For those involved with Marcus Alert, a special access line will be created between public safety and our Regional Crisis Call Center (PRS). With this approach, PRS will have staff identified as “public safety specialists” call-takers respond to public safety calls, thereby expediting service delivery and returning public safety officers to their other duties. This has already been created for PW because they are the first to implement Marcus Alert fully; it will be addressed within each locality as the local plan is developed. As a result, this brochure is not for public safety.
The brochure provides our local line for the Regional Call Center; we are marketing the local line (1-703-527-4077) and not 9-8-8. This approach was recommended by stakeholders and supported by the Regional Management Group because it ensures that the call is received locally by someone who knows the area and local resources. As you know, 9-8-8 calls are routed based on area code (not caller location) and roll over quickly to other states based on call answer rates; non-local responders are less likely to understand local resources, and therefore the quality of the response is limited. Marketing the local line should improve outcomes and our community members’ experience when in crisis and reaching out for help.
The need for geolocation in 9-8-8 to route calls appropriately and for the Regional Call Center to know the caller’s location is being actively addressed at the federal level. We aren’t suggesting that folks not use 9-8-8, as it is already out there, but we don’t plan to proactively market it until such time as geolocation is resolved.
The brochure also provides local phone numbers for Community Regional Crisis Response (CR2) and REACH because dispatch functionality in the DBHDS Crisis Data Platform is still in the development phase. Currently, CR2 and REACH services can be accessed by calling the program directly or through a warm handoff with the RCCC when clinically warranted.
Our current Northern Virginia Public-Sector Crisis Brochure for community members and stakeholders is attached. Please feel free to share this with others as warranted. We hope this brochure is helpful in this transitional period.
Call to Action – If you are a mental health provider of color or a college student of color who is pursuing a career as a mental health provider and would like to hear more about how you can help answer the call to improve the quality of behavioral health crisis response in the Greater Prince William Area, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to find out more!
Clinical Supervision Announcement Opportunity – If you are pursuing a counseling career as an LPC, LMFT, or LCSW in Virginia and require clinical supervision hours, click here to complete the Clinical Supervision Application.
Mentoring & Career Coaching Announcement Opportunity – Mental Health Counseling, Psychology, and Social Work Historically Black Colleges & University (HBCU) Students.
If you are interested in pursuing a counseling career as an LPC, LMFT, or LCSW in Virginia and would like to receive mentoring and career coaching, click here, to complete the Mentoring/Career Coaching Application.
If you would like to hear more about how you can help answer the call to improve the quality of behavioral health crisis response in the Greater Prince William Area, please get in touch with us at Laurie.wilson@mftsva.com and sign up here for our Newsletter.