RD335 - Report on Funding for Child Psychiatry and Children’s Crisis Response Services – October 1, 2016


Executive Summary:
In its 2011 report to the General Assembly, Item 304.M. “A Plan for Community-Based Children’s Behavioral Health Services in Virginia,” the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) described the comprehensive service array needed to meet the needs of children with behavioral health problems. A survey of community services boards (CSBs) indicated that of all the services in the comprehensive service array, crisis response services, including mobile crisis services and crisis stabilization services, were the least available services in Virginia. These services are in short supply due at least in part to the expense of such service models that require highly trained clinicians available on a 24/7 basis to respond to crisis situations. Rural CSBs are particularly challenged in supporting these service models. For these reasons, a regional approach was proposed to allow the services to be shared among the CSBs in a region. Child psychiatry is an integral part of all crisis response services, and it was also one of the highest-rated needed services in the survey for the 304.M Plan.

• DBHDS awarded funding through a request for proposals and application review process to each of the five regions. A map showing the primary DBHDS regional structure is attached as Appendix A. Each region has a lead CSB. The regional lead CSBs are:

• Region 1 - Horizon Behavioral Health,
• Region 2 - Arlington County CSB,
• Region 3 - Mount Rogers CSB,
• Region 4 - Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, and
• Region 5 - Hampton-Newport News CSB.

Overall, the regions have achieved good outcomes in maintaining children living in their homes with their parents and attending school. The regions also increased child psychiatry access through face-to-face visits, tele-psychiatry, and consultation with pediatricians and primary care physicians. Overall, there has been significant growth in the number of children who received child psychiatry services since the beginning of this funding initiative in FY 2013.

Item 308.S. provided $4.15 million the first year and $6.65 million the second year from the general fund for regional child psychiatry and children’s crisis response services. Budget language allocates funding to regions based on the availability of services with a report on the use and impact of funding due annually.