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Virginia Capitol C onnections, Spring 2015 11
remember that the needs of veterans experiencing homelessness are
urgent, but if we keep up the momentum, we can ensure that veteran
homelessness is prevented whenever possible or becomes and remains
a rare, brief, and non-recurring experience.”
Matt Leslie, MSW, is the Director, Housing Development for
Veterans, Virginia Wounded Warrior Program, Virginia Department
of Veterans Services.
While housing 462 formerly homeless veterans throughout
Virginia in 100 days is a significant accomplishment, we all recognize
that such efforts are not the end, but the beginning. Taking the lessons
learned from the first 100DayChallenge, the original four communities
have recommitted to another 100 Day Challenge to collectively house
260 more homeless veterans by the end of May 2015.
“Virginia is closer to meeting our goal today more than ever
before,” said Governor McAuliffe. “We now need to continue to
On March 23rd Governor McAuliffe signed Executive Directive
Four to establish the Center for Behavioral Health and Justice, an
interagency collaborative to better coordinate behavioral health and
justice services. The announcement came during the final meeting of
the Governor’s Task Force for Improving Mental Health Services and
Crisis Response, which originated under former Governor McDonnell
in response to the tragedy with Gus Deeds, and was continued by
Governor McAuliffe in April 2014.
“Nearly a year ago, I asked this Task Force to continue its work and
develop bold ideas to help the Commonwealth address the gaps in our
behavioral health system,” said Governor McAuliffe at the meeting.
“Through the Center we will achieve better coordination of programs
and services, state and local governments, and our public and private
sectors. This will help ensure that Virginians with behavioral health
needs in our justice system are treated with dignity and receive the
health care services they desperately need.”
During the past decade, Virginia lawmakers, the Supreme Court
and Executive Branch agencies have spearheaded various efforts to
identify and address the needs of persons with mental illness who
become involved with the criminal justice system. While many
initiatives have demonstrated some success, significant challenges
remain in assuring coordination and collaboration across the criminal
justice and behavioral health systems at local, regional and state levels.
“The Center is a statewide means to enhance collaboration across
the criminal justice and behavioral health systems,” said Secretary of
Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran. “It will provide
a one stop shop for access to data, information about evidence
based programs and technical assistance, decreasing inappropriate
incarceration, enhancing public safety and reducing stigma using
sound data driven decision making.”
The purpose of the Center is to address these very issues by
creating greater behavioral health and justice coordination across
Governor McAuliffe Signs Directive Establishing
Center for Behavioral Health and Justice
The executive action ensures interagency collaboration
to address gaps in the behavioral health system. By Holly Coy
public and private sectors through a
collaborative, multi-systems approach to:
data collection and analytics; evidence
based programs and practices; education,
outreach and training; and technical
assistance and resource development.
“Too often, when mental illness and law enforcement are
mentioned in the same breath, it is in the context of a tragic situation,”
said Secretary of Health and Human Resources Dr. Bill Hazel.
“Establishment of this Center for Behavioral Health and Justice
shows a formal commitment to change that perception and to change
outcomes for Virginians.”
The Center was one of the key components of the 25
recommendations the Task Force sent to the Governor in October
2014. The Joint Subcommittee on Mental Health Services in the
Twenty-First Century, created via legislation in 2014 to look at
mental health services over the course of 4 years and Chaired by
Senator Deeds, also endorsed the Center as a priority.
The directive establishes the Center for Behavioral Health and
Justice and requires an Executive Leadership Council to develop
an organizational structure and implementation plan for the Center
by July 1, 2015. The Leadership Council will include: the Deputy
Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security; the Deputy
Secretary of Health and Human Resources; the Commissioners of the
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and
the Department of Health; and the Directors of the Departments of
Corrections, Criminal Justice Services, Juvenile Justice and Medical
Assistance Services.
“I thank the Governor and his administration, the dedicated
members of this Task Force, and the General Assembly for taking
significant actions to address Virginia’s serious behavioral health
needs throughout the last year,” said Lieutenant Governor Ralph
Northam, Chair of the Governor’s Task
Force. “The establishment of the Center for
Behavioral Health and Justice is another step
in the right direction that will help ensure
better coordination of programs and services
for years to come.”
The Governor’s Task Force for Improving
Mental Health Services and Crisis Response
concluded its work at the end of March, as it
was set to expire in April 2015. It was chaired
Lt. Governor Ralph Northam and co-chaired
by Secretary of Health and Human Resources,
Bill Hazel; and Secretary of Public Safety and
Homeland Security, Brian Moran.
Holly Coy is the Policy Director for the Office
of Lt. Governor Ralph Northam.
Legislative Counsel
John G. “Chip” Dicks
FutureLaw, LLC
1802 Bayberry Court, Suite 403
Richmond, Virginia 23226
(804) 225-5507 (Direct Dial)
(804) 225-5508 (Fax)
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