In Virginia, the proportion of emergency calls to 911 that receive a behavioral health response has increased from 10% in 2022 to 22% in 2024. Despite this progress, significant challenges remain four years after the implementation of the Marcus Alert System, as funding limitations and uneven rollout have hindered full statewide adoption.
The Marcus-David Peters Act, passed by the General Assembly in 2020, was named in memory of a Black biology teacher who was fatally shot by police during a mental health crisis in 2018. This legislation was designed to ensure that behavioral health clinicians are dispatched to support individuals experiencing crises, reducing reliance on law enforcement. A recent report from the Behavioral Health Commission indicates that much work remains to meet the goals outlined in this vital legislation.
Implementation Challenges Across Virginia
At the local level, the implementation of the Marcus Alert System is overseen by community services boards (CSBs). Currently, 17 out of 40 CSBs have adopted the system, covering roughly one-third of localities in Virginia. An additional ten CSBs are scheduled to launch the system by July 2026, while all localities must comply by July 2028.
Claire Mairead, an associate policy analyst at the Behavioral Health Commission, emphasized the need for full state funding in the upcoming biennial budget to ensure all CSBs can meet the 2028 deadline. The funding model, which allocates $600,000 to each implementing CSB regardless of population, raises concerns about equitable resource distribution. For instance, Dickinson County, with a population of 17,000, receives the same funding as Fairfax County, which has over a million residents.
Senator Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville and chair of the commission, pointed out the flaws in the funding structure, stating, “We’ve got some major flaws in the way this thing’s put together and the way it’s implemented.” The report suggests revising budget language to allow for more flexible funding based on community needs.
Current Response Capacity and Effectiveness
Although the Marcus Alert System has been beneficial, some areas still struggle to maintain adequate service levels. For example, the Hampton-Newport News CSB manages a team of clinicians that provides near round-the-clock coverage during weekdays and about 16 hours on weekends. This team responds to an average of 40 to 50 calls each month, yet the region experiences around 500 mobile crisis dispatches monthly across various agencies.
Connie Vatsa, the Marcus Alert Coordinator for the Hampton-Newport News CSB, expressed the desire for continuous 24/7 coverage. “I would probably need to at least double my clinicians,” she noted, highlighting the significant demand for mental health support.
One of the persistent challenges is the absence of statewide training for CSBs, emergency dispatchers, and law enforcement regarding the Marcus Alert System. Calls to 911 or the mental health crisis line, 988, are expected to be triaged according to urgency. Unfortunately, many dispatchers do not consistently follow these protocols, leading to only 6% of low-urgency calls being transferred to 988 in 2024.
Mairead explained that many calls originate from third parties, such as family members or neighbors, who may prefer an in-person response rather than a transfer to 988. Additionally, individuals in crisis may resist being referred to a different line, particularly if they lack familiarity with 988.
In localities that have implemented the Marcus Alert System, there were approximately 43,000 mental health calls through 911, but only 22% of the 10,281 level 3 calls in 2024 received a behavioral health response, indicating a gap in service delivery for more urgent cases.
Despite these obstacles, progress is evident. The implementation of the system has led to a reduction in emergency custody orders, which allow law enforcement to detain individuals for mental health assessments. Vatsa reported that over 90% of evaluations conducted by her team lead to outcomes other than emergency custody orders, a notable achievement compared to the previous reliance on police intervention for mental health crises.
As Virginia continues to enhance its behavioral health response capabilities, the commitment to improving the Marcus Alert System remains crucial. Ongoing evaluation and adaptation of funding structures and training programs will be essential for meeting the needs of individuals experiencing mental health crises across the state.
