An Arlington LGBTQ+ group is calling for better county outreach related to sexual health. Equality Arlington, which advocated for greater county spending on LGBTQ+ issues this budget cycle, applauded a new $25,000 marketing budget set aside for Arlington Public Health. The group hopes this funding can increase awareness about sexual health testing, prevention and treatment
Arlington’s response team for people in mental health and substance use crises is on track for a substantial buildout. An additional $478,286 in federal funds would allow Arlington to hire two therapists and another behavioral health specialist for the Mobile Outreach Support Team (MOST), a county report says. This would mean expanded hours of operation
Arlington County is slated to accept a $95,000 grant to place two older adults with serious mental illnesses in community-based treatment once they leave state psychiatric hospitals. The money will pay for housing costs, medications, transportation, or other associated costs as part of their treatment plans. Their discharge, treatment and funding plans are approved by
A one-woman show ran one of the county programs that diverts people from jail. Her departure this summer has left a hole in the county's series of initiatives that keep defendants out of jail, reduce their time in the detention facility or improve their chances of not reoffending once they leave. Bond Diversion works with
County officials have stripped a requirement that defendants plead guilty before becoming eligible for a jail diversion program for those with mental illnesses. Staffers note they made "significant changes" to a newly-released draft document for the proposed program after activists and local officials expressed concern over the guilty plea requirement, among other aspects to the program. "The