Virginia Regulatory Town Hall View Comments

Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

State Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

Rules and Regulations For Licensing Providers by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services [12 VAC 35 ‑ 105]

Action	General revisions to clarify, update, simplify and align with current code provisions
Stage	Proposed
Comment Period	Ended on 4/2/2010

Previous Comment Next Comment Back to List of Comments

3/15/10 1:53 pm

Commenter: Marshall Henson, SOC Enterprises

12VAC35-105-590 C. Provider staffing plan

With regards to the educational requirements - equivalency language would be beneficial in order to continue to promote Direct Support Professionals and Supervision of Direct Support Professionals as a valued/valid career path. In other words, education or experience equal to the educational requirement. It is important to maximize the amount of talented, skilled, passionate professionals in the field of disability services. Current proposed language may limit provider's ability to hire/promote individuals that are capable and would provide value to the population served.

Proposed revision to include equivalency language:

MR/ID

Supervision of employees, volunteers, contractors and student interns who provide supports for individuals with mental retardation (intellectual disability) shall be provided by a person with at least one year of documented experience working directly with individuals who have mental retardation (intellectual disability) or other developmental disabilities and holds at least a bachelor's degree in a human services field including but not limited to sociology, social work, special education, rehabilitation counseling, nursing, or psychology or an employee with experience equivalent to the educational requirement.

Supervision of employees, volunteers, contractors and student interns who provide supports for individuals with developmental disabilities shall be provided by a person possessing at least one year of documented experience working directly with individuals who have related conditions and is one of the following: a doctor of medicine or osteopathy; a registered nurse; or a person holding at least a bachelor's degree in a human service field including but not limited to sociology, social work, special education, rehabilitation counseling, or psychology or an employee with experience equivalent to the educational requirement.

CommentID: 13489