About Human Services
The Department of Human Services provides Virginia Beach citizens 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.

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 Executive Leadership

Aileen L. Smith, Director, Human Services

Aileen L. Smith became the Director of the Virginia Beach Department of Human Services (VBDHS) on August 29, 2019 overseeing Social Services, Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. Prior to accepting this position she was the Deputy Director for VBDHS Behavioral Health Developmental Services. She has worked in the field of public service in intellectual disabilities, mental health, substance use and prevention for the last 27 years. Mrs. Smith began her career by working for First Hospital Corporation, the Barry Robinson Center, and the Norfolk Psychiatric Center in both Quality Assurance and clinical roles. In 1995, she started her employment with the Norfolk Community Services Board (NCSB) and worked for this agency for 17 years. Mrs. Smith performed many different program leadership roles for the NCSB to include the Mental Retardation (MR) Director position (1998-2002), the MR and Family Development Director (2002-2006) and the Community Support Director position (2006-2012) which primarily focused on mental health substance use treatment and service expansion. In February of 2012, Mrs. Smith became employed with the City of Virginia Beach’s Department of Human Services. As the Director of this agency, Mrs. Smith oversees a budget of $124,000,000. There are over 1500 staff members in the agency who work in 29 locations within the City of Virginia Beach. Mrs. Smith has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Counseling from Old Dominion University. She is a graduate from the LEAD Leadership program at the University of Virginia and became a Fellow of Georgetown University’s Center for Juvenile Justice Reform in 2016. She served on Governor McAuliffe’s Behavioral Health and Justice Center Advisory Committee (CAG) as well as the Hampton Roads Heroin Task Force, Governor Northam’s Mental Health Policy Workgroup and the Virginia Jail Mental Health Standards Workgroup. Mrs. Smith is currently the chair of the Region V CSB Executive Director’s leadership team.   

Contact info: Department of Human Services, 3432 Virginia Beach Blvd, Suite 342, Virginia Beach, VA 23452  Phone: 385-3266


Angela Hicks, Deputy Director of  Behavioral Health

Ms. Angela Hicks accpted the postion of Deputy Director of Behavioral Health effective November 21, 2019..

Ms. Hicks has 23 years of experience in the field of behavioral health. She began her career working in psychiatric hospitals in Boston and Virginia Beach where she gained experience working with children, adolescents and adults. Ms. Hicks moved into community-based services and has worked in the CSB service system for 18 years.  For the last six years, she has served on the DHS Senior Leadership Team as the Virginia Beach Behavioral Health Division Administrator. She has partnered with Human Services staff and external stakeholders to usher in multiple service enhancements such as a new PACT Team, integrated forensic services, mobile co-responder team, enhanced care coordination, REVIVE training and other opioid treatment and recovery initiatives.  She serves on the Behavioral Health/Substance Use Council and chaired a regional Mental Health/Intellectual Disabilities Workgroup related to crisis response for the ID/DD population. Ms. Hicks has also served on the Virginia Jail Mental Health Standards Workgroup, Virginia Beach Drug Court Steering Committee, Mayor’s Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team, Virginia Beach Mental Health Coalition, Virginia Beach Public Health Workgroup and more. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Business Management. Ms. Hicks is also a Registered Nurse and a champion for the integration of behavioral and medical care. She is a member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association.

Contact Info: Community Services Board Administration, 297 Independence Blvd, Suite 302, Virginia Beach, VA 23462  Phone:(757) 385-0504

Vacant, Deputy Director of Social Services

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

Donald R. Kirtland, PhD., 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  Phone: (757) 385-0642  

Dr. Louis Leone, Psychiatric Medical Director

 
Dr. Leone has served as the Acting Medical Director for the Virginia Beach Human Services Department since 2016 and has expanded his role as the Psychiatrist of the Program of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) program to overseeing all outpatient psychiatry for the agency.  Dr. Leone received his undergraduate degree in Biology from State University of New York at Stony Brook and his M.D. from Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela, Philippines.  He then went on to complete his residency training in Psychiatry at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS).   Dr. Leone started with the City of Virginia Beach in 2009 as a resident from EVMS and continued his career with the city at Magic Hollow, the Recovery Center (now Pathways Center) Lynnhaven Center, and eventually with PACT.  He is a member of the American Association of Community Psychiatrist and is certified with the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. 

