We, the undersigned, are citizens, family members, advocates, and individuals served by Fairfax County and the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB). We understand that the CSB has conducted a “study” and determined that the Woodburn Place Crisis Care Program (Crisis Care) could be outsourced. This is alarming for many reasons:

o    Citizens, stakeholders, and individuals being served were not included in the study. There was no chance for those who have experienced and received crisis stabilization (crisis stab) services to give input.  The downsides of contracting were not reviewed.  The “study” was not transparent and was admittedly done “behind the scenes.”

o    The loss of decades of experience and expertise in crisis stabilization was not considered.  The impact of dismantling a proven, effective program that serves not only Fairfax County residents, but the entire region, was not considered.  We choose Crisis Care over other regional crisis stab units because we know the staff and the quality of care we receive there. We choose Crisis Care because we feel safe there. However, outsourcing will cause all of this to disappear and the impact on our long-term treatment plans was not taken into consideration.

o    The disruption and loss of services caused by initiating an Request for Proposal (RFP) to transition a proven program to an unknown contractor during a time when hospital and crisis stab beds are in extremely high demand is irresponsible and harmful.

o    As a co-occurring program that offers both mental health and substance crisis services, we are talking about impacting treatment options for opioid users during an opioid epidemic. In a time when opioid overdose incidents are already nearly double than those for all of 2019 (according to a recent article in the Alexandria Living Magazine), disruption of additional co-occurring services risks lives.

o    The reason given to justify outsourcing Crisis Care is to save money. However, it is unclear how those savings will be used to shore up existing services so there are no gaps in service and reduce the need for crisis stabilization services.

o    If an RFP is initiated, the experienced staff at Crisis Care will seek, and easily find, other employment.  This will begin immediately and impact the quality and availability of current services. It is reckless to pursue this process when it is our lives at stake.   How would you feel if it were your loved one’s life in the balance? 

We formally request that plans to initiate an RFP to contract out Crisis Care in Fairfax County be cancelled!!