individuals in Fairfax County. What is the outcome or improvement on people’s lives after they’ve received this service? PATH staff help improve individuals lives by stabilizing them through referrals to essential services. These services include mental health treatment, psychotropic medications, permanent supportive housing, basic benefits programs like SNAP, and medical care. These interventions support individuals’ overall well-being and stability. What is your favorite success story? Jeffrey has been a PATH client for about a year. During routine outreach in the Richmond Highway corridor, PATH staff first encountered him in a disheveled state, sitting on a bench with alcohol and cigarettes. Jeffrey had been without housing for a long time and was often exposed to danger and the elements. Any money he panhandled was spent on alcohol and cigarettes. After initial distrust, Jeffrey gradually built a rapport with PATH staff through ongoing outreach. He was taken to the Gartlan drop-in center where he received food, a shower and clean clothes. He also agreed to restart his injectable medication, leading to improvements in his mental health. Jeffrey was persuaded to explore housing options and was assisted in entering a local shelter, where he continues to stay while awaiting permanent supportive housing. PATH staff helped him access his Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits to meet basic needs. Despite ongoing struggles with substance use, his mental health has improved with continued support from the PATH psychiatric nurse who is monitoring his progress.

The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board extends our full support to the Fairfax-Falls Church community and DMV area as we continue to feel the devastating impacts of the recent plane crash at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Below is a collection of resources focused on general behavioral health needs after a traumatic incident, including resources for children, youth, caregivers and first responders. If you are suffering, you are not alone. It is important to reach out for help in challenging times. Friends, family, or trained specialists and counselors are available to help and offer support.   General Resources for Support after Traumatic Events Tips for Survivors: Coping With Grief After a Disaster or Traumatic Event In this tip sheet, SAMHSA defines and describes grief, discusses ways of coping with grief, and explains complicated or traumatic grief. The tip sheet also offers relevant resources for additional support. Tips for Survivors of a Disaster or Other Traumatic Event: Managing Stress This SAMHSA tip sheet gives stress prevention and management tips for dealing with the effects of a disaster or trauma. It identifies common reactions to disasters and other traumatic events, lists tips to manage and lower stress, and highlights signs of the need for professional support. This tip sheet is also available in Spanish. Tips for Survivors of a Disaster or Traumatic Event: What To Expect in Your Personal, Family, Work, and Financial Life In this tip sheet, SAMHSA describes the effects that disasters and other traumatic events can have on survivors in general, and specifically on different parts of their lives. The tip sheet suggests steps to cope with a disaster or other trauma, lists signs of the need for professional mental health and substance use assistance, and identifies resources for additional information and support. This tip sheet is also available in Spanish. Be Red Cross Ready: Taking Care of Your Emotional Health after a Disaster This fact sheet from the American Red Cross lists common reactions to a disaster, identifies ways for survivors to cope effectively, and highlights signs of the need for additional mental health support. The American Red Cross also offers this fact sheet in a large-print edition as well as in several languages other than English: Arabic, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.   Resources for Children, Youth, Parents and Other Caregivers, and Schools SAMHSA DBHIS Resources Intended for Children and Youth and About Children and Youth and Disasters Two sections of the SAMHSA Disaster Behavioral Health Information Series (DBHIS) resource collection focus on the common responses and needs children and adolescents may have during and after disasters. These sections include resources that highlight the unique needs of children and adolescents in and after disasters, as well as how adults who work with children, and parents and other caregivers, can offer support to children and adolescents in coping. Tips for Talking With and Helping Children and Youth Cope After a Disaster or Traumatic Event: A Guide for Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers This SAMHSA tip sheet can help parents, other caregivers, and teachers recognize and address problems in children and teens affected by a disaster. The tip sheet describes reactions that are common in young survivors at different ages, as well as how to help children cope with these reactions. This tip sheet is also available in Spanish. Age-related Reactions to a Traumatic Event In this fact sheet, NCTSN provides an overview of how children and adolescents may react to a traumatic event, including a natural or human-caused disaster that they experience as traumatic. This resource describes reactions typical within specific age ranges and offers tips for families, doctors, and school personnel to help children and adolescents cope. The information in the fact sheet is provided in a video in American Sign Language. The fact sheet is also available in several languages other than English: Dari, German, Japanese, Pashto, Russian, and Ukrainian. Helping School-Age Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers After children lose someone they love in a disaster or other event, they may go through traumatic grief, particularly if the death was sudden or frightening. In this tip sheet, NCTSN explains how school-age children may experience traumatic grief and suggests ways for parents and other caregivers to support them in moving through and coping with this type of grief. Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers This NCTSN tip sheet explains how teens may experience traumatic grief, a type of grief that people may go through after a death that occurs as part of a disaster or other sudden or violent event. The tip sheet describes 10 ways that teens may feel, behave, and express themselves as they go through traumatic grief. For each reaction, it suggests ways for parents and other caregivers to offer support. This tip sheet is also available in Spanish, Russian, and Ukrainian.   