LAKE RIDGE, VA – Supervisor Kenny Boddye (D-Occoquan) applauded Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE) for organizing a successful Youth Behavioral Health Assembly attended by hundreds of people from throughout the region. Attendees included faith leaders, community organizations, law enforcement, elected officials, and Governor Glenn Youngkin. The Assembly comes three months after Prince William County’s purchase of a permanent home for wraparound mental health services.

“This assembly could not come at a more important moment,” Boddye said in a statement following the event, “Our ability to serve youth experiencing behavioral health challenges was woefully inadequate even before COVID-19, and the ripple effects of the pandemic have only made things worse. Our bold actions in Prince William County – including the establishment of our own Crisis Receiving Center – have made us the frontline in confronting this crisis”

The investment in the Crisis Receiving Center and other mental health resources for youth fulfill key 2019 campaign promises by Boddye. The walk-in center will have 16 beds for adults and 8 beds for youth experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis who need intervention and 24 recliners where people can receive assessment and treatment for up to 23 hours. In 2020, Boddye championed the re-establishment of the County’s New Horizons Intensive In-Home Services Program, providing intensive outpatient therapeutic services for youth and their families with mental, substance and co-occurring disorders.

“As the father of children who have struggled with behavioral health issues, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges families face when they can’t find support for their kids,” Boddye said. “That’s why I’m committed to investing additional County resources to behavioral health in future budgets. We owe it to our children.”