Company Profile
Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
Company Overview
Mission Statement: Supporting individuals by promoting recovery, self-determination, and wellness in all aspects of life
Vision Statement: A life of possibilities for all Virginians
The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) operates eight behavioral health facilities for adults, a training center, a psychiatric facility for children and adolescents, a medical center, and a center for behavioral rehabilitation. DBHDS facilities provide highly structured, intensive services for individuals with mental illness, intellectual disability or are in need of substance use disorder services.
Company History
1773 – Public Hospital for Persons of Insane and Disordered Minds (currently known as Eastern State Hospital) is established in Williamsburg, Virginia. This facility is the first in the new world designed exclusively for the treatment of people with mental illness.
1825 – Western State Hospital is established in Staunton, Virginia.
1841 – Public Hospital for Persons of Insane and Disordered Minds changes its name to Eastern Lunatic Asylum.
1858 – The Virginia General Assembly approves funding for the construction of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in what is currently Lewis County West Virginia. This facility, later named Weston State Hospital, was officially opened in 1864 one year after West Virginia gained official statehood.
1869 – Central State Hospital is established in Howards Grove, Virginia.
1885 – Central State Hospital is moved to Petersburg, Virginia.
1887 – Southwestern State Hospital (currently known as Southwestern Va. Mental Health Institute) is established in Marion, Virginia.
1894 – Eastern Lunatic Asylum changes its name to Eastern State Hospital.
1909 – Catawba Hospital is established near Salem, Virginia.
1910 – The Virginia State Colony for the Epileptic and Feebleminded (formerly known as Central Virginia Training Center) is established in Lynchburg, Virginia. This facility is the first in Virginia to treat intellectual disabilities.
1918 – Piedmont Hospital (currently known as Piedmont Geriatric Hospital) is established near Burkeville, Virginia.
1929 – DeJarnette Center is established in Staunton, Virginia.
1939 – Petersburg Colony (the former Southside Virginia Training Center) is established in Petersburg to serve African American individuals with intellectual disabilities.
1940 – The Virginia State Colony for the Epileptic and Feebleminded changes its name to the Lynchburg State Colony.
1942 – The Department of Mental Hygiene and Hospitals is established in Richmond, Virginia. This is the initial formation of the current Central Office.
1954 – The Lynchburg State Colony changes its name to the Lynchburg Training School and Hospital.
1956 – The Virginia Treatment Center for Children is established in Richmond, Virginia.
1957 – Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute is established in Falls Church Virginia.
1971 – The Petersburg Colony changes its name to the Petersburg Training School and Hospital.
1973 – Northern Virginia Training Center, Southwestern Virginia Training Center and Southeastern Virginia Training Center are established in Fairfax, Hillsville, and Chesapeake respectively. The Department of Mental Hygiene and Hospitals changes its name to the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation.
1974 – The Petersburg Training School and Hospital changes its name to Southside Virginia Training Center.
1977 – Southern Virginia Mental Health Institute is established in Danville, Virginia.
1979 – Hiram Davis Medical Center is established in Petersburg, Virginia.
1985 – The Lynchburg Training School and Hospital changes its name to Central Virginia Training Center.
1987 – The Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation changes its name to the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services.
1990 – The geriatric unit at Western State Hospital and the adolescent Unit at Eastern State Hospital are closed and patients transferred.
1991 – The Virginia Treatment Center for Children is transferred to Virginia Commonwealth University.
2001 – DeJarnette Center changes its name to the Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents.
2003 – The Virginia Center for Behavioral Rehabilitation is established in Petersburg, Virginia. Its purpose is to serve sexually violent predators.
2008 – Construction of the Hancock Geriatric Center at Eastern State is completed, and the unit begins serving geriatric patients.
Construction of the Virginia Center for Behavioral Rehabilitation is completed in Burkeville, Virginia and the facility officially opens.
2009 – The Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services changes its name to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
2013 – Construction of the new Western State Hospital is completed.
2023 – Construction of the new Central State Hospital begins.
Benefits
Competitive Pay
Internships, Career Ladders, and Continuing Education Opportunities
Referral Bonuses
Student Loan Repayments and/or Educational Assistance
Virginia 529 College Savings
Relocation Reimbursement
State Retirement Benefits and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
13 paid holidays, Vacation Leave, Sick Leave and Family/Personal Days each year
Family Medical Leave, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Coverage
Low-cost, comprehensive health insurance
Group Life and Optional Life Insurance
Flexible Spending accounts (Medical and Dependent)
State Employee Discounts and More!