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Human Rights Committees
The function of Human Rights Committees is to ensures due process for the individuals that are receiving or have recently received a service that is licensed, funded or operated by DBHDS. Local Human Rights Committees (LHRC) perform the following activities on behalf of individuals: Review restrictions implemented by providers that last longer than seven days or occur three or more times during a 30-day period; Review Next-Friend designations; Hold hearings when individuals disagree with a providers finding following a human rights complaint; Review behavioral treatment plans that involve the use of restraint or time-out and Receive, review, and act on applications for variances to the Human Rights Regulations. The State Human Rights Committee (SHRC) oversees the operation of the LHRCs. The SHRC also works with the State Human Rights Director to ensure the effective and efficient operation of the Office of Human Rights concerning the Human Rights Regulations and other laws, policies, or regulations that are needed to ensure the protection of individual’s rights. See 12VAC35-115-270.
Virginia Code § 37.2-204 regulates the appointment of state and local human rights committee members. One-third of the appointments must be individuals who are receiving or who have received services or family members of such individuals, with at least two individuals who are receiving or who have received public or private mental health, developmental, or substance use treatment or habilitation services within five years of the date of their initial appointment. In addition, at least one appointment must be a health care provider and remaining appointments must include other persons with interest, knowledge, or training in the mental health, developmental, or substance abuse services field.
No current employee of the Department, a community services board, a behavioral health authority, or any facility, program, or organization licensed or funded by DBHDS, or funded by a community services board or behavioral health authority shall serve as a member of any LHRC that serves an oversight function for the employing facility, program, or organization. And no current employee of DBHDS, a community services board, or a behavioral health authority shall serve as a member of the SHRC.
LHRCs consist of at least 5 volunteer members who serve in their respective regions and are appointed by the SHRC. The SHRC consists of 9 volunteer members from across the Commonwealth who represent their respective regions and are appointed by the DBHDS State Board. LHRCs meet at least once per quarter, while the SHRC meets 9 times a year.
Membership Information
LHRC and SHRC Recruitment Information_9.27.18
- To apply for the LHRC, please complete the application here: LHRC Appointment Application_4.9.24
- To apply for the SHRC, please complete the application here: SHRC Appointment Application 4.9.24
Meeting Information
Dates are subject to change based on weather conditions, availability of an in-person quorum of committee members and appropriate and accessible meeting locations.
Anyone may view and listen to open portions of any a Local or State Human Rights Committee meeting via the Microsoft Teams Webinar link for each specific meeting. This information is available on the Commonwealth Calendar – Home (virginia.gov) You can use the following steps to search for LHRC and SHRC meeting information on the Commonwealth Calendar:
- Select the date range for a meeting you are interested in.
- Select the Category for an “Open Meeting”
- Select the Sponsor as “Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Department of”
- Enter a specific name of an LHRC, or simply “LHRC” or “SHRC” as a Keyword to assist in your search.
Public comments will be received by the LHRC during the public comment section noted on the meeting agenda. Any person seeking to make public comment to an LHRC may submit comments via email to the assigned advocate by 5pm on the day before the meeting. Any public comment received will be added to the minutes of that meeting. For questions about a specific LHRC, please contact the OHR Staff person listed for that specific LHRC. For general information about how to access an LHRC meeting in your Region/State Facility, please contact the corresponding Manager.
For Providers: To add items to a specific LHRC agenda, please contact the OHR Staff person listed for that specific LHRC. Please note that the agenda deadline is two weeks prior to the meeting date.
Public comments will be received by the SHRC during the public comment section noted on the meeting agenda. Any person seeking to make public comment to the SHRC may submit comments in writing prior to the meeting, via email to SHRC@dbhds.virginia.gov. Any public comments received by 5pm on the day before the meeting will be added to the minutes of that meeting. For general information about how to access an SHRC meeting, please contact the Human Rights Regional Manager in your area.
2024 SHRC Video Presentation Library
The following videos are presentations of information provided during the SHRC meetings. For full description of SHRC meetings, please see “2024 SHRC Meeting Minutes” located at the bottom of the page.
