Virginia Department Of Behavioral Health And Developmental Services

What Virginia Department Of Behavioral Health And Developmental Services does

The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) is a Virginia state government agency, established in 1906 and headquartered in Richmond, that plans, funds, and monitors the delivery of behavioral health and developmental disability services across the Commonwealth. It operates 12 state facilities — including eight behavioral health hospitals, the Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents, the Southeastern Virginia Training Center, the Hiram W. Davis Medical Center, and the Virginia Center for Behavioral Rehabilitation — and oversees a network of 40 Community Services Boards (CSBs) that serve as the primary point of entry for publicly funded services in every Virginia county and city.

The agency delivers a comprehensive service portfolio organized around five major program areas: behavioral health (mental health and substance use treatment, crisis intervention including the Virginia 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, recovery support with certified Peer Recovery Specialists), developmental services (Medicaid Home and Community-Based DD Waiver services, the Individual and Family Support Program, integrated health, housing and employment supports), child and family services, forensic services (competency restoration, jail-based treatment, sexually violent predator services), and clinical quality management. Core technology assets include the DELTA authentication system, an Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW) supporting CSB data submissions and reporting, a Web Grants Management System, and CSB Performance and Census/Waitlist Dashboards; in 2025, the agency earned an AWS Champions Award for migrating key applications to AWS and redeveloping the Discharge Assistance Program on a cloud-based platform, reducing processing times from days to minutes.

DBHDS does not operate as a commercial enterprise. It is funded through a combination of Virginia state appropriations, federal block grants from SAMHSA (Mental Health Services Block Grant $24.7M–$25.2M and Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant $47.6M–$48M), and Medicaid waiver dollars — together supporting a $2 billion annual system serving over 200,000 Virginians with a workforce of 6,500+ dedicated professionals. Services are provided regardless of ability to pay on a sliding-fee scale with Medicaid acceptance, positioning the agency as the state's behavioral health safety net under the statutory authority of Title 37.2 of the Code of Virginia.

Name

Virginia Department Of Behavioral Health And Developmental Services

Legal name

Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

Website

https://dbhds.virginia.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1906

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services is a Virginia state agency that plans, funds, and oversees behavioral health and developmental disability services for over 200,000 Virginians annually through 12 state facilities and a network of 40 Community Services Boards, operating a $2 billion system with a 6,500+ person workforce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Behavioral Health Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Behavioral Health for Children & Adolescents (Youth Services) (HLAFACAL), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH), Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

Keywords

• Behavioral health services
• Developmental disability services
• Mental health treatment
• Substance use services
• Crisis intervention

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Budget Funding: DBHDS is a state government agency that operates a $2 billion system funded through state appropriations, federal block grants (MHBG $24.7M-$25.2M, SUPTRSBG $47.6M-$48M), and Medicaid waiver funding
2. Federal Block Grants: Receives federal funds from SAMHSA including Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG) and Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant (SUPTRSBG)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Virginia's state agency for behavioral health and developmental disability services, operating 12 state hospitals and centers and overseeing 40 Community Services Boards to deliver mental health, substance use, crisis, and developmental disability services. Services include the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Medicaid Home and Community-Based Waiver services, recovery and peer support, REVIVE! overdose training, forensic and SVP services, and licensing/oversight of community providers.

