Duties of Division

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  • The Division shall:
    • (1) Develop, encourage and foster Territory-wide, regional and local plans and programs for the prevention of mental illness, alcoholism and drug dependency, and for the treatment of the mentally ill, alcoholics, intoxicated and drug dependent persons in cooperation with public and private agencies, organizations, and individuals and provide technical assistance and consultation services for these purposes;

    • (2) Coordinate the efforts and enlist the assistance of all public and private agencies, organizations, and individuals interested in prevention of mental illness, alcoholism and drug dependency and in the treatment of the mentally ill, alcoholic, intoxicated and drug dependent persons;

    • (3) Cooperate with the U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department (V.I.P.D.) and Board of Parole in establishing and conducting programs to provide treatment for the mentally ill, alcoholics, intoxicated and drug dependent persons in or on parole from correctional institutions;

    • (4) Cooperate with the Department of Education, the Board of Education, schools, the courts and other public and private agencies, organizations and individuals in establishing programs for the prevention of mental illness, alcoholism and for the treatment of the mentally ill, alcoholics, intoxicated and drug dependent persons, and preparing curriculum materials thereon for use at all levels in the schools of this Territory;

    • (5) Prepare, publish, evaluate and disseminate educational material dealing with the nature and effects of mental illness, alcohol and drugs;

    • (6) Develop and implement, as an integral part of treatment programs, an educational program for use in the treatment of the mentally ill, alcoholics, intoxicated and drug dependent persons, which program shall include the dissemination of information concerning the nature and effects of mental illness, alcohol and drugs;

    • (7) Organize foster training programs for all persons engaged in treatment of the mentally ill, alcoholics, intoxicated and drug dependent persons;

    • (8) Sponsor and encourage research into the causes and nature of mental illness, alcoholism and treatment of mental illness, alcoholics, intoxicated and drug dependent persons, and serve as a clearing house for information relating to mental illness, alcoholism and drug dependency;

    • (9) Specify uniform methods for keeping statistical information by public and private agencies, organizations and individuals, and collect and make available relevant statistical information, including number of persons treated, frequency of admission and readmission, and frequency and duration of treatment;

    • (10) Advise the State Health Planning and Resource Development Agency, in the preparation of a comprehensive plan for treatment of the mentally ill, alcoholics, intoxicated and drug dependent persons for inclusion in the Territory's comprehensive health plan;

    • (11) Review all Territorial health, welfare and treatment plans to be submitted for Federal legislation, and advise the State Health Planning and Resource Development Agency on provisions to be included relating to the mentally ill, alcoholics, intoxicated and drug dependent persons;

    • (12) Assist, with the cooperation of the Superior Court, in the development of, and cooperation with, alcoholic and drug education and treatment programs for employees of the Government of the Virgin Islands and businesses and industries in this Territory, which shall include occupational and employee assistance programs;

    • (13) Utilize the support and assistance of interested persons in the community, particularly recovered alcoholics and drug dependent persons, to encourage alcoholics and drug dependent persons voluntarily to undergo treatment;

    • (14) Cooperate with the Attorney General, Director of the Office of Highway Safety, the Superior Court and the Police Commissioner in establishing and conducting programs designed to deal with the problems of persons operating motor vehicles while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs;

    • (15) Encourage general hospitals and other appropriate health facilities to admit without discrimination the mentally ill, alcoholics, intoxicated and drug dependent persons and to provide them with adequate and appropriate treatment;

    • (16) Encourage all health and disability insurance programs to include alcoholism and drug dependency as a covered illness; and

    • (17) Submit to the Commissioner, the Governor and the Legislature not later than January 15 of each year, an annual report covering the activities of the Division.


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