- Ruthanne Walker: State Board Affairs, Director & State Board Liaison – Office of Regulatory Affairs, DBHDS / Susan Puglisi: Regulatory Specialist – Office of Regulatory Affairs, DBHDS; Regulatory Development Process Review – Held @ HumanKind 10.31.24
- Emily Stillwell: Senior Quality Assurance Manager – Adult Services, HumanKind – SHRC Welcome and Program Overview 10.31.24
- Taneika Goldman: State Human Rights Director, DBHDS; SHRC Annual Report of Activities – Held @ Loudon County CSB 9.26.24
- Virginia Pharis: disAbility Law Center of Virginia (dLCV); EBL List Update – Held @ Loudon County CSB 9.26.24
- Richard Wright: Office of Forensic Services; Role & Responsibilities – Held @ Loudon County CSB 9.26.24
- Laneen Hall: Psych Manager, National Counseling Group – SHRC Welcome and Program Overview 6.27.24
- Teresa Smith: Healthcare Compliance Unit, Office of the State Inspector General; Roles & Responsibilities – Held @ National Counseling Group 6.27.24
- Dr. Gary Jones: CEO, Youth For Tomorrow – SHRC Welcome and Program Overview 5.16.24
- Rick Fry: Project Manager, Allied Universal; Review of Transportation Services for Individuals – Held @ Youth For Tomorrow 5.16.24
- Josie Mace: Director of Legislative Affairs, DBHDS; Review of impactful Legislation to DBHDS – Held @ Southwestern VA Mental Health Institute 4.11.24
Attending an LHRC or SHRC Hearing? Here are some FAQs to help prepare!
LHRC Meeting Minutes
2024 LHRC Minutes
- Central Region LHRC_2.21.24
- Central Region LHRC 5.15.24
- Charlottesville Area LHRC_1.11.24
- Charlottesville Area LHRC 4.11.24
- HPR5 LHRC_2.5.24
- HPR5 LHRC 4.29.24
- HPR5 LHRC 7.15.24
- Metropolitan LHRC_1.25.24
- Metropolitan LHRC 3.28.24
- Metropolitan LHRC 6.27.24
- Metropolitan LHRC 8.2.24
- Metropolitan LHRC 8.12.24
- Metropolitan LHRC 9.26.24
- Northern Virginia Hospital LHRC 1.24.24
- Northern Virginia Hospital LHRC 2.28.24
- Northern Virginia Hospital LHRC 4.24.24
- Northern Virginia Hospital LHRC 6.26.24
- Northern Virginia Hospital LHRC 8.28.24
- Northwestern Area LHRC_2.7.24
- Northwestern Area LHRC 5.8.24
- Prince William County LHRC 1.31.24
- Prince William County LHRC 5.29.24
- Rappahannock Area LHRC 3.12.24
- Rappahannock Area LHRC 6.11.24
- Roanoke Catawba LHRC 3.13.24
- Southeastern Alliance LHRC 3.5.24
- Southeastern Alliance LHRC 5.21.24
- Staunton Area LHRC_1.2.24
- Staunton Area LHRC 4.2.24
- Staunton Area LHRC 7.2.24
- Staunton Area LHRC 8.6.24
- Tri-City LHRC_2.15.24
- Tri-City LHRC 5.16.24
- Williamsburg Regional LHRC_3.6.24
- Williamsburg Regional LHRC 6.12.24
Past LHRC Minutes
- 2023 LHRC Minutes [zip]
- 2022 LHRC Minutes [zip]
- 2021 LHRC Minutes [zip]
- 2020 LHRC Minutes [zip]
- 2019 LHRC Minutes [zip]
- 2018 LHRC Minutes [zip]
- Archive
SHRC Meeting Minutes
2024 SHRC Minutes
- January 18th SHRC Minutes
- March 7th SHRC Minutes
- April 11th SHRC Minutes
- May 16th SHRC Minutes
- June 27th SHRC Minutes
- August 15th SHRC Minutes
- September 26th SHRC Minutes
Past SHRC Minutes
- 2023 SHRC Minutes [zip]
- 2022 SHRC Minutes [zip]
- 2021 SHRC Minutes [zip]
- 2020 SHRC Minutes [zip]
- 2019 SHRC Minutes [zip]
- 2018 SHRC Minutes [zip]
- Archive
Bylaws
PURSUIANT TO FOIA, IF YOU HAVE A REQUEST FOR LHRC OR SHRC DOCUMENTS, PLEASE EMAIL THE SHRC VICE CHAIR: SHRC@DBHDS.VIRGINIA.GOV
You may also submit a FOIA request by using the FOIA request portal: Request For RecordsNextRequest – Modern FOIA & Public Records Request Software