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Office of Human Rights


Local Human Rights Committee


The Local Human Rights Committee (LHRC) consist of volunteers who are broadly representative of various professional and consumer interest in mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services. The committee's responsibility is to perform certain functions specified in the book entitled "Rules and Regulations to Assure the Rights of Individuals Receiving Services from the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services". The State Human Rights Committee (SHRC) appoints members to the LHRC.


The LHRC Plays a vital role by:

  1. Conducting fact finding hearings and making recommendations for resolution of complaints not resolved informally;
  2. Reviewing and making recommendations concerning policies, procedures, practices, treatment plans and restrictive programming;
  3. Reviewing and making recommendations concerning requests for variance to the Human Rights Regulations; and
  4. Performing other oversight functions in the Local Human Rights Bylaws.

LHRC Membership:

The SVTC-LHRC is always eagar to hear from individuals who have an interest in serving as members. As required by Virginia Code 37.2-204, one third of the LHRC members shall be consumers or family members of consumers, with at least one health care provider. No current employee of the Department; a community services board, behavioral health authority or local government department with a policy-advisory community services board; or any facility or program licensed or funded by the department shall serve as a member of any local human rights committe that serves as an oversight function for the employing facility, program or organization. For more information about the LHRC, or inquiries regarding committee membership and vacancies please contact:

Ms. Beverly Garnes, Human Rights Advocate
Southside Virginia Training Center
P.O. Box 4030 - 26317 W. Washington Street
Petersburg, Virginia 23803

Telephone:
(804) 524-7231/7431
Fax:
(804) 524-7398
Email:
Beverly.Garnes@CO.dmhmrsas.virginia.gov.

A personal interview conducted by members of the SVTC-LHRC is required of all applicants for committee membership in addition to the completion of a Local Human Rights Application Form. The final decision regarding appointments are made by the State Human Rights Committee.

LHRC Meeting:

The Local Human Rights Committee (LHRC) holds monthly meetings at 1:00p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month in Conference Room B, building 1 on the north campus of SVTC. Meeting dates are posted as confirmed. Meetings of the LHRC shall be opened to interested persons as provided in The Rules and Regulations to Assure the Rights of Individuals Receiving Services from Providers of the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services and applicable sections of the code of Virginia. Visitors wishing to attend any meeting may contact Beverly Garnes, Human Rights Advocate by telephone at (804) 524-7431 or by email at Beverly.Garnes@CO.dmhmrsas.virginia.gov.

LHRC Links:

Meeting Minutes

Meeting Schedule

Date Minutes Agenda_Deadline Location
January 9, 2008 Meeting Minutes December 27, 2007 Building 1, Conf. Room B
February 13, 2008 Meeting Minutes February 1, 2008 Building 1, Conf. Room B
March 12, 2008 Meeting Minutes February 29, 2008 Building 1, Conf. Room B
April 9, 2008 Meeting Minutes March 27, 2008 Building 1, Conf. Room B
May 14, 2008 Meeting Minutes May 2, 2008 Building 1, Conf. Room B
June 11, 2008 Meeting Minutes May 30, 2008 Building 1, Conf. Room B
July 9, 2008 Meeting Minutes June 27, 2008 Building 1, Conf. Room B
August 13, 2008 Meeting Minutes August 1, 2008 Building 1, Conf. Room B
September 10, 2008 Meeting Minutes August 29, 2008 Building 1, Conf. Room B
October 8, 2008 Meeting Minutes September 26, 2008 Building 1, Conf. Room B
November 12, 2008 Meeting Minutes October 31, 2008 Building 1, Conf. Room B
December 10, 2008 Meeting Minutes November 25, 2008 Building 1, Conf. Room B
January 14, 2009 Meeting Minutes December 30, 2008 Building 1, Conf. Room B