Contact Info: 256 N. Witchduck Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23462   Phone:  (757) 385--0511

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  Phone: (757) 385-3204

Bryan Clark, Media and Communications Coordinator


Mr. Clark joined the Department on March 26, 2020, having previously worked with the City’s Communications Office since 2017. He is responsible for managing, developing and implementing communication policies and creating media connections. Mr. Clark will work closely with all of the DHS leaders and staff members to promote the mission and vision of the Department throughout our community by developing engagement initiatives and coordinating with city and state officials to advocate on behalf of our Department, the Community Services Board, and the Social Services Advisory Board. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C.

Contact Info: Human Services Administration, 3432 Virginia Beach Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23452  Phone: (757) 385-2347  ​

DL Mears, Human Resources Administrator​​

Ms. DL Mears joined the department and the Executive Leadership Team on December 5, 2019, As the Human Services Administrator, Ms. Mears will provide human resources leadership for an average of 1,100 full time employees, 300 contract and 128 part-time staff positions. She will have oversight for recruitment and selection, training and development, performance management, employee relations and specialized leave and compensation for the department.

Ms. Mears brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in Human Resources. She has over 29 years of leadership and supervisory experience, including the management of departmental operating budgets. Having served with Cities of Hampton and Chesapeake and Loudoun County, Ms. Mears provided strategic leadership in the planning and implementation of quality-based, integrated human resources programs.

Ms. Mears holds a Master of Science degree in Human Resources Management from Troy State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration as a Deans’ List Honoree from Mary Washington College. Her professional affiliations are with the Society for Human Resources Management, International Personnel Management Association, American Compensation Association, Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing; and a former board member of the American Society for Training and Development.


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

 Divisional Leadership

Elizabeth Batista-Boone, Housing Resource Center Site Administrator

Ms. Elizabeth Batista-Boone has over 25 years of experience working in the Human Services profession. She graduated with a BA in Psychology from the College of Saint Elizabeth in Morristown, NJ. After graduating she returned to her home town of Jersey City, NJ, where she began her professional career as a Director of Prenatal Services for a Health Clinic. There she received much of her practical experience and solid foundation as a Social Worker.  

Ms. Batista-Boone joined the Virginia Beach Human Services Department (HSD) in 1999 shortly after relocating to Virginia Beach from New Jersey.  After receiving her Masters in Clinical Social Work - MSW from Norfolk State University, she followed her passion of working with domestic violence victims and survivors. Utilizing her grant writing skills she wrote her way into a newly developed position as the Domestic Violence Clinician for HSD. Several years later after firmly establishing the domestic violence program she decided to return to her first love as a leader and manager. She has been the administrator for the Adult and Employment Services Division since 2013 and was recently named as the Human Services Housing Resource Center Site Administrator.

Contact Info: Housing Resource Center, 104 N. Witchduck Road, 3rd Floor, Virginia Beach, VA 23462  Phone: (757) 385-3524

 
Deidra W. Bolden, Financial Assistance Division Administrator
 
Ms. Deidra W. Bolden is the Social Services Financial Assistance Division (FAD) Administrator responsible for overseeing and administering benefits programs, most of which are funded by the federal and state government.  The programs include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, Energy Assistance, and local programs which include General Relief and the Water Assistance Program.
 
Ms. Bolden has over 25 years of experience working in human service delivery and financial assistance programs.  Prior to becoming the FAD Administrator, Ms. Bolden was an Assistant Director for the Office of Family Independence with the Georgia Department of Family and Children's Services (DFCS).  In this role she provided oversight, coordination, and monitoring at the state level for Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Education and Training, and Performance, Planning, and Reporting.  Ms. Bolden worked for more than 21 years with Georgia DFCS.  Earlier in her career, she worked as State Director for the Title IV-E Foster Care Medicaid Program, Regional TANF Consultant, Eligibility Supervisor, and as a Family Independence Case Manager.
 
