Virginia Governor proposes $70M for mental health reforms to reduce police involvement in crises.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin proposes budget amendments adding nearly $70 million for behavioral health reforms to free police from mental health crisis duties. The plan includes $15 million for school mental health services and $8.6 million for Medicaid waiver programs. Despite successes like reducing crisis response times and launching a 988 hotline, the initiative faces workforce shortages. Youngkin also aims to ease police burdens by proposing $35 million to expand a conservator program.

December 11, 2024
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