Product overview

The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) is a state government agency that operates a comprehensive system of behavioral health and developmental disability services. The agency operates 12 state facilities (including eight behavioral health hospitals, a training center, psychiatric facility for children, a medical center, and a behavioral rehabilitation center) and oversees a network of 40 Community Services Boards (CSBs) that serve as the primary point of entry for services. The core technology infrastructure includes the DELTA authentication system, Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW), Web Grants Management System, and various dashboards for CSB performance and census tracking. Key service programs include the Virginia 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Medicaid Developmental Disability Waiver services, Individual and Family Support Program (IFSP), Recovery Support Services with certified Peer Recovery Specialists, and various specialized programs such as the Developmental Services Mobile Dental Program, Project Link, Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), and REVIVE! training. The agency also provides forensic services and SVP services, and manages clinical quality through its Division of Clinical and Quality Management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Virginia 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Statewide crisis hotline accessible by calling or texting 988, providing immediate mental health, substance use, or emotional support for individuals in crisis.
• Community Services Boards (CSB) Network Network of 40 local community agencies across every Virginia county and city that serve as the primary point of entry for behavioral health and developmental services.
• State Behavioral Health Facilities Twelve state-operated facilities providing intensive, highly structured services for individuals with mental illness, intellectual disability, or substance use disorder needs, including Catawba Hospital, Central State Hospital, Western State Hospital, Eastern State Hospital, NVMHI, Piedmont Geriatric Hospital, SVMHI, SWVMHI, SEVTC, Hiram W Davis Medical Center, VCBR, and CCCA.
• Medicaid Developmental Disability Waiver Services Home and Community-Based Developmental Disability Waiver services providing funding and support for individuals with developmental disabilities to receive care in community settings, including 3,440 Priority One Waiver Slots funded in the 2024-2026 Biennium Budget.
• Individual and Family Support Program (IFSP) Program assisting individuals with developmental disabilities and their families with accessing resources, supports, and services, with primary focus on those on waiting lists for DD Medicaid waivers.
• Recovery Support Services Peer support services delivered by certified Peer Recovery Specialists and Family Support Partners who provide non-clinical, person-centered support to individuals in recovery from mental health and substance use challenges.
• Child and Family Services Behavioral health services for children and adolescents including the Virginia Family Network Initiative, NAMI Virginia Next Gen, trauma-informed care resources, and evidence-based practice programs.
• Developmental Services Mobile Dental Program Mobile dental program serving individuals with developmental disabilities in the community.
• Project Link Program supporting pregnant and parenting women with behavioral health and developmental services.
• Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Housing program helping provide stable housing to individuals with serious mental illness.
• REVIVE! Training Program Opioid overdose prevention training program that teaches individuals how to recognize and respond to opioid overdoses using naloxone.
• My Life, My Community Online resource tool helping people with developmental disabilities and their families find information about services and supports available in Virginia.
• Clinical and Quality Management Division Division focused on improving quality of care through five offices: Clinical Quality Management, Community Quality Management, Community Behavioral Health Quality Management, Mortality Review, and Quality Assurance and Healthcare Compliance.
• Forensic Services Services including mental health evaluations and screenings, treatment of individuals with mental illness in jail, case management, and restoration of competency to stand trial.
• SVP (Sexually Violent Predator) Services Evaluation, treatment, and supervision services for individuals found by court to meet criteria of sexually violent predator.
• Virtual Mental Health Counseling Program (Chesapeake Public Schools) Free virtual mental health counseling program operated in partnership with Chesapeake Public Schools to serve approximately 40,000 K-12 students and their families, funded by a five-year $300,000 DBHDS grant.
• Web Grants Management System Online portal enabling DBHDS partners to apply for funding, submit reimbursement requests, manage grants, and report performance requirements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced processing times from days to minutes through cloud modernization
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• Chesapeake Public SchoolsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 March 2024Chesapeake Public Schools partnered with DBHDS and the Department of Education to launch a free virtual mental health counseling program for K-12 students and their families, funded through a five-year $300,000 state grant. The program aims to support approximately 40,000 students by addressing behavioral health needs and broader family challenges.
• Virginia Department of EducationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint funding partner with DBHDS for the Chesapeake Public Schools virtual mental health counseling program grant
• Virtual Peace of MindmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHealthcare provider operating the virtual mental health counseling program for Chesapeake Public Schools students and families under the DBHDS-funded grant
• Virginia Board for People with DisabilitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarding body recognizing DBHDS for information access and accessibility initiatives
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)majorTechnology or IntegrationCloud infrastructure partner for DBHDS cloud modernization initiative; awarded 2025 AWS Champions Award for migrating key applications to AWS and redeveloping the Discharge Assistance Program on a cloud-based platform

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities: State agency with nearly identical name and mission, operating behavioral health and developmental disability services across Georgia. Most directly comparable peer given parallel structure, services, and populations served.
• New York State Office of Mental Health: State agency operating psychiatric hospitals and community mental health system across New York. Comparable in scope (state hospital system, community services, Medicaid-funded care) and population scale.
• California Department of Health Care Services: California's state agency administering behavioral health, Medi-Cal mental health, and developmental services through county systems. Closest large-state analog to Virginia's CSB-based delivery model.
• Texas Health and Human Services Commission: Texas's state agency administering behavioral health services, IDD waiver programs, and state hospital operations. Similar large-scale, multi-population mandate.
• Pennsylvania Department of Human Services - Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services: Pennsylvania's behavioral health administering agency with county-based managed care and state hospital system. Comparable in delivery model (county joinders), funding mechanisms, and program scope.
• North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services - Division of Mental Health: Operates state psychiatric hospitals, community mental health, and developmental disability services. Particularly relevant given NC-based executive backgrounds of DBHDS Commissioner.
• Florida Department of Children and Families - Behavioral Health: Florida's state agency managing behavioral health, substance use, and developmental services through regional contracted managing entities. Comparable regulatory oversight role over community providers.
• Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services: Ohio's cabinet-level behavioral health agency providing community-based services, state hospital oversight, and addiction treatment programming. Comparable mission and state hospital footprint.

Regional players

• Maryland Behavioral Health Administration: Mid-Atlantic peer administering Maryland's public behavioral health system. Operates within a similar mid-Atlantic policy environment and serves comparable populations.

Others

• National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD): Membership association representing state behavioral health agencies including DBHDS. Connected via shared federal block grant funding, 988 crisis line operations, and DOJ Settlement coordination.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/VirginiaDBHDS
• Facebookfacebook.com/Virginia-Department-of-Behavioral-Health-and-Developmental-Services-280134895387790
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vdot

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments15 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Virginia Department Of Behavioral Health And Developmental Services