RD90 - 2014 Annual Executive Summary of the Activity and Work of the State Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services - January 1, 2015


Executive Summary:
Dear Governor McAuliffe:

I am writing on behalf of the State Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. The purpose of this letter is to provide a copy of the Annual Executive Summary submitted to the Governor and the General Assembly in accordance with subsection 5 of § 37.2-203 of the Code of Virginia.

The membership of the Board includes individuals who have received services, family members of people with disabilities, a local elected official, a psychiatrist and citizens at large. The Board believes that, of all of the demands presented each year for state support, the needs of Virginians with mental illness, substance use disorders, and intellectual or developmental disabilities, and their families, are particularly worthy and deserving of consideration for increased resources.

At its meeting in July, the Board was pleased to receive a detailed update from Commissioner Ferguson on her vision to provide effective, consistent and easy to navigate services throughout the Commonwealth. The Board appreciates and welcomes Commissioner Ferguson’s vision for transforming the system into one that is more responsive to the needs of the individual and supports the policy and budget requests made by DBHDS to further this effort. The Board also received a detailed update on the implementation of the settlement agreement between Virginia and the United States Department of Justice. We look forward to seeing the continued implementation of the requirements in the agreement. Also, we hope that any funding or policy requests by DBHDS will be approved during the upcoming General Assembly Session to support the continued efforts to transition individuals from training centers to the community and to expand services for individuals on the waiver wait list.

The Board has closely followed the implementation of the new civil commitment laws in Virginia, the progress of the Governor’s Taskforce on Improving Mental Health Services and Crisis Response, and the SJ47 Joint Subcommittee Studying Mental Health Services in the Commonwealth in the 21st Century. The Board applauds the work of these groups and supports the Taskforce recommendations and policy and budget requests from DBHDS.

The board urges that behavioral health and developmental services priorities remain in the forefront of all of those issues before the legislature as we move into the New Year. If there are helpful ways we might highlight the need for these services, we are eager to support such efforts.

Sincerely,

/s/ Ananda K. Pandurangi, M.D.
Chair