Programs Opens More Spots After 1^st Year Success 

OAKTON, Va. (February 5, 2025)—With a $265K, two-year grant from Fairfax County, HopeLink (formerly PRS), a leading behavioral health nonprofit serving Northern Virginia and beyond, is continuing its Transition to Independence Process (TIP) Program following a very successful first year. TIP is a youth-driven, highly effective program that helps youth and young adults with emotional and behavioral disorders transition to adulthood by building life skills so they can live independent, fuller lives.

“TIP had outstanding results its first year. We are reaching youth who need behavioral health services and helping them redefine their lives, giving them a chance to dream and prosper. We are grateful that Fairfax County recognizes the program’s achievements. The county’s support will ensure that more young people benefit from this extraordinary program,” explained Joseph Getch, CEO, HopeLink.

HopeLink launched TIP last January in response to growing numbers of students experiencing mental health challenges. HopeLink’s TIP program provides intensive support over an 18-month period for Northern Virginia youth (14-29) who are experiencing emotional and behavioral difficulties. Youth meet with the TIP Team on average two hours per week, which is more intense than outpatient services but less intense than crisis stabilization programs. Services are offered primarily in the community to support building independent living skills, and HIPAA-compliant telehealth services are available to enhance access to services as needed.

Among its first-year successes, TIP made it easier for participants to access services than traditional behavioral health services; helped get an emergency developmental disability waiver for an unhoused participant—ensuring the student could get long-term help; and contributed to five students graduating from high school. Lack of affordable housing is a key issue facing the many of the youth in the program. TIP staff were able to connect students with housing workers, as well as a variety of community-based resources such as food pantries and donation centers.

In fact, a 22-year-old client shared this after five months in the program: “I’ve faced many challenges in my life such as being traumatized, experiencing severe headaches, hospitalized 16 times, suicidal ideations, and overall rage. I am currently diagnosed with bipolar I, PTSD, OCD, Autism, and panic disorder. …This program delivers many opportunities such as working on life skills, employment and education, having one-on-one therapy sessions and having a peer specialist that can mentally and emotionally understand where I am coming from. [TIP] changed my life, emotionally and helped me go from being hopeless in this world to becoming hopeful and worthy.”

TIP operates with a team-based approach. Each team has four providers serving up to 30 individuals, which include a Clinical Supervisor, Life Skills Focused Transition Facilitator, Supported Employment/Education Focused Transition Facilitator, and Youth Peer Support Specialist. Young people served are experiencing emotional and behavioral difficulties, substance abuse disorders, mild developmental disabilities, and/or involvement with children’s protective services, juvenile justice, or public assistance, and/or youth who are runaway or homeless. Participating youth experience increased employment and post-secondary career education, improved community-life functioning, and reductions in the use of intensive mental health services and incarceration. Referral forms are available on HopeLink’s website.

Last year, HopeLink served over 2,000 individuals and families through its behavioral health programs. HopeLink’s suicide and crisis intervention program handled more than 280,000 crisis calls, texts, and chats from across Virginia and the nation from community members facing life crises.

Read article in Fairfax Times.

About HopeLink Behavioral Health

HopeLink is a leading nonprofit helping those living with diverse behavioral health issues and anyone who faces life crises achieve independence, self-sufficiency, and safety. HopeLink provides people they serve with skill training and support to help them recover and rebuild their lives through a range of services including Psychosocial Rehabilitation Day Program Services, Mental Health Outpatient Therapy, Mental Health Skills-Building, TIP, Individual Supported Employment, Peer Support Services, Coordinated Specialty Care.  HopeLink is a 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Center and Regional Crisis Call Center answering calls, texts, and chats from across Virginia and the nation. For 24/7 support from HopeLink, call 988. For 24/7 chat support, visit 988lifeline.org/chat. www.hopelinkbh.org.