Contact Info: Social Services, 3432 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach, VA 23452  Phone: (757) 385-3620

 
Timothy M. Capoldo, Developmental Services Administrator​

Mr. Timothy Capoldo has over 23 years of experience in the Intellectual Disabilities (ID), Mental Health and Substance Use field and comes to us from Norfolk where, as ID Director, for the Norfolk CSB, he has overseen the City of Norfolk’s Intellectual Disability Support Coordination program, Infant and Part-C Services, Child and Adolescent Services, Intake and Outpatient Services, ID Residential and the Virginia Independent Clinical Assessment Program (VICAP). He served as the State ID Director Chair from 2013 to 2015.  Mr. Capoldo received his Bachelor’s in ​Psychology and his MPA from Old Dominion University. ​
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Contact Info: Human Services Developmental Services, Pembroke 6, 297 Independence Boulevard, Suite 218, Virginia Beach, VA 23462  Phone: (757) 385-0601
 
 
D. Rebecca China, Children's Services Act (CSA), Administrator
 
D. Rebecca China began her role with the department as Children's Services (CSA) Administrator on September 22, 2015.  Ms. China holds a B.A. degree in Psychology from Mary Washington College and a M.B.A. from Old Dominion University.  Ms. China began her career in the Tidewater area where she worked for the Tidewater Youth Services Commission for 17 years operating group homes, electronic monitoring and created their 501 (c)(3) foundation.  While in this role, she served on the original funding committee that created the CSA funding streams. 

Ms. China served in executive management in both state and local government as well as in the non-profit and for-profit private sectors.  Her experience includes managing program funding for local juvenile justice programs in Virginia communities to include detention centers, group homes and community programs for DJJ and building a private company specializing in mental health services for juvenile corrections, First Corrections Corporation, for First Hospital Corporation from two people to 500 employees in six states and Puerto Rico. Shortly after 9/11, Ms. China decided to return to working locally where she served as the Executive Director for Jackson-Field Homes and developed the mothers and babies program for foster care teen mothers.   In 2009, she accepted the position of CSA Administrator for the City of Richmond where she served for six years.  

Contact Info: Social Services, 3432 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach, VA 23452  Phone: (757) 385-3341

 

Vacant, Behavioral Health Administrator

 
Contact Info: Behavioral Health, Pembroke 6, 297 Independence Boulevard, Suite 302, Virginia Beach, VA 23462   Phone: (757) 385-0504 

 
Sharon Jones, Community Corrections and Pretrial Administrator
Ms. Sharon Jones has over 30 years of experience in the criminal justice field.  She began her career as a State Probation and Parole Officer.  Thereafter, she worked as the Deputy Director of Prince William County Criminal Justice Services.  She has been the Administrator of Virginia Beach Community Corrections and Pretrial since 2005. 
 
Ms. Jones has been an active member of Virginia Community Criminal Justice Association for many years having served in several positions on the Executive Board and the conference committee.  Locally, she serves as the co-chair of the Virginia Beach Re-Entry Council.  Ms. Jones holds a Bachelor degree in Social Work and a Master's degree in Business Administration.
 
Contact Info:  Community Corrections and Pretrial, Municipal Center, Building 10B, 2425 Nimmo Parkway, Suite C107, Virginia Beach, VA 23456  Phone:  (757) 385-4689
 
 
Alfred Steward, Child Welfare Division Administrator
Mr. Steward has over 29 years of experience in the human services field.  He began his career with First Hospital Corporation where he served in a variety of roles for ten years, most notably as a Regional Group Home Manager and was responsible for developing and managing community-based group homes for male and female adolescents.  Mr. Steward began working in the public sector in the mid 1990's; he served as a Program Manager at Beaumont Juvenile Correctional Center and was part of a team that developed and managed therapeutic programs at the facility.  He has worked in child welfare since 1998 and served as a Child Welfare Social Worker, Social Work Supervisor, Child Welfare Programs Manager, and now as a Child Welfare Administrator providing direct services, supervision and managerial oversight for Child Protective Services, Ongoing Child Protective Services, Resource Development, Foster Care and Adoptions, and Prevention Services. 
 
