Developmental Services

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The mission of the Division of Developmental Services is to assure that individuals with developmental disabilities have access to quality supports and services when and where they need them.

We strive to do this through implementing the following values:

  • Collaboration – demonstrating partnership by working together with all internal and external stakeholders
  • Consistency – providing the same answer every time, regardless of who answers the question
  • Creativity – being responsive, flexible, and always working to get to yes
  • Conviction – being steadfast, mission driven, passionate
  • Communication – being transparent, consistent, thinking things through, and using plain language
  • Celebration – being committed to recognizing and acknowledging contributions toward the implementation of the mission

DDS Organizational Chart

DDS Leadership Contacts

  • DDS Assistant Commissioner: Heather Norton, 804-786-5850, heather.norton@dbhds.virgina.gov
  • Provider Development Director: Eric Williams, 434-907-0072, eric.williams@dbhds.virginia.gov
    • System Team Lead: Vacant
    • Providers Team Lead: Amy Braswell, 804-972-2961, amy.braswell@dbhds.virginia.gov
    • Individuals Team Lead: Ronnitta Clements, 804-382-2490, ronnitta.clements@dbhds.virginia.gov
  • Waiver Operations Director: Nicole DeStefano, 804-971-6383, nicole.stefano@dbhds.virginia.gov
    • Waiver Operations Manager: Sam Pinero, 804-786-2149, sam.pinero@dbhds.virginia.gov
    • Regional Supports Manager: Ken Haines, 804-337-5709, kenneth.haines@dbhds.virginia.gov
    • SIS Quality Manager: Maureen Kennedy, 804-317-1652, maureen.kennedy@dbhds.virginia.gov
    • Community Programs Manager/Customized Rates: Carrie Ottoson, 804-731-4111, carrie.ottoson@dbhds.virginia.gov
  • Office of Integrated Health Supports Director: Susan Moon, 804-629-8288, susan.moon@dbhds.virginia.gov
    • Dental Team Lead: Casey Tupea, 804-347-2039, casey.tupea@dbhds.virginia.gov
    • Registered Nurse Care Consultant Team Lead: Tammie Williams, 804-347-2919, tammie.williams@dbhds.virginia.gov
    • Mobile Rehab Engineering Team Lead: Mike Preston, 804-418-0555, michael.preston@dbhds.virginia.gov
  • Community Supports and Operations Director: Deanna Parker, 804-786-9853, deanna.parker@dbhds.virginia.gov
    • IFSP Program Manager: Heather Hines, heather.hines@dbhds.virginia.gov
  • Transition Network Supports Director: Martin Kurylowski, martin.kurylowski@dbhds.virginia.gov
    • Family Resource Consultant Manager: Benita Holland, 804-201-3833, benita.holland@dbhds.virginia.gov
    • PASRR & OBRA Team Lead: Lisa Rogers, 804-347-5260, lisa.rogers@dbhds.virginia.gov

In the Commonwealth, “developmental disabilities” is defined as:

“a severe, chronic disability of an individual that

  • is attributable to a mental or physical impairment, or a combination of mental and physical impairments, other than a sole diagnosis of mental illness;
  • is manifested before the individual reaches 22 years of age;
  • is likely to continue indefinitely;
  • results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas of major life activity: self-care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living, or economic self-sufficiency; and
  • reflects the individual’s need for a combination and sequence of special interdisciplinary or generic services, individualized supports, or other forms of assistance that are of lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated.

An individual from birth to age nine, inclusive, who has a substantial developmental delay or specific congenital or acquired condition may be considered to have a developmental disability without meeting three or more of the criteria described in clauses (i) through (v) if the individual, without services and supports, has a high probability of meeting those criteria later in life.” [Code of VA § 37.2-100]

The Commonwealth’s system of services and supports for individuals with a developmental disability supports individuals from birth through adulthood.  Individuals are supported based upon their specific, individual needs, and age-related developmental concerns.  The majority of DD services are accessed at the local level with oversight by DBHDS.  To help you determine where to go to locate needed services, please access your local Community Services Board/Behavioral Health Authority.

Birth to Age 3: Early Intervention Services/Part C:

The Part C Early Intervention Program includes services and supports to infants and toddlers from birth through age two who are not developing as expected or who have a medical condition that can delay normal development.  Early intervention supports and services focus on increasing the child’s participation in family and community activities that are important to the family.  In addition, supports and services focus on helping parents and other caregivers know how to find ways to help the child learn during everyday activities.  These supports and services are available for all eligible children and their families regardless of the family’s ability to pay.  Services include the Office of Special Education Programs and Part C Early Intervention Programs. DBHDS is the lead agency for Part C services in Virginia.  For more information, please see the Infant and Toddler Connection of Virginia and the Prenatal/Infancy section of the My Life My Community website.

