Dear Human Services Supporter:
Fairfax County is in the midst of formulating its budget for the coming fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2022.
Your voice on behalf of human services and our vulnerable populations, therefore, should be heard. As advocates for these services, we need to speak out in large numbers to urge the Board to approve the County Executive's recommendations for increased and level funding (as appropriate). We need to tell them to make no cuts in human services funding.
Please review the following items:
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Fairfax County Alliance for Human Services
FY 2023 BUDGET
Dear Human Services Supporter,
Fairfax County is formulating its budget for the coming fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2023. Your voice on behalf of human services and our vulnerable populations, therefore, should be heard. As advocates for these services, we need to speak out in large numbers to urge the Board to approve the County Executive's recommendations for increased and level funding (as appropriate). We need to tell them to retain a budgetary focus on human services funding.
AHS PERSPECTIVE OF THE BUDGET: AHS strongly supports the proposed budget's increases focused on the continuing demands created by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as on- going unmet needs. We are pleased that the County Executive has sustained and increased funding for human services programs that meet the needs of our most vulnerable residents. AHS is aware of the serious recruitment and retention issues that many County agencies are facing and therefore supports the compensation package included in the proposed FY 2023 Budget.
Resources for the County's ongoing and continually growing and changing needs must always be part of our planning. It is more important than ever for the Board to maintain its commitment to human services and to protecting the health, safety, and well-being of our community.
We therefore urge the board to approve the County Executive's recommendations for health and human services funding—the level funding and the much needed increases—as well as the increased funding for multi-agency priorities.
AHS shares the Board's concern about the impact of soaring tax assessments and the resulting tax burden on county residents. We urge the Board to use the available balance to reduce the Real Estate Tax Rate, but we also recommend that the Board keep some of the available balance in reserve in order to meet the unknown and uncertain demands that appear to be on the horizon and could have an impact on County expenditures and resources.
AHS urges the Board to find additional baseline funding for affordable housing. We are very concerned that, once again, the planned addition of the value of one cent of the Real Estate Tax Rate to the Affordable Housing Development and Investment Fund (Fund 30300) has not been recommended. Last year, we understood that the impact of the pandemic on both revenue and emergency expenditures made the additional baseline funding for Fund 30300 difficult to achieve. Along with other affordable housing advocates, we were pleased that additional one-time funding of $10 million was approved by the Board during FY 2022.
However, there is a need for stable, baseline funding of one and a half cents on the Real Estate Tax to be dedicated for the preservation and development of affordable housing. The Board has affirmed its commitment to this plan, and it is time for the plan to be implemented.
AHS-Page 2
AHS supports all the health and human services funding in the County Executive's proposed budget. We would like to highlight the following:
Additional Public Health Nurses to Staff One Nurse in each Fairfax County Public School: As previously approved by the Board as part of FY 2021 Carryover Review, an increase of $7.5 million will support one public health nurse (PHN) per school for the entire FCPS system. The 82 new PHN positions are required in order to comply with a change in the Code of Virginia, which now mandates at least 3 specialized student support positions per 1,000 students. In FY 2022, these positions are funded through the ARPA Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.
Funding for Public Health Preparedness (Health Dept.): As previously approved as part of the FY 2021 Carryover Review, an increase of $1.4 million will fund 16 new positions to build on existing capacity and develop new capacity and initiatives to prepare residents, local government, organizations, and other community partners for future public health emergencies, including the continuing impacts of COVID-19. In FY 2022, these positions are funded through ARPA.
Child Protective Services Mobile Unit (DFS): An increase of $496,093 (previously approved as part of the FY 2021 Carryover Review) will support additional positions to address increasing caseloads in Child Protective Services for both intake and ongoing services.
Services in Support of Domestic and Sexual Violence Services (DFS): An increase of $263,567 will fund 3 new positions and operating expenses. Two positions will help meet the increased demand for domestic and sexual violence services, and one position will support the Hospital Accompaniment program which provides accompaniment services for victims of interpersonal crime seeking forensic
exams.Lorton Community Center: An increase of $1.1 million will support full-year operations of the new Lorton Community Center, scheduled to open in August 2022.
