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1998 SESSION
988995661WHEREAS, historically, the Commonwealth of Virginia has assumed major responsibility for the provision of services for its citizens with mental disabilities and substance abuse problems; and
WHEREAS, provision of care has shifted away from the institutional setting to programs in the community and, between 1986 and 1996, the numbers of people receiving various services from community services boards grew from 208,453 to 294,882, an increase of 41.5 percent; and
WHEREAS, during its study, the Joint Subcommittee to Evaluate the Future Delivery of Publicly Funded Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services found that improvements in the services system are needed to increase opportunities for consumers and their representatives to become more involved in policy making, services planning, delivery and evaluation, and decisions about their treatment; and
WHEREAS, these services should complement, not replace, natural family and community resources and supports which are adequate and continuing; and
WHEREAS, although Virginia is currently experiencing economic growth, all of this must be accomplished in a time when current dollars have to be allocated to a growing number of programs and services; and
WHEREAS, [ the ] Virginia must also consider the most prudent method
of providing services in those times when growth is not as vigorous; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services (the Department) has begun the process, through pilot projects, to develop mechanisms to ensure that individuals with the most serious mental illnesses, mental retardation, or alcohol or other drug abuse problems receive the highest priority for publicly-funded services; and
WHEREAS, this population includes adults with serious mental illnesses,
children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbances, and individuals
with mental retardation or alcohol or other drug abuse or dependence with lower
levels of functioning, more intense services and supports needs, and life
situations that increase their risk of abuse [ of or ] exploitation;
and
WHEREAS, the Joint Subcommittee to Evaluate the Future Delivery of Publicly Funded Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services (HJR 240, 1996) reviewed draft legislation which would direct the Department to allocate a significant proportion of its funds to priority populations and to provide funds for other populations to ensure that people are not turned away when they need help; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services be requested complete the pilot projects on priority populations. The Department should use the results of the pilot projects on priority populations to develop policies that define priority populations, involving the Department, community services boards, the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, the Virginia Network of Private Providers, and consumer and advocacy groups.
The Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services shall complete the pilot projects on priority populations and develop proposed legislation to implement priority populations no later than December 1, 1999, for submission to the Governor and 2000 Session of the General Assembly according to the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.