Serious Mental Illness (SMI)
Services to Individuals with Serious Mental Illness
DRS has received funds since 1986 from the Virginia General Assembly to provide services to individuals that experience serious and persistent mental illness (SMI). This program began initially as a result of a cooperative effort between DRS, the Department of Mental Health Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services (DMHMRSAS) and local Community Services Boards (CSBs) in which DRS provided vocational rehabilitation (VR) services to mutual consumers of both agencies. The Program enhances consumer community and vocational successes by providing vocational development, placement, and job retention services, primarily in conjunction with 12 CSBs located throughout the Commonwealth. The General Assembly funding has been used primarily for DRS dedicated specialty counselors and consumer purchases. DRS specialty counselors are assigned to work with the following CSBs and their catchment area: Region Ten, Danville-Pittsylvania, Henrico, Colonial, Hampton-Newport News, Richmond Behavioral Health, Blue Ridge Behavioral Health, Cumberland, Harrisonburg Rockingham, Loudoun, Rappahannock and Chesapeake.
DRS eligible individuals that experience serious and persistent mental illness that live outside the specialty counselor service areas will be served by a general caseload counselor in the local DRS Field Office.
View a Map of the Serious Mental Illness Specialty Program Site
(PowerPoint)
Mary Kaye Johnston, Program Specialist
Phone: (804) 662-9968
E-mail:
MaryKaye.Johnston@drs.virginia.gov