Sully Community Center: An increase of $606,044 and one new position will support full-year operations and programs at the new Sully Community Center. Partial-year funding and positions were included in the FY 2022 Budget to account for the facility opening in the last quarter of FY 2022.
School-Age Child Care (SACC) Rooms: $1.3 million and 2 new positions will support the opening of 2 new SACC rooms at Lorton Community Center as well as full-year funding for the 5 SACC rooms previously approved as part of the FY 2021 Carryover Review.
Consolidated Community Funding Pool (CCFP): An increase of $614,186, or 5 percent, in the General Fund Transfer is included.
AHS-Page 3
Affordable Housing Preservation Coordinator: An increase of $109,685 in the Dept of Housing and Community Development (HCD) will establish this position, which will focus on institutional capacity, community awareness, legislative priorities and will help develop comprehensive rental housing preservation strategies.
Affordable Housing Positions: An increase of $529,731 will fund 5 positions and operating expenses in HCD will support the creation, rehabilitation, and preservation of affordable housing throughout Fairfax County.
One Fairfax: An increase of $151,543 and one new position will support training efforts associated with the One Fairfax initiative.
Language Access: An increase of $616,683 in the Office of Public Affairs will fund 3 new positions and operating expenses for the Language Access program, which will strengthen equitable access to information ensuring effective communication in the most commonly spoken languages in Fairfax County.
Language Access Expansion: An increase of $100,00 in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court will fund an expansion of language translation and interpretation services to meet the growing needs for these services in the community.
Co-Responder Model Supporting Behavioral Health Crisis Calls: An increase of $2.2 million in the Community Services Board (CSB) will support additional positions previously approved as part of the FY 2022 Mid-Year Review. These positions were previously funded through ARPA in FY 2022 to support the Co-Responder Model, which pairs a Crisis Intervention Specialist and a Crisis Intervention Team trained police officer to respond to 911 calls that are related to behavioral health issues.
An increase of $1.2 million will support Police Department positions for this program also previously funded through ARPA.
Diversion First: This is an ongoing multi-agency collaboration that works to reduce the number of people with mental illness in the County jail by diverting low-risk offenders experiencing a mental health crisis to treatment rather than incarceration. An increase of $79,012 will allow the General District Court to address caseload growth and provide support to the judges.
An increase of $695,364will fund 4 new positions and operating expenses to support CSB direct clinical services with individuals in crisis and successful identification and intervention with individuals in need of diversion.
Opioid Use Epidemic: The Board of Supervisors has established the Opioid Task Force to help address the growing opioid epidemic on the local level. The primary goal is to reduce death from opioids through prevention, treatment, and harm reduction strategies. An increase of $262,697 will be used to support the Office of the Sheriff's continuing efforts as part of this program. It will fund 24/7 medical services coverage in the jail-based Medication Assisted Treatment program within the Adult Detention Center.
AHS-Page 4
HEALTH AND HUMAN RESOURCES PLAN
Ever since 2017, when the first HHS Resource Plan was developed, it has been helpful to human services advocates in giving us a better understanding of unmet needs and the resources required to meet those needs. The FY 21-23 Resource Plan was revised to align with the County's Revised FY 2021 Proposed Budget. It was adapted to reflect the impact of COVID-19 on the County at that time. It was not, however, revised again in connection with the proposed FY 2022 Budget, although a revised plan was developed later, after budget adoption.
An updated FY 2023 HHS Resource Plan was released on February 28, 2022. It reflects only human services funding that was requested for FY 2023.
AHS has learned that a major redesign of the HHS Resource Plan is intended. We recommend that Resource Plan development continue to be a collaboration of HHS staff, the Department of Management and Budget, and the Human Services Council, with input and involvement by other appropriate boards, commissions, and authorities, and the community. We also recommend that the new Plan take into account the services provided by our community's non-profit agencies, as well as include human services capital funding needs.
