City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: OCTOBER 19, 2021
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
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Consideration of Approval for the Department of Community and Human Services to Accept and Utilize State Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Funding to Expand Child and Family Behavioral Health Outpatient Services.
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ISSUE: Consideration of approval for the Alexandria Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS)/Community Services Board (CSB) to accept funds from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (VDBHDS) to expand DCHS's Child and Family Behavioral Health Services capacity to provide outpatient services for children with serious mental illness and/or serious emotional disturbances and their families; one of nine required services associated with the System Transformation Excellence and Performance in Virginia (STEP-VA).
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1) Approve DCHS's/CSB's annual receipt of $176,799 to increase staffing, capacity and community access to Child and Family outpatient services. The funding would become part of DCHS's ongoing Performance Contract with VDBHDS;
2) Authorize the addition of a position (1.0 FTE) fully supported by the additional VDBHDS revenues; and
3) Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: STEP-VA through VDBHDS has provided funding to CSBs throughout Virginia to improve access, increase quality, build consistency, and strengthen accountability across Virginia's public behavioral health system. Outpatient Services is a required service of STEP-VA, the purpose of which is to ensure the provision of high quality, evidence-based, trauma-informed, culturally competent, accessible behavioral health services that addres...
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