Human Rights
Individual Rights
Each individual receiving services at Southwestern Virginia Training Center shall be assured the freedom to exercise their legal, civil, and human rights related to those services. Residents receiving services shall be assured respect for basic human dignity and that services provided are consistent with sound therapeutic practice. The Rules and Regulations to Assure the rights of Individuals Receiving Services from Providers of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services provide details on individual rights and can be accessed on website of the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services at www.dmhmrsas.virginia.gov. Each resident and the legally authorized representative receives an annual notification of individual rights related to services received at Southwestern Virginia Training Center.
Advocacy
B. J. McKnight is the assigned Human Rights Advocate for Southwestern Virginia Training Center. The Human Rights Advocate monitors an advocacy system at Southwestern Virginia Training Center to promote compliance with individual rights. The advocate is available to help residents make a complaint about a possible violation of their rights and will represent the resident upon request or consult with any other representative the individual chooses. The advocate assigned to Southwestern Virginia Training Center is independent of the training center director and reports directly to the Office of Human Rights of the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services.
The advocate can initiate a complaint on a resident's behalf. The advocate will also receive complaints directly from residents and others at anytime. If the resident or legally authorized representative is not satisfied with the resolution of the complaint, a petition for a hearing may be submitted to Southwestern Virginia Training Center Local Human Rights Committee.
B. J. McKnight
Human Rights Advocate
P. O. Box 1328
Hillsville, VA 24343
Phone: (276) 728-1111
E-Mail: bj.mcknight@co.dmhmrsas.virginia.gov
Human Rights Complaints
Southwestern Virginia Training Center has an informal complaint process to respond to possible violations of individual rights regarding their services. Residents can make a complaint to any employee of the facility. Family members, volunteers, consultants, or employees can make a complaint on behalf of a resident. Once a complaint is received an event report will be completed and designated training center staff will attempt to resolve the complaint within 5 days. If the complaint is not resolved, then the director refers the complaint to the human rights advocate.
Local Human Rights Committee
The SWVTC Local Human rights Committee consists of community volunteers that broadly represent various professionals and consumer groups with an interest in mental health, intellectual disabilities or substance abuse issues. The Local Human Rights committee reviews policies, procedures, or practices that could jeopardize the rights of residents and receives complaints of alleged rights violations by or for individuals receiving services. the State Human Rights Committee appoints members to the Local Human Rights Committee and hears appeals of unresolved human rights complaints.
The Local Human Rights Committee encourages interested professionals and consumers to apply for membership. The Committee's regular meeting schedule is the fourth Wednesday of the month from January through October. The Committee has a combined November and December meeting on the first Wednesday in December. Meetings are held in Building 1 at Southwestern Virginia Training Center. Confidentiality of information regarding individuals receiving services must be observed at all times.
If you are interested in membership or would like to receive additional information, please call B. J. McKnight, Human Rights Advocate at (276) 728-1111. Applications are received annually from February through mid March. A personal interview will be required for all applicants initially selected.
2006 Local Human Rights Committee Tentative Meeting Schedule
| Meeting Date |
Agenda Deadline |
Location |
Minutes |
| January 24, 2007 |
January 11, 2006 |
SWVTC IHP Review Room |
None available for this meeting |
| February 22, 2006 |
February 8, 2006 |
SWVTC IHP Review Room |
*APPROVED*
Adobe PDF |
Word DOC |
|
| March 22, 2006 |
March 8, 2006 |
SWVTC IHP Review Room |
*APPROVED*
Adobe PDF |
Word DOC |
|
| April 26, 2006 |
April 12, 2006 |
SWVTC IHP Review Room |
*APPROVED*
Adobe PDF |
Word DOC |
|
| May 24, 2006 |
May 10, 2006 |
SWVTC IHP Review Room |
*APPROVED*
Adobe PDF |
Word DOC |
|
| June 28, 2006 |
June 14, 2006 |
SWVTC IHP Review Room |
*APPROVED*
Adobe PDF |
Word DOC |
|
| July 26, 2006 |
July 12, 2006 |
SWVTC IHP Review Room |
