Date of Award
Spring 4-29-2020
Document Type
Honors Project
Degree Name
Bachelor of Liberal Studies
Department
Political Science and International Affairs
Department Chair or Program Director
Kramer, Jack
First Advisor
Cooperman, Rosalyn
Second Advisor
Farnsworth, Stephen
Major or Concentration
Political Science
Abstract
This thesis studies the historic development of mental health care in the Commonwealth of Virginia and conducts a detailed examination of the mandated mental health services provided by the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB). To conduct this review, the mental health services provided by RACSB were compared with two other Community Services Boards (CSBs), the Loudoun County CSB and the Dickenson County CSB. Results show the importance of community health care and jail diversion programs when compared with the historic mental health care methods of institutionalization and imprisonment. Results also show that health care in Virginia is operated out of highly individualized CSBs and that the quality of care received varies depending on the CSB. Additionally, results show that the ability of RACSB to provide mental health care is constrained by funding and geography. This thesis emphasizes the need for more access to quality community mental health care in Virginia and the need to reform the distribution of funds within the Virginia Community Services Boards system.
Recommended Citation
Gehman, Molly, "The History and Workings of Virginia’s Community Services Boards: An In-Depth Look at Rappahannock Area Community Services Board" (2020). Student Research Submissions. 345.
https://scholar.umw.edu/student_research/345