The Diversion program’s annual report talks about growing mental health services

Last month, in its annual report, the Fairfax County Diversion First program shared that the program has resulted in thousands of diversions from potential arrests since it was introduced. implementation in the district.

Diversion First is a nationally recognized and award-winning program that has been in Fairfax County since January 2016.

Many of the programs offered by Diversion First provide alternatives to incarceration for people with mental illness, developmental disabilities, and substance use disorders who come into contact with the criminal justice system. for minor offences.

According to the annual report, this multi-disciplinary initiative aims to intervene, divert, treat and recover in the district. The program completed its eighth year in 2023 and continues to expand its reach in Fairfax County.

The report states that 80% of police referrals to The Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health (formerly Merrifield Crisis Response Center) in 2022 did not have a repeat visit related to participate in criminal justice within the next year. These numbers are also consistent with last year.

According to Diversion First, “One in five Americans has a mental illness, and mental illness is not a crime…prison is not an appropriate place to provide mental health treatment.”

Lisa Potter, director of rehabilitation programs, said incarceration also costs more to Fairfax County taxpayers than community-based treatment, which is “a fraction of the cost.”

“Treatment gives hope; recovery is possible,” said Potter. “Intervening and de-escalating situations as quickly as possible helps people avoid arrest and jail time.”

According to the report, the emergency response system in Fairfax County continues to grow, now including four emergency response teams, an emergency response team, and health communications at the call center. 911.

The Striving to Achieve Recovery (STAR) program, which focuses on people with substance abuse problems, is part of Diversion First’s continuum of services. Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Ann Kincaid implemented the program at the Adult Detention Center, and according to Diversion First’s annual report, it continues to impact recovery-focused individuals.

Potter said county leaders, including the sheriff and police chief, have played a key role in advocating for the project, which Fairfax County is heavily funding.

“The county has been very committed to this project,” Potter said. “We are fortunate that in Fairfax County, our sheriff believes strongly in recovery and provides many services at the jail.”

If someone with a mental health problem is arrested and imprisoned, then there are prison intervention programs. This includes specialized court documents, which meet the unique needs of participants with a new track “Drug Court” for young adults and a group that focuses on the relationship between cannabis and psychosis in the public health sector. mind, the annual report said.

Diversion First recently celebrated its first license from the Veterans Treatment Docket, an integrated drug and mental health center serving veterans with addiction and/or mental health issues.

The project also provides general services to help individuals maintain housing and avoid hospitalization and incarceration.

“(Diversion First) really gives them an opportunity … to get the support and services they need,” Potter said. “It gives them a way out of the criminal justice system and into recovery.”