State officials say proposed changes to Virginia’s system of care for children and adults with developmental disabilities will ultimately improve access to enhanced levels of home- and community-based support. The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) recently unveiled its plan to amend the Medicaid waiver program that funds services for individuals with developmental disabilities. …
Mike Wade
Community-based behavioral health services must constantly evolve in order to effectively meet the needs of individuals and families who are living with either mental health and/or substance abuse issues. Recently, there has been a significant movement across the country to utilize “peers” in delivery of those services. “Peer supports” use trained and certified consumers to help provide treatment …
One of NRVCS’ greatest strengths over the years has been the agency’s ability to adapt to the evolving needs of the communities it serves. Because rates of substance abuse in southwest Virginia have continued to escalate at an alarming pace, one could argue that Glenn Mathews’ new position with NRVCS was created out of necessity. …
As a member of the PACT (Program for Assertive Community Treatment) III Team, clinician Melissa Gentry spends the majority of her time with individuals who have been diagnosed with severe mental illness. While it can be a difficult population to serve, Gentry has a keen – if not intuitive – understanding of their struggles. Gentry …
NRVCS will offer two new cycles of the popular Strengthening Families Program (SFP) beginning in February. This FREE weekly program is open to families with children ages 6 – 11. SFP will be made available to families in Montgomery County beginning Monday, February 1 and continuing each Monday through April 18 (12 weeks). Classes will …
NRVCS hosted its Third Annual Cultural Art Exhibit, featuring the talents of NRVCS staff, on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 in Blacksburg. Employees submitted work of various media – including original creations that ranged from painting to quilt-making. Some actually hosted live demonstrations of their skills and one staff member shared a pair of original poems (PDF document). Others …
Melanie Adkins, Emergency Services and Jail Diversion Coordinator for NRVCS, was named the Virginia CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) Behavioral Health Provider of the Year at an awards ceremony held last week in Hampton, Virginia. Cynthia Hudson, Chief Deputy Attorney General of Virginia, presented Adkins with the award. Employed by NRVCS for nearly 20 years, Adkins has …
Nicole Quesenberry, an officer with the Virginia Tech Police Department’s Residence Life Resource Unit, openly admits to having a “Type A” personality – something that she says is common among law enforcement personnel. “A lot of times we want to jump in, take care of the situation at hand as quickly as possible and move …
Witnessing or experiencing a tragic event can have a profound impact on our mental and emotional health, but these incidents can also affect each of us differently. The timing of our responses to tragedy may also vary greatly. Some experience immediate signs and symptoms, while it may be days or weeks before others have a reaction. Regardless …
The legalization of marijuana continues to be a polarizing topic of debate throughout our country – including here in Virginia, where marijuana is still illegal. Officials hope an upcoming program will help better educate members of our community about this debate by presenting facts about both the pros and cons of marijuana legalization. Dr. Kevin Sabet, President and CEO of …