Resources for Disaster Responders and First Responders First Responders and Disaster Responders Resource Portal This part of the SAMHSA DTAC website notes the stressors that may be involved in work as a responder, identifies signs of stress, and offers coping tips. The page features links to tip sheets, online trainings, and other resources related to responder mental health and freedom from substance use issues and conditions. A Guide to Managing Stress for Disaster Responders and First Responders This SAMHSA guide is designed for first responders, public health workers, construction workers, transportation workers, utility workers, crisis counselors, and volunteers who respond to disasters and other crises. The guide provides information on how people experience stress; signs of extreme stress; and ways for organizations and individuals to manage and mitigate stress before, during, and after disaster response. Responder Safety and Health In this topical resource collection, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) provides a wealth of items for health care, public health, and emergency management professionals pertaining to safety, including mental health-related safety for responders. Part of the ASPR Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange resource, the collection features three sections about responder behavioral health and resilience.   Additional Resources for Acute Needs SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline The SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) provides free, confidential crisis counseling and support to people in distress due to natural and human-caused disasters. The DDH is available 24/7, on all days of the year, via talk or text to 1–800–985–5990. The line also offers support in Spanish (people who call or text should press 2 for this option) and more than 100 additional languages. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can text or call the DDH at 1–800–985–5990 using their preferred relay provider. This resource is also available in Spanish. Other DDH information is available in 30 commonly spoken languages. 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a source of support available 24/7 to people in crisis, including people experiencing challenging reactions to disasters. Call 988 for support in English or Spanish. The 988 website is also available in Spanish.   To Access CSB Services For CSB Non-Emergency Behavioral Health Services, call CSB Entry & Referral at 703-383-8500 TTY 771, Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You may also walk-in at the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and Friday 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For emergency mental health or substance use services, walk-in services are available 24/7 at the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health or call 703-573-5679 TTY 711. If you or someone you know is experiencing a substance use crisis, call the Fairfax Detoxification Center 24/7 at 703-502-7000, TTY 703-322-9080. If someone with a developmental disability is experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis, call REACH, a 24/7 regional crisis stabilization and crisis prevention service for children, youth and adults with developmental disabilities, at 855-897-8278.

The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) is excited to announce the launch of a new monthly Health and Wellness email newsletter. It will include specialized guidance and local resources for mental health and wellness, substance use and developmental disabilities topics. The CSB remains a proud and committed partner in serving the Fairfax County community by honoring the vision that everyone in our community has the support needed to live a healthy, fulfilling life. About CSB Services Mental Health Services Did you know that the CSB hosts a 24/7 behavioral health walk-in clinic for emergencies? Services available to those with mental health concerns include, but are not limited to: assessment and referral, emergency and crisis solutions, residential treatment, outpatient treatment, case management, and jail-based services. The CSB has a specialized program for young adults (ages 16-25) that provides rapid intervention and wraparound services after the first episode of psychosis. The Peer Journey to Hope program provides peer recovery services to individuals with mental health concerns throughout their recovery journey, either as a standalone service or as a complement to other CSB services. Having peer support during difficult times is shown to have a positive impact on outcomes. These are just some of the many services available to address mental health concerns. Learn more about Mental Health Services at the CSB. Developmental Disabilities Did you know that the CSB provided support coordination services for 6,149 individuals with developmental disabilities last year? Services available to individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability include, but are not limited to: day activities, employment procurement assistance, assisted community residential, and daily or drop-in supports. Regional, Education, Assessment, Crisis Services, Habilitation (REACH) is a resource for crisis assistance services for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to improve the quality of life and decrease facility placements and/or inpatient hospitalization. For Developmental Disabilities Services, contact an Intake Support Coordinator 703-324-4400 or visit the website for more information. Substance Use Services Did you know that the CSB has a team of individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges and/or substance use disorders available to help individuals in crisis? Services for those struggling with substance use issues include, but are not limited to: emergency and crisis services, medication assisted treatment for opioid and other substance use disorders, detoxification services, residential treatment, and outpatient treatment. The CSB’s Wellness, Health Promotion & Prevention team offers a wide range of prevention initiatives, including several free community trainings. Learn more about the services available at the CSB to address substance use issues. To Access CSB Services For CSB Non-Emergency Behavioral Health Services, call CSB Entry & Referral at 703-383-8500 TTY 771, Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You may also walk-in at the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and Friday 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For emergency mental health or substance use services, walk-in services are available 24/7 at the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health or call 703-573-5679 TTY 711. If you or someone you know is experiencing a substance use crisis, call the Fairfax Detoxification Center 24/7 at 703-502-7000, TTY 703-322-9080. If someone with a developmental disability is experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis, call REACH, a 24/7 regional crisis stabilization and crisis prevention service for children, youth and adults with developmental disabilities, at 855-897-8278.

