Virginia is moving to shut down four of its five mental facilities by the year 2022. US
Justice Department representatives are stating this is a “landmark agreement”
after the state settled with the department because the facilities didn’t
follow the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines. These shutdowns will mandate Virginia to
create more community living options for people with physical/mental
challenges.
“In virtually every corner of the country, we’re hearing
similar stories, parents who quit their jobs to care for their child,” Thomas
Perez, Assistant Attorney General, said. “It doesn’t take a math
whiz to know that you can serve more people and you can do it better (in the
community).”
This settlement requires Virginia to implement approximately
4,200 home and community living Medicaid-based waivers. Virginia will also have to improve crisis
services. Housing and employment
programs will increase because of the settlement.
This is the third settlement the justice department has
initiated with mental facilities in three years. Other states are looking to expand their
options towards community living. These
states include: Mississippi, North Carolina, and New Hampshire.
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