The arrival of Amazon’s east coast headquarters will give Arlington County a boost. Will county officials make Arlington a mental health showplace as well?
(4-14-21) Long-time Advocate Bob Carolla argues today that Arlington County, Va., could become a state and national showplace in providing community mental health care through a host of innovative programs. Will public- private partnerships help achieve the vision?
Arlington, Va–A New Frontier for Mental Health Care?
By Bob Carolla
Looking east, Arlington, Virginia is a gateway to the nation’s capital. Looking west, it is a gateway to a growing high tech economy.
It’s also home to an eternal flame that burns on a hill at the gravesite of John F. Kennedy in Arlington Cemetery: a symbol of the idealism of a New Frontier and an unfinished presidency. Part of his unfinished vision is available, accessible and excellent community based mental health care. Unfortunately the 1963 Community Mental Health Act remains a largely broken promise. Today, we have an inadequately treacherously fragmented, mental health care system that includes a yield of chronically ill homeless persons.
Arlington, where I live, currently is poised to fulfill President Kennedy’s vision. Here’s steps that could help it accomplish that goal.