The Behavioral Health Outpatient Adult Team at the CSB consists of 132 diverse, talented clinicians who work in partnership with a medical team of nurses and prescribers to provide treatment to more than 5,000 individuals a year across seven locations. It is an honor to work with a team of passionate and person-centered providers. - Eileen Bryceland, CSB Division Director, Behavioral Health Outpatient Programs About Adult Behavioral Health Outpatient Program (BHOP) Services The Adult Behavioral Health Outpatient Program (BHOP) provides case management and outpatient programs for people with serious mental illness (SMI), substance use disorders (SUD) and/or co-occurring disorders (COD). Individuals served may also have co-occurring developmental disabilities. The goal of services is to provide episodic treatment to people to enable them to live effectively with community support. Case Management Services are strength-based, person-centered supports for adults with serious and persistent mental illness. These services focus on interventions that promote recovery and independence, aiming to stabilize behavioral health crises, facilitate community living, manage symptoms, build resilience, and enhance self-management, self-advocacy, and overall wellness. Outpatient Programs offer evidence-based treatment for individuals with serious mental illness (SMI), substance use disorder (SUD), and co-occurring disorders (COD). Our services include: Intensive Stabilization Unit: 9+ hours of weekly group treatment for those with acute SMI and COD symptoms, aimed at preventing hospitalization or aiding transition from the hospital to less intensive care. Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): 9+ hours of weekly group treatment for individuals with SUD and COD symptoms. Turning Point: A program for young adults (age 16-25) providing rapid intervention and wraparound services following a first episode of psychosis as well as support for those at high risk of psychosis. Outpatient Therapy: Short-term treatment for individuals with SMI, SUD or COD. Who in the community is eligible and where do they go for assistance? All residents of Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church can access walk-in assessment services at the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health in Fairfax. BHOP provides services to: Adults with serious mental illness. Examples include schizophrenia, major depression and significant anxiety disorders, bipolar disorders, and borderline personality disorder. SMI significantly impacts daily life. Adults with substance use issues that are assessed to be a ASAM 2.1 Level of Care for the IOP group mentioned above. Young Adults. Turning Point has separate criteria and is a grant funded program. What are the outcomes or improvements in people’s lives after they have received services? A 2024 BHOP survey indicated that individuals who accessed CSB behavioral health services reported improvements in their psychiatric and substance use symptoms, as well as their overall quality of life. Many also noted enhancements in their physical health and would recommend the CSB for mental health, substance use or developmental disability assistance. Additionally, individuals who accessed specialized programs like Turning Point or Intensive Stabilization typically experienced strong symptom management, fewer hospitalizations and improved social functioning. Share a Success Story Brian experienced severe psychosis during the first half of 2023, which led to multiple hospitalizations before receiving exceptional care at Fairfax Hospital. A CSB BHOP collaborative team of medical professionals and clinicians worked diligently to stabilize his condition through careful medication management and support. The team also helped Brian address practical issues like securing housing and replacing lost documents. In the face of these challenges, Brian demonstrated remarkable resilience. He is now thriving in the HopeLink Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services program and has successfully rebuilt his life.