Virginia’s public behavioral health (mental health or substance use disorder) and developmental services system consists of 15 state-operated facilities and 40 locally-run community services boards (CSBs), one of which is a behavioral health authority in Richmond.  CSBs provide an array of emergency, local inpatient, outpatient, case management, day support, employment, residential, and wellness and prevention services to adults with serious mental illnesses, children who have or are at risk of serious emotional disturbance, individuals with intellectual disability or who are receiving Medicaid developmental disability waiver services, or individuals with substance use disorders.

Virginia’s state-run facilities provide highly-structured, intensive inpatient or habilitation services and consist of: eight mental health hospitals for adults, one mental health hospital for children and adolescents, three training centers for individuals with intellectual disability, a medical center, and a center for behavioral rehabilitation of persons who are sexually violent predators. For admission to state facilities, individuals are initially evaluated by and referred from local CSBs.  Follow this link for more information about this behavioral health and developmental services system.

The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) supports the provision of accessible and effective services  and supports by CSBs and other providers and directs the delivery of services and supports in state hospitals and training centers.  It also protects the human rights of individuals receiving services and assures public and providers adhere to its licensing regulations.