What began as a proposal to end sober home operators’ control over residents’ treatment ultimately became language that preserves the existing business model. During workgroup sessions convened earlier this year under Virginia Senate Bill 838, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) introduced draft language addressing what should happen when recovery residences cross […]
At last week’s final meeting of the SB838 recovery housing workgroup, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) announced a draft proposal aimed at stopping sober home operators from dictating their residents’ treatment. First introduced at the final subgroup meeting on Aug. 26, the draft states: Require residences that provide clinical services (ex: […]
Who can sober home residents turn to if they’re being exploited or treated unfairly? Who can family members or neighbors call when they have concerns? For years, the options have been slim. Complaints about uncertified residences had no outlet at all. For certified homes, people could get in touch with one of two nongovernmental credentialing […]
This article contains one update. Will the recovery housing workgroup make any progress toward protecting residents’ rights to choose their own healthcare providers? As with protections from arbitrary evictions, the answer is unclear. This is the fifth in a series of updates on the SB838 workgroup, which is still deliberating on recommendations — due to […]
Will sober home residents gain protection from abrupt, unjust evictions? That remains an open question. This is the fourth in a series of updates on the SB838 workgroup, which is still deliberating on recommendations — due to the General Assembly by Nov. 1 — to strengthen oversight, transparency and resident rights in Virginia’s recovery housing […]
Draft proposals would establish baseline living conditions for recovery homes and introduce government enforcement for the first time. This is the third in a series of brief updates on the SB838 workgroup, which is still deliberating on recommendations — due to the General Assembly by Nov. 1 — to strengthen oversight, transparency and resident rights […]
Draft proposals for sober home bed fee assistance mark a major pivot from an operator-controlled process to one centered on resident choice. This is the second in a series of brief updates on the SB838 workgroup, which is still deliberating on recommendations — due to the General Assembly by Nov. 1 — to strengthen oversight, […]
The SB838 workgroup is still deliberating on recommendations — due to the General Assembly by Nov. 1 — aimed at strengthening oversight, transparency and resident rights in Virginia’s recovery housing industry. Since my last update, members have held a second round of subgroup meetings and reconvened for a full workgroup session. This is the first […]
The SB838 workgroup — tasked with making recommendations to strengthen oversight and transparency in Virginia recovery homes — will hold its second full public meeting from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, in the Patrick Henry Building at 1111 E. Broad St. Going forward, I will post the workgroup schedule and links to related […]
Virginia’s legislatively mandated recovery housing workgroup held its first two subgroup meetings virtually last week. Each was set to tackle a different set of recommendations related to improving oversight, transparency and resident rights in recovery housing, as delineated in Senate Bill 838, sponsored by state Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg (D-Henrico). The back-to-back meetings included stakeholder presentations […]
The first two subgroup meetings of the SB838 workgroup will be held virtually this Tuesday, June 24. Subgroup 1, focusing on requirements for recovery housing certification, will meet from 1:30 to 3 p.m. From the Event Details page of the Commonwealth Calendar: Subgroup 1: Requirements for Certification will focus on the following parts of the […]
Last Thursday, the Richmond Times-Dispatch published a story with the headline, “State cuts off money to agency supporting halfway homes for recovering addicts.” Reporter Luca Powell wrote: Language in this year’s budget takes nearly $2 million away from the Virginia Association of Recovery Residences, or VARR. The organization certifies group homes, of which there are […]
The Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources is getting a head start on convening the legislatively mandated workgroup charged with making recommendations to improve oversight and transparency in Virginia recovery homes. The first meeting, which is open to the public, will be held from 10 a.m. to noon tomorrow, May 29, in […]