Mr. Steward earned a Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration in 1988 and a Master of Arts Degree in Guidance and Counseling in 2001 from Norfolk State University. 

Contact Information: Social Services 3432 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach, VA 23452  Phone: (757) 385-3624

 
Jim Thornton, Child and Youth ​Administrator

Mr. Jim Thornton is a Licensed Professional Counselor with 23 years of experience working with emotionally disturbed youth and their families. Mr. Thornton has worked in both the private and public mental health sectors, founding a private practice in Lynchburg, Virginia, before accepting the position of Intensive Community Services Director for the Central Virginia Community Services Board (now Horizon Behavioral Health). While in that position, he supervised multiple programs, including the state's first fully-functioning mobile crisis team for children and adolescents. He helped develop and implement a youth crisis stabilization program that provided seven days per week of intensive service to youth in multiple localities. In August of 2012, he moved to Virginia Beach to become the Clinical Services Coordinator for the Child and Youth MH/SA Division with the City of Virginia Beach, where he was also able to successfully start a Youth Mobile Crisis Intervention Program in addition to the many other services the division provides.​

Contact Info: Human Services Child and Youth Services, Pembroke 6, 297 Independence Boulevard, Suite 300, Virginia Beach, VA 23462  Phone: (757) 385-0850
 

Aaron Dwane Knight, Juvenile Detention Center Superintendent

Mr. Aaron Dwayne Knight has been selected as the Juvenile Detention Center Superintendent and assumed the position effective December 05, 2019, under the leadership of the Social Services Deputy Director.

Mr. Knight previously served as the Assistant Superintendent of teh Virginia Beach Juvenile Detention Center (VBJDC). He came to the Department of Human Services having sixteen years of education and experience in the adult and youth behavioral health and counseling fields. Mr. Knight holds a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Elizabeth City State University of North Carolina.

Mr. Knight came aboard as a Youth Services Supervisor in June 2004 and after seven yearsin this role was promoted to Operations Coordinator/Assistant Superintendent in June 2012. With the combined leadership of Mr. Knight and the former Superintendent, VBJDC has received many accolades for site innovation and leading the region in juvenile justice reform. Me Knight not only upholds high standards of professionalism and comradery with the staff and residents, he is often spoken of as having an excellent rapport and work ethics.

 

Contact Info: Juvenile Detention Center, Municipal Center Building, 2533 George Mason Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23456  Phone:  (757) 385-0690​ ​

 DHS Divisions
Administrative Services: Manages, plans, develops, and coordinates the current and future needs for the department. Administers the Billing and Reimbursement office, transportation, budgeting, sectors and is responsible for Virginia Consumer Community Submission reporting.  Facilitates coordination between HSD and contractual partners. Functions include:

  • 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 Developmental Services:  The Behavioral Health Developmental Services (BHDS) Division is part of the City of Virginia Beach's Human Services Department which plans, organizes and provides treatment and services for people in the Virginia Beach community who have Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.  BHDS serves Virginia Beach children, adolescents and adults across the lifespan.  Most services are primarily for people whose conditions seriously impact their daily functioning.  However, anyone with a related concern may contact BHDS for help in finding appropriate treatment and resources. 
  • 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 Service and Adult Service Programs: Adult Services promotes safety for adults 60 years old and older and incapacitated adults age 18 and above from abuse, neglect, or exploitation.  Adult Protective Serve and Adult Service Programs include:

    • Adult Protective Services
    • Adult Services Programs
    • Adult Foster Care
    • Assisted Living
    • Companion Services
    • Guardianship
    • Long-Term Care

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.  Employment Services Programs include:

    • Child Care
    • Employment Services
    • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment Training (SNAPET)
    • Virginia Initiative For Employment Not Welfare (VIEW)

Children's Services Act (CSA): A collaborative entity serving Virginia Beach children referred by social services, behavioral health, court services and public schools.  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.  CSA programs include:

