Henrico News Archives for Tag: MHDS

Graphic of NACo 2026 Achievement Award winner.

‘Problems solved, challenges overcome’; Henrico, HCPS lead Virginia with 56 Achievement Awards from National Association of Counties

Posted on .
“The NACo Achievement Awards showcase the tremendous work our departments and dedicated staff do for our community every day,” County Manager John A. Vithoulkas said. “These award-winning programs and initiatives reflect our commitment to excellence in governance and focus on customer service. Whether it’s tackling the affordable housing crisis, promoting pet adoptions, making our transportation system safer, engaging older residents or addressing mental health needs across the community, these awards represent problems solved, challenges overcome and efficiencies achieved.”

Portraits of four new members of the Mary Ann Bergeron Hall of Fame.

Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services Board to induct 4 members to Mary Ann Bergeron Hall of Fame

Posted on .
The Hall of Fame’s new members are MHDS retirees Angela Bowman, A. Michelle Johnson and Beth Tetrault, as well as retired Henrico County Supervisor Frank J. Thornton. An induction ceremony will be held June 18, at MHDS' offices at 10299 Wood Road.
An announcement that mental health employment services have earned a top rating. The text is presented against a background showing newspaper headlines relating to employment and the economy.

Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services earns top rating for employment services in first peer review

Posted on .
MHDS has seen improvements in employment outcomes since adopting IPS in September 2024. As of March, 164 individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness and served by MHDS were employed. It's the first agency in Virginia to have received a "good" or "exemplary" rating in its first review, and it holds the only top rating in the state.
A graphic on overdose prevention. It includes a photo of a box of naloxone. Text reads, free, no questions asked, available at Fairfield and Libbie Mill libraries and office locations of Henrico Area Mental Health and Developmental Services. recovery/henrico.gov/treatment

Henrico boosts access to free naloxone to reduce opioid overdose deaths

Posted on .
The pilot project is being funded by allocations made to the county from opioid litigation settlements. Henrico received $17,986 from the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority and contributed an additional $5,000 in settlement funds made directly to the county.

Individuals are encouraged to take a box of naloxone if they or someone they know is at risk of an opioid overdose. Each box has two doses of naloxone. Individuals are asked to take only one box per visit, as supplies are limited.

Staff of Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services stand for a photo with the Board of Supervisors in a large meeting room.

Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services earns praise, reaccreditation from CARF International

Posted on .
The accreditation, which extends through November 2028, represents the highest endorsement an agency can receive. In addition, CARF offered no recommendations for improvement – an accomplishment achieved by only 3% of 9,600 peer-reviewed agencies. MHDS’ nearly 500 employees provided services to more than 10,000 individuals in fiscal year 2024-25. 
Marcus Alert 6

‘You don’t have to do it by yourself’

Posted on .

Henrico’s mental health response expands, evolves with empathy, coordination

The 911 call came in just after noon: A woman reported that her 27-year-old friend had a serious drinking problem and might be suicidal.

A dispatcher marked the call as Level 4 – the most serious – under the Marcus Alert system, which is designed to help responders manage behavioral health emergencies so individuals in crisis can get the treatment and resources they need.

Henricocares Logo Only

Henrico CARES signals ‘call to action’ to strengthen youth mental health services

Posted on .

Plan focuses on service access, coordination, navigation in schools, community

With children and teenagers struggling more than ever with depression, sadness and hopelessness, Henrico County and Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS) are implementing a plan to strengthen access to high-quality mental health services by making them more available in schools and expanding efforts focused on prevention, support, and early and intensive intervention.

Opioid Settlement 2

With opioid settlement grants, Henrico seeks ‘treatment for the moms’, ‘prevention for the kids’ 

Posted on .

County enhances programs to address damage caused by opioid epidemic

With the first wave of grants from the national opioid settlement, Henrico County is strengthening its programs and services for individuals working to recover from substance use disorder, particularly mothers and their children.

Frank J. Thornton

Fairfield meeting April 18 to discuss MHDS programs and services, Children’s Services Act and regional plan for bike and pedestrian facilities

Posted on .
Fairfield District Supervisor Frank J. Thornton will hold a Fairfield Constituent Meeting on Monday, April 18 at the Eastern Henrico Recreation Center, 1440 N. Laburnum Ave., to discuss programs and services of Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services and the Children’s Services Act.