Henrico officials provide insight into state of schools, mental health, affordable housing and more

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Henrico County officials discussed several county-funded plans and initiatives on Thursday, providing information on how they have impacted schools, mental health, affordable housing and more.

The Henrico State of the County Address was held on Thursday, Nov. 14, where several county spokespeople provided insight into how the county's budget has been used to benefit schools, as well as provide affordable housing, road improvements and boost sports entertainment.

Henrico Schools

At the meeting, Henrico County Public Schools superintendent Amy Cashwell said the district opened its first Centers for Innovation middle school program at John Rolfe Middle School in the fall.

Cashwell said Henrico Schools has hired more teachers to provide additional support for the district's English language learners.

Cashwell said they have also hired more instructional assistants and counselors.

According to Cashwell, Henrico Schools is investing $9.6 million to support its opportunity school initiative, which supports schools that have the greatest number of provisionally licensed staff.

"This funding helps with licensure obtainment, targeted professional development and a teacher fellow who, in addition to teaching students, also serves as a mentor to new teachers who are developing their skills," Cashwell said.

Last spring, the county's school board and its Board of Supervisors announced a $17 million investment in mental health to support the mental health and wellness of the county's youth and their families over the next five years, which included the Henrico CARES plan.

According to Cashwell, since Henrico CARES was introduced in March, Henrico Schools has implemented:

• Expanded school-based mental health teams
• Co-located private and community mental health services on school campuses
• Clinical licensure supervision for school-based mental health providers
• 24/7 Live mental health care system navigation support through Care Solace
• Access to Teletherapy Services for grades 9-12 through Hazel Health

Cashwell also said weapon scanners are fully operational at every school in the county, with more than 85 new school security officers hired over the last year to provide an additional layer of campus security.

Last spring, the School Board approved a 4.8% raise for all HCPS staff with an additional increase that brings the raise to 7.2% for teachers, licensed instructional staff and bus drivers. Starting this summer, Cashwell said bus drivers will earn $25 an hour.

One of the division's capital improvement projects includes Wilton Farm, a building located near the James River for Henrico students to study ecosystems and environmental sustainability.

Cashwell said several projects are in progress to replace Jackson Davis Elementary School, R.C. Longan Elementary School and Quioccasin Middle School.

Affordable housing

According to Henrico's Chief of Staff Cari Tretina, the county has heightened its focus on livability by creating safe, stable and wealth-building housing opportunities for residents to "thrive and not just survive."

"For over a decade and today, our total commitment is close to $110 million," Tretina said. "We make roof repairs for senior citizens so they can age in place, we break down barriers to move people out of hotels into long-term apartment leases and we connect individuals experiencing homelessness to food, counseling and, most importantly, shelter."

According to Monica Callahan, the deputy county manager for community affairs, the board approved providing 25% of the estimated $3.4 million cost to operate the Salvation Army Center of Hope on Chamberlayne Avenue and HomeAgain.

Callahan said these investments are in partnership with the City of Richmond, with money to support programs operated by these nonprofit partners.

"Henrico's nearly $1 million investment is in addition to its $18 million investment over the past five years for other homeless partners, including CARITAS, Housing Families First and Homeward," Callahan said.

Tretina said that, in 2023, the county promised to end the neglect and abuse of the Glenwood Farms residents living in 294 dilapidated units. She said this promise is going to be fulfilled.

According to the county, Glenwood Farms will be reimagined, offering 950 housing units, 400 affordable rental units and 20 affordable ownership homes.

"The physical transformation has begun, but our hope is that the property isn't the only portion being uplifted," Tretina said.

According to Callahan, the county is committed to working with community partners to ensure Glenwood Farms' existing residents receive the support needed to sustain in the new Glenwood, with one of these partners being the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond.

Road improvements

According to Bentley Chan, director of Public Utilities, the county will continue to invest in infrastructure to support residents and businesses, with one of these investments being the construction of Magellan Parkway to serve the future residents of Green City.

"In addition, the county is extending water mains along Magellan Parkway and constructing a sanitary sewer main crossing at I-295 to provide utilities services to Green City and the surrounding areas," Chan said.

Chan said that, in the Three Chopt district, Sadler Road will be widened and realigned between Dominion Boulevard and Cedar Forest Road. This will include numerous public safety improvements, such as roundabouts and trails for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Richmond-Henrico Turnpike will be widened between Laburnum Avenue and Hummingbird Road to a four-lane highway with a sidewalk on one side and a lighted path on the other.

Mental Health

Gretchen Brown, director of Social Services, said efforts by the county's Empower Henrico -- formerly the Addiction Task Force -- have contributed to a 39% decrease in overdoses and a 31% decrease in drug-related deaths in the county.

In partnership with Charles City and New Kent counties, Brown said Henrico Mental Health is providing intensive services for women who are pregnant or parenting and have a substance use disorder.

"Since this program started last December, 23 moms have been connected to treatment, therapy, psychiatric services, housing referrals, peer recovery support, community resources and child care," Brown said.

Brown said that, through this program, 22 children are now living with their mothers, 15 families are working towards reunification and four healthy babies have been born.

In July, the Department of Emergency Communications implemented the Marcus Alert system in an effort to enhance the local response to mental health emergencies.

Brown said that, in its first three months, the mobile response team made contact with more than 150 people experiencing a mental health crisis, with only one resulting in an arrest with no use of force and a small number of people requiring hospitalization.

Sports

According to County Attorney Andrew Newby, the county is committed to ensuring every child knows how to swim. This is being done through several partnerships, including with the YMCA, NOVA Aquatics and Henrico Schools.

"Hundreds of Henrico County second graders received free swim lessons this year at state-of-the-art aquatic facilities," Newby said.

Newby said Henrico and the Economy Development Authority recently committed up to $7.8 million in additional incentives to support the expansion of the NOVA Aquatics facility at the former Regency Mall to attract bigger and better swimming events to the county.

At the meeting, Newby discussed the development of the Henrico Sports and Events Center.

"Last year, we all came together to celebrate the grand opening of this beautiful, beautiful facility," Newby said. "This year, we get to celebrate a wonderful first year of events from college basketball championships to high school graduations."

Newby also discussed the redevelopment of the abandoned Virginia Center Commons mall site to build hotels, shops and apartments next to the Henrico Sports and Events Center.

To watch the full Henrico State of the County Address, click here.