Dear Human Services Supporter,
Fairfax County is formulating its budget for the coming fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2023. Your voice on behalf of human services and our vulnerable populations, therefore, should be heard. As advocates for these services, we need to speak out in large numbers to urge the Board to approve the County Executive's recommendations for increased and level funding (as appropriate). We need to tell them to retain a budgetary focus on human services funding.
AHS PERSPECTIVE OF THE BUDGET: AHS strongly supports the proposed budget's increases focused on the continuing demands created by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as on- going unmet needs. We are pleased that the County Executive has sustained and increased funding for human services programs that meet the needs of our most vulnerable residents. AHS is aware of the serious recruitment and retention issues that many County agencies are facing and therefore supports the compensation package included in the proposed FY 2023 Budget.
Resources for the County's ongoing and continually growing and changing needs must always be part of our planning. It is more important than ever for the Board to maintain its commitment to human services and to protecting the health, safety, and well-being of our community.
We therefore urge the board to approve the County Executive's recommendations for health and human services funding—the level funding and the much needed increases—as well as the increased funding for multi-agency priorities.
AHS shares the Board's concern about the impact of soaring tax assessments and the resulting tax burden on county residents. We urge the Board to use the available balance to reduce the Real Estate Tax Rate, but we also recommend that the Board keep some of the available balance in reserve in order to meet the unknown and uncertain demands that appear to be on the horizon and could have an impact on County expenditures and resources.
AHS urges the Board to find additional baseline funding for affordable housing. We are very concerned that, once again, the planned addition of the value of one cent of the Real Estate Tax Rate to the Affordable Housing Development and Investment Fund (Fund 30300) has not been recommended. Last year, we understood that the impact of the pandemic on both revenue and emergency expenditures made the additional baseline funding for Fund 30300 difficult to achieve. Along with other affordable housing advocates, we were pleased that additional one-time funding of $10 million was approved by the Board during FY 2022.
However, there is a need for stable, baseline funding of one and a half cents on the Real Estate Tax to be dedicated for the preservation and development of affordable housing. The Board has affirmed its commitment to this plan, and it is time for the plan to be implemented.
AHS-Page 2
AHS supports all the health and human services funding in the County Executive's proposed budget. We would like to highlight the following:
Additional Public Health Nurses to Staff One Nurse in each Fairfax County Public School: As previously approved by the Board as part of FY 2021 Carryover Review, an increase of $7.5 million will support one public health nurse (PHN) per school for the entire FCPS system. The 82 new PHN positions are required in order to comply with a change in the Code of Virginia, which now mandates at least 3 specialized student support positions per 1,000 students. In FY 2022, these positions are funded through the ARPA Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.
Funding for Public Health Preparedness (Health Dept.): As previously approved as part of the FY 2021 Carryover Review, an increase of $1.4 million will fund 16 new positions to build on existing capacity and develop new capacity and initiatives to prepare residents, local government, organizations, and other community partners for future public health emergencies, including the continuing impacts of COVID-19. In FY 2022, these positions are funded through ARPA.
Child Protective Services Mobile Unit (DFS): An increase of $496,093 (previously approved as part of the FY 2021 Carryover Review) will support additional positions to address increasing caseloads in Child Protective Services for both intake and ongoing services.
Services in Support of Domestic and Sexual Violence Services (DFS): An increase of $263,567 will fund 3 new positions and operating expenses. Two positions will help meet the increased demand for domestic and sexual violence services, and one position will support the Hospital Accompaniment program which provides accompaniment services for victims of interpersonal crime seeking forensic
exams.Lorton Community Center: An increase of $1.1 million will support full-year operations of the new Lorton Community Center, scheduled to open in August 2022.
Sully Community Center: An increase of $606,044 and one new position will support full-year operations and programs at the new Sully Community Center. Partial-year funding and positions were included in the FY 2022 Budget to account for the facility opening in the last quarter of FY 2022.
School-Age Child Care (SACC) Rooms: $1.3 million and 2 new positions will support the opening of 2 new SACC rooms at Lorton Community Center as well as full-year funding for the 5 SACC rooms previously approved as part of the FY 2021 Carryover Review.