Under the Waiver Services page, you will find information about policies, procedures, WSAC, the SIS®, Customized Rates, and information to support individuals currently on the DD waivers.

The Office of Integrated Health (OIH) was established by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) to serve as a resource for information related to healthcare, wellness, healthcare providers, and health related services within the Commonwealth.  The OIH webpage provides safety alerts, newsletters, health support network and long term care information, and educational resources.

Information about therapeutic behavioral consultation through the FIS and CL waivers can be found on the Behavioral Services website.  Visit this webpage to learn more about this service, to search for providers, and to access resources, literature, and training videos.  

The Individual and Family Support Program (IFSP) assists individuals with developmental disabilities and their families with accessing person-centered and family-centered resources, supports, services and other assistance. The program’s primary target population is individuals on the waiting list for Virginia’s Developmental Disabilities (DD) Medicaid waivers.  Additional resources can also be found on the My Life, My Community page.  

The My Life, My Community page offers a searchable website where you can find information about waiver options, providers that can assist with service needs, connection to support networks, and other helpful resources.  

If you or someone that you know is interested in learning more about the resources available to help people in the Settlement Agreement Population access their own rental housing in the community, please visit the Housing page.

The DBHDS Office of Crisis Supports and Services provides oversight and technical assistance to the statewide crisis system of care.  On this page you can learn more about the REACH program for Virginians with developmental disabilities that have crisis needs, as well as access information on other crisis services and initiatives that are occurring as a part of Virginia’s crisis system transformation.  

On the Employment First page, you will find information about Virginia’s Employment First Initiative.

The Office of Provider Development focuses on developing and sustaining a qualified community of providers in Virginia so that people who have developmental disabilities and their families have choice and access to options that meet their needs. On this page, you will find resources from Provider Development including information on becoming a provider, information about Virginia’s Person-Centered ISP, who to contact for technical assistance, and various training resources.

DBHDS implements quality service reviews (QSRs) through a contracted, certified Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) vendor.

QSRs include:

  • Person-centered reviews
  • Individual and family interviews and/ or surveys
  • Provider quality reviews
  • other DBHDS quality service reviews.

QSRs evaluate:

  • The quality of services at an individual, provider (i.e., Community Service Board and private providers), and system-wide level;
  • The extent to which services are provided in the most integrated setting appropriate to individuals’ needs and consistent with their informed choice;
  • The extent to which individuals’ needs are being identified and met through person-centered planning and thinking
  • The extent to which individuals are given opportunities for community integration in all aspects of their lives.

Additionally, QSRs assess the quality and adequacy of providers’ services, quality improvement and risk management strategies, and provide recommendations to providers for improvement. 

Data collected from these reviews is used to improve individual, provider, and system practice and service quality. DBHDS and its licensed providers further use the data in making improvements in the service experience, in determining how to improve the array of services provided, and in identifying and implementing quality improvement initiatives.

QSR Documents

For current QSR related documents, please visit: https://hsagonline.sharepoint.com/teams/vaqsr/SitePages/Home.aspx   

For assistance in accessing the HSAG SharePoint site, please contact VAQSR@hsag.com

QSR Reports

Commencement of Round 5 – March 30, 2023

Round 5 of the Quality Service Reviews (QSRs) will commence on March 30, 2023. Provider samples will be posted to the HSAG VA QSR SharePoint site in the Round 5 Sample Folder by March 30, 2023. Please note the instructions for providers are located at the top of the sample file. CSBs/BHAs may have two samples – one for their provider sample and one for their full support coordinator sample.

HSAG has moved to utilize the HSAG Secure Access File Exchange (SAFE) site for all review documentation uploads.  If you have been previously uploading your review documents into SharePoint or Dropbox, you will now need to utilize SAFE. Additionally, files uploaded into SAFE must not be password protected. An invitation will be emailed to the listed primary contact for your organization. If you would like to request additional users, please email a completed “HSAG SAFE Provider Access Request” form found in Provider Resources to VAQSR@hsag.com.

Providers must review their sample and notify their reviewer of any alternate requests before April 10, 2023.  

HSAG also asks that providers submit their review documentation no later than April 28, 2023. As a reminder, providers can utilize SAFE or provide access to EHRs. Providers are encouraged to reference the Round 5 Documentation Submission Checklist on the VA QSR SharePoint site for further information.

If you have any questions regarding the Round 5 process, please do not hesitate to contact HSAG at VAQSR@hsag.com, or contact your assigned reviewer directly.

We look forward to working with you during Round 5. 

Need additional information on QSRs or have questions? Contact the QSR Coordinator: DBHDS_QSR@dbhds.virginia.gov

At the DOJ Settlement Agreement page, you can locate the Final Order and Settlement Agreement, the Complete Set of Agreed Upon Compliance Indicators, Stakeholder Group information, reports from the Independent Reviewer, Annual Reporting, and Settlement Agreement Indicator Overview Videos.