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2019 SPECIAL SESSION I

19200066D
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 4031
Offered July 9, 2019
Prefiled July 9, 2019
Commending Deborah Orpin Burcham.
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Patrons-- Cox, Ingram, Robinson and Ware
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WHEREAS, Deborah Orpin Burcham, a respected mental health professional with more than 40 years of experience, retired from the Chesterfield County Department of Mental Health Support Services on July 1, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Deborah Burcham was hired as the executive director of Chesterfield Community Services Board (CSB) in January 2009; she provided exceptional leadership by studying local, state, and national issues, holding annual work sessions, and routinely meeting with board members and state legislators to discuss issues related to mental health, substance use disorders, and developmental disabilities; and

WHEREAS, Deborah Burcham implemented a new electronic health record system in November 2010 that improved efficiencies across all program areas and improved data reporting to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS); and

WHEREAS, in collaboration with law-enforcement and public safety officials, Deborah Burcham developed the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) initiative, which led to CIT training classes being held six times per year with hundreds of public safety workers and first responders and developed a partnership with the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority to open a Crisis Triage Center; and

WHEREAS, as chair of the Services Development Committee of the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards (VACSB), Deborah Burcham facilitated a team that developed a crisis response system model for individuals with intellectual disabilities that could be implemented statewide; and

WHEREAS, Deborah Burcham helped CSBs prepare for the managed care environment, including developing contracts with managed care organizations, negotiating rates of reimbursement for the services, and negotiating and providing required trainings for staff; and

WHEREAS, working closely with the CSB, the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors, and Capital Projects, Deborah Burcham led the initiative to design and build Galloway Place, a 12-bed ICF-ID, which opened in July 2015; and

WHEREAS, in partnership with the county Learning and Performance Center and the agency leadership team, Deborah Burcham developed an agency leadership philosophy that led to the production of an orientation video and ongoing training for staff on the key leadership traits that staff would like to see emulated throughout the agency; and

WHEREAS, in an effort to improve access to services and eliminate waiting lists, Deborah Burcham implemented numerous projects that received state recognition, including lobby renovations, same-day access, collaborative documentation, centralized scheduling, psychiatric assessment clinics, and walk-in appointments for psychiatry; and

WHEREAS, Deborah Burcham worked closely with Chesterfield County, the Chesterfield County Attorney, Chesterfield Public Schools, and Chesterfield Alternatives, Inc., to provide three build-a-house projects, which provided real-life work experience for Chesterfield students in building homes for individuals with intellectual disabilities; and

WHEREAS, Deborah Burcham led the state and regional initiative for CSBs to assume responsibility for Developmental Services Case Management, including negotiating with DBHDS and contracting with private providers as required by the Department of Medical Assistance; and

WHEREAS, Deborah Burcham developed strong relationships with the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office and local courts, leading to the creation of the Bridge Program, securing funding to design and implement mental health services in the Chesterfield County Jail, and securing funding and a position for a court clinician to identify individuals with mental illness who are coming before the courts; and

WHEREAS, through a successful collaboration with Anthem, Deborah Burcham obtained a registered nurse for the Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services team and oversaw the integration of physical and behavioral health services, which led to positive outcomes for those with serious mental illnesses and will be a model to use with other populations; and

WHEREAS, Deborah Burcham successfully worked with county officials to obtain an agreement for emergency services staff credentialing and certification and create the Special Revenue Fund for the CSB; and

WHEREAS, Deborah Burcham worked with Capital Projects Management and the vendor to replace the HVAC system throughout the Rogers building, moving over 400 staff members during the installation without interruption to services; and

WHEREAS, Deborah Burcham facilitated the Heroin/Opioid Steering Committee and served on the team to create a regional website, OpioidSolutionsRVA.com, and a successful regional awareness campaign; and

WHEREAS, Deborah Burcham was appointed by Governor Robert F. McDonnell to serve on the Public Guardian and Conservator Advisory Board from 2011 to 2014; and

WHEREAS, Deborah Burcham served in various VACSB roles including as a member of the Board of Directors; chair, vice chair, and second vice chair of the Executive Directors Forum; cochair of the Quality and Outcomes Committee; cochair of the Development Disabilities Case Management Committee; chair of the Services Development Committee; and a member of the Part C Leadership Committee; and

WHEREAS, Deborah Burcham has been a tireless advocate for persons with disabilities and will be missed by colleagues, staff, consumers, and families; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Deborah Orpin Burcham hereby be commended for her outstanding service to the residents of Chesterfield County on the occasion of her retirement in 2019; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Deborah Orpin Burcham as an expression of the House of Delegates’ admiration for her professional achievements and best wishes for a happy retirement.