In collaboration with its state and community partners, DBHDS plans, develops, directs, funds and monitors the delivery of comprehensive mental health services throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. To ensure the delivery of coordinated services to mutually served populations, DBHDS provides liaison services to state and community agencies that interact with the public behavioral health services system. DBHDS is involved in design, development and implementation of evaluation processes, data reporting standards and measures used to analyze the delivery of mental health services, and also operates nine acute care state psychiatric facilities, including one for children.
How to Get Help for Mental Health Issues
Virginia’s community services boards (CSBs) are the primary point of entry into the Commonwealth’s public behavioral health and developmental services system. CSBs provide treatment for mental health issues, substance use and addiction, and intellectual and developmental disabilities. There is a CSB that serves every county and city in the state. To locate the CSB nearest to you, click here. You can also visit the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) treatment locator website at https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/. On that page, you can search for providers by zip code.
Virginia’s Mental Health Laws
Information about Virginia law governing behavioral health and developmental services can be found in Section 37.2 of the Code of Virginia. Section 37.2 includes statutes governing the emergency custody, temporary detention and involuntary commitment to treatment of individuals in mental health crisis. Information on changes to Virginia’s civil commitment laws and other resources can be found on the the Professionals and Service Providers page of our website.
Mental Health and Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grants
The Commonwealth of Virginia receives federal funds each year from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) under the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG) and the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant (SUPTRSBG) to support the delivery of treatment and supports to adults with serious mental illness and children and youth with serious emotional disturbance (MHBG), and individuals with substance use disorders (SUPTRSBG).
For Federal Fiscal Year 2022, the Commonwealth was awarded $20.9M in MHBG funds and $43.6M in SUPTRSBG funds. For Fiscal Year 2023, the Commonwealth was awarded $24.5M in MHBG funds and $47.6 in SUPTRSBG funds. These funds support a wide variety of services provided by Virginia’s community services boards and private providers.
As the recipient of these federal funds, DBHDS is required to send an annual plan and biennial application to SAMHSA. The Federal Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Combined Mental Health and Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grants Application Draft for the Commonwealth has been posted.
DBHDS invites review and comment from the public on the application during the federally mandated public comment period. A virtual public hearing can be accessed will be held on Wednesday August 25, 2023 from 2pm-4pm.
For any written public comment or questions about the block grants or the application, please contact Nathanael Rudney, Behavioral Health Project Coordinator at the Office of Enterprise Management Solutions at nathanael.rudney@dbhds.virginia.gov or by letter at DBHDS- Attn: Nathanael Rudney P.O. Box 1797 Richmond, VA 23218-1797
Recent Program Outcome Reports
Early Impacts of the Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) Program
Links
Coordinated Specialty Care For Young Adults
Preadmission Screening Protocols and Procedures