Mental Health Services At Oakton's PRS Supported By $210K Grant

OAKTON, VA — PRS, an Oakton-based behavioral health nonprofit serving Northern Virginia, received a $210,000 grant to expand mental health services to underinsured and diverse populations.

The grant is through a partnership with Access Hope to increase access to mental health services, including to those who are uninsured or otherwise would not qualify. Access Hope is a nonprofit working to eliminate barriers to mental health resources for underserved populations in the DC region.

"Mental illness is often accompanied by a lack of hope which is why we are partnering with PRS and their excellent team," said Len Wolf, founder and president, Access Hope. "Our grant to PRS will work to reduce lingering stigma, financial concerns, and cultural biases that prevent people from seeking treatment for mental health issues. Together with PRS, we know that more people in our region will gain access to treatments that enhance and save lives."

The grant will help PRS respond to the rise in mental health needs highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It will support additional staff capacity as well as increased access to the following programs:

• Mental Health Skills-Building Service, which provides services to individuals benefiting from person-centered skills-teaching
• Outpatient Therapy Services, which provides individualized therapy to help clients understand and manage mental health conditions and focus on changes to improve overall functioning at home, on the job and to address relationship issues.

PRS will market the availability of the free programs, including to diverse populations and those who don't qualify for Medicaid without other means to pay for services.

"Providing access to outstanding mental health services—for all income levels and in diverse communities—is important to help people recover and strengthen our region," stated Joseph Getch, CEO of PRS. "The pandemic has intensified need and challenged nonprofits to keep pace with demand for behavioral health needs. By collaborating with Access Hope, we can expand capacity to reach more people with our proven programs so they can reclaim their lives."

PRS has seen evidence of the pandemic's impact on mental health needs through their services. PRS’ CrisisLink Program, a 24/7 hotline for crisis intervention and suicide prevention, has seen a portion of callers name COVID-19 as their top stressor. The nonprofit has also seen referrals and more requests to serve clients who do not have Medicaid and do not qualify for other payer sources. Case managers are observing younger children with increasingly aggressive behaviors and teens with increased hospitalizations, suicide ideation, risky behaviors and drug use.

For more information on PRS and its programs, visit www.prsinc.org.