Support Networks for Children and Families
In Virginia, child and adolescent behavioral health services are provided locally by Community Services Boards (CSBs). Many services are also provided by private, nonprofit, and for-profit providers who are licensed by DBHDS.
* This page includes some support networks in Virginia – please note that this list is not comprehensive.
Virginia Family Network Initiative
The Virginia Family Network Initiative is made up of families committed to providing opportunities that support, educate, and empower other families with children and youth with mental health needs. This initiative also promotes family driven and youth guided policy throughout the child serving systems.
This initiative provides opportunities such as support groups, training, resources, and mentorship from other families with children and youth with mental health needs.
Youth MOVE
Youth MOVE (YMV) Virginia’s Statewide Youth Network that offers a platform for young people with systems experience to share their story and inspire others.
Youth MOVE’s mission is to support a grassroots peer network for youth and young adults to be empowered, active guides in their own care, while advocating for mental health policy and programs that are specific to their unique needs and experiences.
Side by Side
Side by Side is dedicated to creating supportive communities where Virginia’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) youth can define themselves, belong, and flourish.
Youth Support Line: 888-644-4390
Family Support Partners
Family Support Partner services are strength-based, individualized, person centered, and growth-oriented supports provided to the parent/caregiver of a youth or young adult under the age of 21, with a behavioral health or development or substance use challenge or co-occurring mental health, substance use or developmental challenge that is the focus of the support.
Services are expected to improve outcomes for the individual and increase the Individual’s and family’s confidence and capacity to manage their own services and supports while promoting wellness and healthy relationships.
Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services
My Life, My Community is an online tool that helps people with developmental disabilities (DD) and their families answer basic questions about services and supports and where to go to find help.
Behavioral Health Resources
Evidence Based Practice Resources
Evidence Based Practices (EBP) are treatments or services that have been in repeated studies and are shown to be effective, as outlined by The National Alliance on Mental Illness.
* This page contains some of the EBPs that are available for children and adolescents in Virginia – please note that this is not a comprehensive list.
The Center for Evidence-Based Partnerships
The Center builds partnerships with stakeholders in public and private organizations to improve access to behavioral health services in the Commonwealth. The Center provides input to stakeholders on the performance of the behavioral health system and input for enhancing workforce capacity.
With the support of its partners, the Center designs plans to move Virginia toward equitable, accessible, and evidence-informed behavioral health services.
Virginia Wraparound Implementation Center (VWIC)
The Virginia Wraparound Implementation Center (VWIC) is a model for Virginia’s movement toward evidence-based practice workforce development, coaching, fidelity and outcome reporting.
In 2020, VWIC became the statewide entity responsible for High Fidelity Wraparound (HFW) workforce training, as well as the development and implementation of measures to ensure quality and fidelity to the HFW model.
Trauma Informed Care Resources
Trauma-informed care is an approach to engaging people with histories of trauma that recognizes the presence of trauma symptoms and acknowledges the role that trauma has played in their lives.
The six key principles of a trauma-informed approach include:
- Safety
- Trustworthiness and transparency
- Peer support
- Collaboration and mutuality
- Empowerment
- Voice and choice
- Cultural, historical and gender issues
FAMIS
Does Your Child Need Health Insurance?
FAMIS is Virginia’s health insurance program for children. It makes health care affordable for children of eligible families. FAMIS covers all the medical care growing children need to avoid getting sick, plus the medical care that will help them if they do get sick or get hurt.
For more information call 1-855-242-8282 visit the Cover Virginia FAMIS website.
Infant and Toddler Connection of Virginia
The Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia is Virginia’s early intervention system for infants and toddlers (age 0-36 months) with disabilities and their families. Any infant or toddler in Virginia who isn’t developing as expected or who has a medical condition that can delay typical development is eligible to receive early intervention supports and services under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Early intervention supports and services focus on increasing the child’s participation in family and community activities that are important to the family. In addition, supports and services focus on helping parents and other caregivers know how to find ways to help their children learn during everyday activities.
The Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia’s supports and services are available to all eligible children and their families regardless of a family’s ability to pay.
Children’s Services Act and Funding Resources
The Children’s Services Act (CSA) establishes a single state pool of funds to support services for eligible youth and their families. State funds, combined with local community funds, are managed by local interagency teams who plan and oversee services for youth.
Many behavioral health services can be paid for through CSA funds if no other funding source is needed.
Information is presented below to help families understand the process to access services.
What is the Community Policy and Management Team (CPMT)?
The CPMT manages the local CSA program by coordinating agencies efforts, managing the available funds, and establishing local CSA program policies.
What is the Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT)?
The FAPT is a multi-disciplinary group that helps assess the strengths and needs of individual youth and families.
The FAPT works with youth and families to:
- Decide what services to recommend
- Prepare a plan
- Monitor progress toward accomplishing goals
