Dannette R. Smith, Director, Human Services

As Director of the City of Virginia Beach’s Department of Human Services, Ms. Smith provides leadership to approximately 1,600 staff members and 60 programs. Ms. Smith oversees a budget of over $120 million which funds programs offered to Virginia Beach citizens providing them the opportunity to achieve the highest level of self-sufficiency, safety, and quality of life possible, through an array of coordinated services delivered in a climate of dignity, respect and accountability.  Ms. Smith is dedicated to managing operations and projects successfully while actively exploring opportunities for innovation and expansion.

A visionary leader, Ms. Smith brings with her over thirty years of executive level experience and has led large multi-system organizations in the cities of Chicago, Illinois; Mecklenburg County, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; and Seattle, Washington. With a true and full understanding of all facets of human services including mental health, child welfare and support for children and adults with developmental delays, Ms. Smith is a known subject matter expert and has been selected to speak at industry events throughout the country to discuss her innovative perspective to providing services to the most vulnerable individuals in society.

Ms. Smith attended Eastern Michigan University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Ms. Smith is a member of the Norfolk State Ethel Strong School of Social Work Board of Directors and The Healing Place of Hampton Roads Board of Directors.  She was recently appointed to the National Board of the Association for Treatment and Training in the Attachment of Children (ATTACh) and was selected to become a member of the Steering Committee for Minus 9 to 5, which helps improve the lives of Hampton Roads youngest residents and their families from conception to kindergarten.  

 

Contact Info: Human Services Administration, 3432 Virginia Beach Blvd, Suite 342, Virginia Beach, VA 23452 / (757) 385-3613 / Fax (757) 385-3466 

Aileen L. Smith, Deputy Director of Community Services Board

Mrs. Aileen Smith has worked in the field of intellectual disabilities, mental health, substance use and prevention for the last 25 years. Mrs. Smith began her career by working for First Hospital Corporation in various roles to include: Intake and Admission, Crisis Counseling, Family Counseling on the Adolescent Unit, Quality Assurance and she also provided direct services to clients on all of the units at the Norfolk Psychiatric Center. During the early part of her career she also worked for the Barry Robinson Center. In 1995, Mrs. Smith started her employment with the Norfolk Community Services Board and she worked for this agency for 17 years. She performed many different leadership roles for the NCSB to include the MR Director position from 1998-2002, the MR and Family Development Director (which included oversight of the Youth programs and the Prevention services) from 2002-2006 and the Community Support Director position from 2006-2012. The Community Support Director position primarily focused on adults who were diagnosed with a mental health and a substance use diagnosis. In February of 2012, Mrs. Smith became employed with the City of Virginia Beach’s Human Services Department as a Clinical Services Coordinator for mental health and substance use services. During her first year with the agency she was asked to provide additional oversight for the entire MHSA Division and also for the Community Services Board side of the agency. She was hired as the CSB Deputy Director on March 16, 2013. Mrs. Smith has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Counseling from Old Dominion University. A graduate from the LEAD Leadership program at the University of Virginia, Ms. Smith became a Fellow of Georgetown University’s Center for Juvenile Justice Reform in March of 2016. She currently serves on the Center Advisory Committee (CAG) of the Center for Behavioral Health and Justice which is a Center of excellence established by Governor McAuliffe to help the Commonwealth understand and address overrepresentation of persons with behavioral health challenges in the judicial system. 

Contact Info: Community Services Board Administration, 297 Independence Blvd, Suite 302, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 / (757) 385-0504 / Fax (757) 473-2102 
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Gailyn Thomas, Deputy Director of Social Services

Ms. Gailyn Thomas j​oined the department on November 24, 2014. Ms. Thomas has more than 25 years of executive level experience creating and directing successful programs and initiatives within state government; and has a strong background in child welfare, child protection, and juvenile justice. After completing her Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work at Xavier University of Louisiana, Ms. Thomas earned her MSW at Washington University School of Social Work in St. Louis, Missouri.  After this, she enrolled in a Doctorate program at the University Of Illinois School Of Social Work, in Chicago.

Originally from New Orleans, Ms. Thomas re-located to Virginia Beach from Chicago, Illinois, where she was recently responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of a statewide aftercare program for the Department of Juvenile Justice.  This was an innovative pilot program which served more than 1,500 youth.  Part of this program required her to enga​ge key community partners, including partnerships with vital Youth Services organizations.   Prior to this, she was with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) for over fourteen years, where she was responsible for the statewide Division of Child Protection.  In this role, she was responsible for overseeing approximately 1,100 Child Protection investigative staff and providing services to children and families in 102 counties.  Other positions that she held at DCFS were Assistant Chief of Staff, Child Protection Manager, and Supervisor. In addition to her program development and leadership experience, Ms. Thomas is experienced in grant administration and budgeting, policy development, and community relations. 

