Virginia. Dept. of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services.

The Dept. of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services traces it beginnings to the first institution in the New World designed for the treatment of the mentally ill, which opened in Williamsburg in 1773. Now known as Eastern State Hospital, it was followed by Western State Hospital, in Staunton (1828), Central State Hospital, in Petersburg (1885), and Southwestern State Hospital, in Marion (1887). The hospitals were constructed and maintained as public corporations, and in 1911 individual boards were established to manage each one, as well as the training schools that were being developed. The first State Hospital Board was created by an act of the General Assembly passed on December 24, 1836. It replaced the individual governing boards and brought the institutions and training schools under one state agency.

On April 3, 1942, the General Assembly passed an act establishing the Department of Mental Hygiene and Hospitals. The name of the department was changed to the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation by the General Assembly on March 20, 1973. Substance abuse was added to the name March 25, 1987.

The Department is responsible for providing a comprehensive system of services that is responsive to the mental health, mental retardation, drug abuse and alcohol dependency needs of the citizens of the Commonwealth. The Department has developed many programs to fulfill its responsibilities, including treatment, counseling, hospitalization, and rehabilitation services.

At the head of the department is a commissioner who serves at the pleasure of the governor. He receives overall policy and direction guidance from the Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Board. Organizationally, the department is under the Secretary of Health and Human Services. There are three divisions in the central office in Richmond: Administrative Services; Research, Evaluation and Data Management; and Program Support. The Office of Administrative Services is responsible for personnel and fiscal support; the Division of Research, Evaluation and Data Management performs the investigative, planning, and monitoring role in program development; and the Division of Program Support delivers

services to clients from local to state levels through a system of hospitals, clinics and rehabilitation facilities. A list follows:

Catawba Hospital, opened in 1908; Central State Hospital, Petersburg, opened in 1870; Central Virginia Training Center, Lynchburg, opened in 1911; DeJarnette Center, Staunton, opened in 1932; Eastern State Hospital, Williamsburg, opened in 1773; Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute, Falls Church, opened in 1968; Northern Virginia Training Center, Fairfax, opened in 1973; Piedmont Geriatric Hospital, Burkeville, opened in 1967; Southeastern Virginia Training Center, Chesapeake, opened in 1975; Southern Virginia Mental Health Institute, Danville, opened in 1977; Southside Virginia Training Center, Petersburg, opened in 1960; Southwestern State Hospital, Marion, opened in 1887; Southwestern Virginia Training Center, Hillsville, opened in 1976; Virginia Treatment Center for Children, Richmond, opened in 1962; and Western State Hospital, Staunton, opened in 1828.

From the description of Agency history. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 145407228