Consolidated Community Funding Pool (CCFP): An increase of $614,186, or 5 percent, in the General Fund Transfer is included.
AHS-Page 3
Affordable Housing Preservation Coordinator: An increase of $109,685 in the Dept of Housing and Community Development (HCD) will establish this position, which will focus on institutional capacity, community awareness, legislative priorities and will help develop comprehensive rental housing preservation strategies.
Affordable Housing Positions: An increase of $529,731 will fund 5 positions and operating expenses in HCD will support the creation, rehabilitation, and preservation of affordable housing throughout Fairfax County.
One Fairfax: An increase of $151,543 and one new position will support training efforts associated with the One Fairfax initiative.
Language Access: An increase of $616,683 in the Office of Public Affairs will fund 3 new positions and operating expenses for the Language Access program, which will strengthen equitable access to information ensuring effective communication in the most commonly spoken languages in Fairfax County.
Language Access Expansion: An increase of $100,00 in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court will fund an expansion of language translation and interpretation services to meet the growing needs for these services in the community.
Co-Responder Model Supporting Behavioral Health Crisis Calls: An increase of $2.2 million in the Community Services Board (CSB) will support additional positions previously approved as part of the FY 2022 Mid-Year Review. These positions were previously funded through ARPA in FY 2022 to support the Co-Responder Model, which pairs a Crisis Intervention Specialist and a Crisis Intervention Team trained police officer to respond to 911 calls that are related to behavioral health issues.
An increase of $1.2 million will support Police Department positions for this program also previously funded through ARPA.
Diversion First: This is an ongoing multi-agency collaboration that works to reduce the number of people with mental illness in the County jail by diverting low-risk offenders experiencing a mental health crisis to treatment rather than incarceration. An increase of $79,012 will allow the General District Court to address caseload growth and provide support to the judges.
An increase of $695,364will fund 4 new positions and operating expenses to support CSB direct clinical services with individuals in crisis and successful identification and intervention with individuals in need of diversion.
Opioid Use Epidemic: The Board of Supervisors has established the Opioid Task Force to help address the growing opioid epidemic on the local level. The primary goal is to reduce death from opioids through prevention, treatment, and harm reduction strategies. An increase of $262,697 will be used to support the Office of the Sheriff's continuing efforts as part of this program. It will fund 24/7 medical services coverage in the jail-based Medication Assisted Treatment program within the Adult Detention Center.
AHS-Page 4
HEALTH AND HUMAN RESOURCES PLAN
Ever since 2017, when the first HHS Resource Plan was developed, it has been helpful to human services advocates in giving us a better understanding of unmet needs and the resources required to meet those needs. The FY 21-23 Resource Plan was revised to align with the County's Revised FY 2021 Proposed Budget. It was adapted to reflect the impact of COVID-19 on the County at that time. It was not, however, revised again in connection with the proposed FY 2022 Budget, although a revised plan was developed later, after budget adoption.
An updated FY 2023 HHS Resource Plan was released on February 28, 2022. It reflects only human services funding that was requested for FY 2023.
AHS has learned that a major redesign of the HHS Resource Plan is intended. We recommend that Resource Plan development continue to be a collaboration of HHS staff, the Department of Management and Budget, and the Human Services Council, with input and involvement by other appropriate boards, commissions, and authorities, and the community. We also recommend that the new Plan take into account the services provided by our community's non-profit agencies, as well as include human services capital funding needs.
Background information on the Budget - AHS Budget Position Paper
- How you can get more information on the Budget
- Suggested actions you can take to show your support for human services, with a list of Board members and their addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers
- Suggested “Talking Points”
Please send this advocacy information to others who might be concerned about human services in FY 2022.
Please contact Lisa Whetzel (703-273-8829;This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Marlene Blum (703-560-7020;This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) with questions, etc.
Fairfax County Alliance for Human Services
(The Fairfax County Alliance for Human Services is a non-partisan, community-based partnership of citizens, public and private providers, and users of human services that supports and advocates for all human services.)