 

Contact ​Info: Social Services, 3432 Virginia Beach Blvd, Suite 342, Virginia Beach, VA 23452 / (757) 385-3262 / Fax (757) 385-3466 

Donald R. Kirtland, Deputy Director of Continuous Quality Improvement

Dr. Donald R. Kirtland, PHD, LMFT, LPCC, joined the department on April 1, 2014, as Deputy Director of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI). Dr. Kirtland received his Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology, Summa Cum Laude, from the California Southern University and his Masters in Counseling Psychology from the American Behavioral Studies Institute in Santa Ana, Ca.  He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Computer Methods, from California State University. He h​as more than 25 years experience in IT and healthcare quality and brings unique knowledge of complex, multifaceted healthcare systems and multiservice settings, along with extensive experience in facilitating relationships to provide quality service delivery in a multidisciplinary environment. 

 

Contact Info: Continuous Quality Improvement, 256 N. Witchduck Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 / (757) 385-0642 / Fax (757) 473-2104 

Dawn Rykheart, Business Administrator

Mrs. Dawn Rykheart manages the Business Administration Division of the Human Services Department.  She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Kean University in Union, New Jersey and has over 30 years of experience across public and private organizations.  Mrs. Rykheart devoted the first decade of her career to various social services related organizations, including Hyacinth Aids Foundation, Prevent Child Abuse- NJ, and Housing and Neighborhood Development Services (HANDS) a non-profit housing developer.  From there she spent several years in banking before transitioning to government.  Prior to joining the Virginia Beach Human Services team, she worked for the City of Norfolk, Virginia for ten years, serving in the Finance and Budget offices and as the Operations Controller for Norfolk Community Services Board.  

Contact Info: Human Services Administration, 3432 Virginia Beach Blvd, Suite 349, Virginia Beach, VA 23452 / (757) 385-3204 / Fax (757) 385-3466

Wendy T.  Voliva, Media and Communications Coordinator

Ms. Wendy T. Voliva joined the department in October 2017. She is a seasoned veteran of the marketing and communications industry. She is responsible for managing and directing the Human Services Department internal and external communications. She works closely with the Director to promote the mission and vision of the Department.  As an experienced communications professional, Ms. Voliva possesses extensive in-house and agency experience in advertising, branding, corporate communications, media relations, social media and public affairs across a wide range of industries including aviation, luxury real estate, engineering and municipal government.  Ms. Voliva  has over 22 years of experience in marketing, public relations, communications, advertising, and media relations. She holds a B.S. in Marketing, from The University of North Carolina at Wilmington and is a member of the Hampton Roads Chapter of Public Relations Society of America (HR-PRSA).

Contact Info: Human Services Administration, 3432 Virginia Beach Blvd, Suite 348, Virginia Beach, VA 23452 / (757) 385-3313 Fax (757) 385-3466 ​

Patrick Pendleton, Human Resource Administrator​​

Mr. Patrick Pendleton joined the Department of Human Services on August 31, 2017 as the Human Resources division director. Mr. Pendleton has over 20 years of administrative leadership and supervisory experience, and 15 years of organizational budgetary and human resources experience in federal, state, and local governments (U.S. Navy, state of South Carolina, and city of Alexandria, VA.)

Mr. Pendleton is a certified IPMA Human Resources senior professional and a Registered Public Safety Leader with the association of Public Safety Communication Officials (APCO). He also has an MBA with a Healthcare Management (HCM) concentration from St Leo University. Mr. Pendleton is certified in Law Enforcement Budgeting, High Impact Supervision, and Leadership and Command Strategies by the Penn State University, PA.

Contact Info: Human ​Services Administration, 3432 Virginia Beach Blvd, Suite 342, Virginia Beach, VA 23452 / (757) 385-3343​ / Fax (757) 385-3466 ​​​

• Facilities Management: Provides oversight for city owned and leased property including group homes, intermediate care facilities (ICFs), residential facilities, day support and all other leased space.  Responsibilities include lease negotiations, security assessments, and coordination of renovation and maintenance activities.
• Fiscal Services: Provides financial management including budgeting, monitoring fee collection, accounts payable, expenditure control, contract management audit and internal control, and compliance with state and federal agencies. 
• Personnel & Payroll: This unit coordinates all department personnel actions with appropriate Human Resources representative, ensuring compliance with established policies and procedures; ensure that all position postings in WAVE are consistent and accurate and to monitor the hiring process for efficiency and compliance.  The unit maintains training and licensure documentation and background check processing and the issuance of city ID badges.  The payroll function for over 1,500 full time and part time employees is also handled by this unit, including tracking all employees on FMLA and leave. 
• Reimbursement: This unit manages the agency’s fee collection and reimbursements.  It consists of the billing and collection component as well as the client pre-registration and Intake component.  The 14 FTE’s perform credentialing, billing, collection, intake functions, and collect $20 million a year in fee revenue from Medicaid, insurances, and clients. 
• ​Transportation: Transports clients to and from 15 programs operated by MHSA, DS and AFS Divisions.  The Unit also transports 15-20 severely emotionally disturbed children to a therapeutic after-school program, and adult MHSA clients to residential treatment facilities outside the Tidewater area.  Total fleet includes 27 vehicles that travel in excess of 550,000 miles per year. 

