RICHMOND, Va. (WDBJ) — As Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin prepares for his final year in office, he has outlined a range of proposals for the upcoming budget, with a notable focus on expanding funding for behavioral health programs. The governor’s administration has made significant strides in mental health support through his “Right Help. Right Now.” initiative, but Youngkin emphasized that there is still more to be done to address mental health challenges in the state, particularly for law enforcement agencies responding to crises.
Progress Under the “Right Help. Right Now.” Campaign
Governor Youngkin launched the “Right Help. Right Now.” campaign two years ago with the goal of improving access to mental health services and easing the burden on law enforcement agencies. During a recent event in Richmond, Youngkin provided a status report highlighting substantial progress in several key areas:
- Mobile Crisis Teams: The state has more than doubled the number of mobile crisis teams, providing immediate support to individuals in crisis, reducing the need for law enforcement involvement.
- Waivers for Developmental Disabilities: The administration has worked to eliminate the backlog of waivers for Virginians with developmental disabilities, ensuring faster access to care.
- Fatal Overdose Reduction: Implemented programs have contributed to a significant reduction in fatal overdoses in the state, showing measurable progress in public health.
While these initiatives have shown positive results, Youngkin acknowledged that additional steps are necessary to continue making progress, particularly in rural areas where resources are limited.
Proposed $35 Million for Law Enforcement Support
One of the key challenges identified by Youngkin is the strain placed on law enforcement agencies, especially in rural regions. Sheriff Brian Hieatt from Tazewell County shared insights into the difficulty of managing mental health crises with limited law enforcement resources. In rural areas, taking a police officer off patrol to manage a mental health crisis can leave communities vulnerable, as emergency calls continue to come in.
To address this, Governor Youngkin is proposing an additional $35 million to expand a pilot program designed to ease this burden. The program involves placing conservators of the peace in hospitals and emergency departments. These are specially trained officers who can take custody of individuals experiencing mental health crises, allowing law enforcement officers to return to active duty.
The pilot program aims to reduce the amount of time law enforcement spends in emergency rooms with individuals in crisis. Youngkin’s goal is to eliminate the current average of 50 hours that law enforcement officers spend in hospitals per week, hoping to bring that number to zero.
Next Steps: Budget Presentation and Legislative Approval
Governor Youngkin is expected to present his budget amendments to the General Assembly’s money committees next week. These amendments will provide more details on the governor’s priorities for the state’s behavioral health programs, with a strong focus on expanding crisis response initiatives, supporting law enforcement, and continuing the momentum of the “Right Help. Right Now.” campaign.
The governor’s proposed budget is expected to prioritize investments in mental health infrastructure to ensure that Virginians in need receive timely and effective care, while also providing law enforcement with the resources necessary to manage mental health crises in the field.
As the legislative session begins, Virginia lawmakers will review the proposed budget and funding allocations to determine how best to allocate resources for continued progress in addressing the state’s mental health challenges.
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