HopeLink Behavioral Health, an Oakton-based nonprofit, has secured two contracts totaling nearly $1 million to enhance mental health and substance-use disorder services for residents of Northern Virginia.
The contracts, announced Tuesday, were awarded by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services and the Fairfax County government.
HopeLink President Joseph Getch expressed that the funding aligns well with the organization’s mission, noting that it will directly support efforts to connect individuals with the resources and services they need.
The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services awarded HopeLink just under $600,000 to assist clients with serious mental illness in accessing permanent housing and related support services in Fairfax County. This funding will allow the expansion of existing services, including the addition of a six-member team dedicated to reducing homelessness and minimizing hospitalization stays by helping clients secure affordable housing.
HopeLink officials emphasized that they will employ a “housing-first” approach, which prioritizes stable housing as the first step toward recovery. Once clients are housed, they will receive support services aimed at stabilizing their lives, enabling them to live independently in the community while working toward personal goals.
In addition to this, Fairfax County Department of Family Services awarded HopeLink a contract worth $331,000 to provide mental health and substance-abuse services for adolescents and young adults up to 25 years old. The grant will fund a new care-navigation program, designed to streamline access to services for youth by providing a single point of entry.
This new program will focus on creating personalized care plans for young people and their families, considering the individual’s unique needs and cultural factors. It will complement HopeLink’s other services, including a crisis chatline and the Transition to Independence Process, which provides intensive support over an 18-month period to young people aged 14 to 29 experiencing emotional and behavioral challenges.
HopeLink is preparing for potential challenges as federal funding for nonprofit organizations may be reduced. The recent announcement of 10,000 layoffs across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, has raised concerns for nonprofits that rely on government aid.
Although HopeLink has not yet felt the impact of these federal cuts, CEO Joseph Getch expressed concern and stated the organization is monitoring the situation. “The need for mental health, suicide, and crisis intervention services continues to grow, and we remain committed to serving the communities we work in,” Getch said. “It’s too early to determine the full impact of national changes on our funding, but we are closely monitoring the situation and planning accordingly.”
With the new funding and continued dedication to its mission, HopeLink is poised to further expand its services, ensuring that more individuals in need of mental health and substance abuse support in Northern Virginia receive timely assistance.