    • Community Policy and Management Team (CPMT) Support
    • Coordination of Quality Assurance and Accountability (QAA) and Title IV-E Audit Reviews
    • Data Management
    • Eligibility Determination for the Title IV-E and Medicaid for Foster Children
    • Family and Assessment Planning Team (FAPT)
    • Funding and Payment Authorizations
    • Managing and Tracking Services and Compliance with Fostering Futures
    • Managing the Family Preservation and Support Program (FPSP) Funds
    • Managing the Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) Funds
    • Parent Referrals
    • Provider Contracts and Evaluation
    • Utilization Management and Review
    • Stakeholder Training and Community Education

Child Welfare Division:  Child welfare services are intended to prevent the abuse or neglect of children; ensuring that children have safe, permanent homes; and promote the well-being of children and their families.  Child welfare is a broad term that is used to describe the process of protecting children from abuse and neglect.  Child welfare services include investigations of child maltreatment, foster care, adoptions, prevention services, foster parent recruitment and training and a variety of case management services. Programs include:

    • Adoption
    • Child Welfare - Safety
    • Child Protective Services (CPS) Hotline and Intake
    • CPS Investigations
    • CPS Ongoing
    • Foster Care Intake Unit
    • Foster Care Services
    • Prevention Programs

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 release 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.  Services include:

    • Community Corrections Probation
    • Investigations
    • Pretrial Services
    • Supervision

Financial Assistance Division (FAD): The Financial Assistance Division (FAD) administers many different financial assistance programs, most of which are financed by the federal and state government.  The programs are targeted for eligible families and individual citizens in the city of Virginia Beach, with incomes at or below the poverty level.  Programs include:

Juvenile Detention Center (JDC): The Juvenile Detention Center 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. Programs include:

    • Community Placement Program
    • Medical Services
    • Post-Dispositional Services
    • Reentry Program
    • Virginia Beach Public School Education 

​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).

Key components of the CQI office:​
  • Information Technology
  • Quality Management / Process Improvement
  • Technology-Electronic Health Records and Data Integrity
  • Documentation and Clinical Rec​ords
  • Licensure, Regulatory and Compliance
  • Human Rights Investigation
  • Incident Tracking
  • Policy and Procedure
  • Accreditation​​​
     

 Organizational Values
  • Customer Service – We provide services responsive to customer needs and preferences. Attention to feedback from our customers and incorporation of that feedback into our planning and programs helps to ensure quality customer service​
  • Consumer Choice – We recognize and honor the rights, responsibilities and preferences of the consumer and family member in the development of individualized service plans. We strive to support consumers in identifying services to maximize their potential for independence and improved quality of life.
  • Participatory Decision Making – We encourage participation of all stakeholders including consumers, family members, advocates, staff and other community interests in agency decision-making. We understand the importance of incorporating diverse perspectives in our efforts to meet community needs.
  • Continuous Quality Improvement – We encourage Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) as an overall agency philosophy that emphasizes innovation and critical analysis of current performance. Desired outcomes are compared with current reality, and the resulting gap offers opportunities for CQI initiatives based upon data analysis.
  • Systems Thinking – We promote agency planning and decision-making based upon a system-wide consideration of programs or policies. We also ensure that our services are aligned with the outcomes identified by the Virginia Beach Quality Services System Strategic Plan with particular focus upon Safe Community and Family and Youth Opportunity strategic goals.
  • Public Awareness – We work to increase public awareness and knowledge of the issues, needs and expectations surrounding our consumers in order to enhanc​e community support of disabled persons.
  • Interagency Cooperation – We focus our resources upon those programs and services not provided by other organizations in our community. We work in partnership with other agencies and organizations when appropriate.
  • Integrity – We promote professional and ethical behavior on the part of staff that serves a vulnerable population. We strive to assure that we comply with all appropriate state and federal rules, regulations and codes.
  • Community Based Services – We believe all consumers should be afforded the opportunity to live successfully in the community and participate fully in the benefits ​offered to Virginia Beach citizens.​
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Contact Information
VB Resource Guide_April2018.jpgThe latest version of the HSD Resource Guide is available to view and download Program descriptions and contact information are conveniently laid out in one resource guide. 
 
Please note that programs, contact information and descriptions may change. The guide will be updated periodically; please check back frequently to download the latest version.