*APPROVED*
Adobe PDF |
Word DOC |
|
| August 23, 2006 |
August 9, 2006 |
SWVTC IHP Review Room |
*APPROVED*
Adobe PDF |
Word DOC |
|
| September 27, 2006 |
September 13, 2006 |
SWVTC IHP Review Room |
*APPROVED*
Adobe PDF |
Word DOC |
|
| October 25, 2006 |
October 11, 2006 |
SWVTC IHP Review Room |
*APPROVED*
Adobe PDF |
Word DOC |
|
| December 14, 2006 |
November 22, 2006 |
SWVTC IHP Review Room |
*APPROVED*
Adobe PDF |
Word DOC |
|
| January 24, 2007 |
January 9, 2007 |
SWVTC Conference Room 2 |
*APPROVED*
Adobe PDF |
Word DOC |
|
| February 28, 2007 |
February 13, 2007 |
SWVTC Conference Room 2 |
*APPROVED*
Adobe PDF |
Word DOC |
|
| March 28, 2007 |
March 13, 2007 |
SWVTC Conference Room 2 |
*APPROVED*
Adobe PDF |
Word DOC |
|
| April 25, 2007 |
April 10, 2007 |
SWVTC Conference Room 2 |
*APPROVED*
Adobe PDF |
Word DOC |
|
| May 23, 2007 |
May 8, 2007 |
SWVTC Conference Room 2 |
*APPROVED*
Adobe PDF |
Word DOC |
|
| June 27, 2007 |
June 12, 2007 |
SWVTC Conference Room 2 |
*APPROVED*
Adobe PDF |
Word DOC |
|
| July 25, 2007 |
July 10, 2007 |
SWVTC Conference Room 2 |
*APPROVED*
Adobe PDF |
Word DOC |
|
| August 22, 2007 |
August 7, 2007 |
SWVTC Conference Room 2 |
*APPROVED*
Adobe PDF |
Word DOC |
|
| September 26, 2007 |
September 11, 2007 |
SWVTC Conference Room 2 |
*APPROVED*
Adobe PDF |
Word DOC |
|
| October 24, 2007 |
October 9, 2007 |
SWVTC Conference Room 2 |
*APPROVED*
Adobe PDF |
Word DOC |
|
| December 5, 2007 |
November 20, 2007 |
SWVTC Conference Room 2 |
*APPROVED*
Adobe PDF |
Word DOC |
|
| January 23, 2008 |
January 9, 2008 |
SWVTC Conference Room 2 |
*APPROVED*
Adobe PDF |
Word DOC |
|
| February 27, 2008 |
February 13, 2008 |
SWVTC Conference Room 2 |
*APPROVED*
Adobe PDF |
Word DOC |
|
| March 26, 2008 |
March 12, 2008 |
SWVTC Conference Room 2 |
*APPROVED*
Adobe PDF |
Word DOC |
|
| April 23, 2008 |
April 9, 2008 |
SWVTC Conference Room 2 |
*DRAFT*
Adobe PDF |
Word DOC |
|
| May 28, 2008 |
May 14, 2008 |
SWVTC Conference Room 2 |
|
| June 25, 2008 |
June 11, 2008 |
SWVTC Conference Room 2 |
|
| July 23, 2008 |
July 9, 2008 |
SWVTC Conference Room 2 |
|
| August 27, 2008 |
August 13, 2008 |
SWVTC Conference Room 2 |
|
| September 24, 2008 |
September 10, 2008 |
SWVTC Conference Room 2 |
|
| October 22, 2008 |
October 8, 2008 |
SWVTC Conference Room 2 |
|
| December 3, 2008 |
November 19, 2008 |
SWVTC Conference Room 2 |
|
Reporting Suspected Abuse or Neglect
Any person who has any knowledge or reason to believe that a resident may have been abused or neglected must immediately report this information directly to Dale Woods, Director, or his designee. Reason to believe abuse or neglect may have occurred can be based on direct observation, a report made by a resident or staff member, behavioral/physical indicators of abuse or neglect, or by any other means. An allegation of possible resident abuse is so serious that any information regarding it must be given directly to the director of Southwestern Virginia Training Center so that immediate action can be taken to protect residents. The person reporting the allegation should describe the incident as fully as possible, giving the names of any persons involved, the time, date and location of the incident, and the names of any witnesses.
What is Abuse or Neglect
"Abuse" means any act or failure to act by an employee or other person responsible for the care of an individual that was performed or was failed to be performed knowingly, recklessly, or intentionally, and that caused or might have caused physical or psychological harm, injury, or death to an individual receiving services. Examples of abuse include but are not limited to the following:
- Rape, sexual assault, or other criminal sexual behavior;
- Assault or battery;
- Use of language that demeans, threatens, intimidates or humiliates the person;
- Misuse or misappropriation of the person's assets, goods or property;
- Use of excessive force when placing a person in physical or mechanical restraint;
- Use on a person of physical or mechanical restraints that is not in compliance with federal and state laws, regulations, and policies, professionally accepted standards of practice or the person's individualized services plan; and
- Use of more restrictive or intensive services or denial of services to punish the person or that is not consistent with his individualized services plan. See § 37.1-1 of the Code of Virginia.
"Neglect" means the failure by an individual, program or facility responsible for providing services to provide nourishment, treatment, care, goods, or services necessary to the health, safety or welfare of a person receiving care or treatment for mental illness, intellectual disabilities or substance abuse. See § 37.1-1 of the Code of Virginia
This File Was Last Modified: Tuesday May 22, 2007