• Behavioral Health Services include: Adult Outpatient Services, Adult Correctional Services, Adult Day Treatment, Beach House, Behavioral Health and Wellness Prevention, Case Management, Crisis Management Services, Emergency Services, Harbour, Office of Consumer and Family Affairs, Opioid Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Program (OPT-R), Program of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT), Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH), Pathways Center, Senior Adult Respite Care, and Supportive Residential Services.
• Child & Youth Services include:  After-School Therapeutic Day Treatment (ASTDT), Case Management, Youth Mobile Crisis Intervention, Intensive Care Coordination, Intensive Substance Use Abuse Group (ISAG), In-Home Services, Outpatient Juvenile Sex Offender Treatment Program, and Outpatient Services.
• Developmental Services include:  Case Management, Community Employment Options (CEO), Early Intervention/Infant Program, Group Homes, Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF/IDD), Providing Adults Learning Skills (PALS), Skilled Nursing Services, SkillQuest and Supported Residential Services.

Social Services:  The Social Services division aids citizens in meeting their fundamental needs during times of temporary economic and social crisis, protects children and vulnerable adults from abuse and neglect, administers a range of services to help maintain families in the least restrictive and intrusive manner possible, and assists in preparing citizens to find and retain employment.

• Adult Protective Services and Adult Services Division: 
• Adult Protective Services consists of the identification, receipt, and investigation of complaints and reports of adult abuse, neglect or exploitation (or the risk thereof) as related to adults 60 years or older and incapacitated adults age 18 or older.  This service also includes the provision of case management to alleviate the risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation. 
• Adult Services are designed to allow the adult to remain in the least restrictive setting and function as independently as possible by establishing and/or strengthening appropriate family and social support systems or by supporting the adult in self-determination.  Adult Services are provided to impaired adults age 18 or older, and to their families when appropriate.  Services may include the provision of case management, home-based care, transportation, adult day services, nutrition services, placement services, and other activities to aid the adult.
• Employment Services Programs: Provides supportive services and employment, education and training opportunities to recipients of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment Training (SNAPET).  The program also supports the family goals of economic self-sufficiency and child development. 
• Children's Services Act (CSA): Provides assessments and recommends services for at risk youth, mandated youth in foster care and children who cannot be educated in the public school setting.  This office supports the city's Community Policy and Management Team (CPMT) and Family Assessment and Planning Teams (FAPT) to ensure there is a referral process, utilization review of services, provider contracting process and works collaboratively with all agencies to ensure a system for payment authorization, service approval, documentation and provider evaluation process.  
• Child Welfare Division:  The Child Welfare Division is composed of a specialized set of services that strengthen the ability of the family to protect and care for their own children, minimize harm to children and youth, and ensure timely permanency planning.  Services stabilize the family situation and strengthen the family's capacity to care for their children.  When safety is not possible within the family, services focus on the child's need for a stable, permanent home as quickly as possible.
• Community Corrections and Pretrial: Community Corrections and Pretrial conducts interviews and investigations on incarcerated adult defendants scheduled to appear in arraignment court; the information from this investigation provides assistance to the Courts in making relase decisions.  Adult defendants and offenders are supervised in the community on pretrial or probation supervision.  Pretrial supervision is pre-adjudication of a criminal charge and Community Corrections Probation is post-disposition of a criminal charge.
• Financial Assistance Division: The Financial Assistance Division (FAD) supports energy assistance, medical assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance of Needy Families (TANF) and General Relief for eligible citizens in Virginia Beach. 
• Juvenile Detention Center: The Juvenile Detention Center (JDC) provides temporary and safe custody of juveniles with criminal charges that requires a restricted environment for their own protection or that of the public.  While residing at the JDC, a number of programs and services are provided on-site to assist residents throughout their detention.

​Continuous Qua​lity Improvement (CQI)​: Monitors and reports on all levels of quality throughout DHS to ensure the highest quality services are provided to internal and external customers. Leverages the use of technology to ensure data integrity, and enforce compliance and adherence to internal and external requirements for Medicaid, Licensure, CARF, HIPAA, Corporate Compliance and the Anasazi Electronic Health Record (EHR).