City Manager Seeks $900K from Council to Address Alexandria’s Mental Health Staff Shortage

Alexandria City Hall is currently facing a shortage of mental health staff, prompting City Manager Jim Parajon to request $900,000 from City Council to address the issue. The funds will be used to implement strategies aimed at hiring and retaining mental health professionals within the city.

City Council is set to consider releasing the funds from contingent reserves during their upcoming meeting. According to the city, there were 64 vacancies out of 301 direct service positions as of April, with 128 mental health professionals leaving the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) since 2022. It was also discovered that the salaries for DCHS mental health positions were considerably lower than those offered by neighboring jurisdictions.

The strategies proposed to address the shortage of mental health staff include increasing compensation by one grade for all mental health professionals, offering a $3,000 signing bonus for new staff, enlisting the help of an outside firm for targeted recruitment, and appointing a temporary administrative staff member to assist with internal hiring and onboarding processes.

Additionally, the city’s human resources department will conduct a review of steps and grades for 103 mental health positions to ensure competitive compensation and attract qualified candidates. These measures aim to address the staffing shortage and provide better support for mental health services within Alexandria.