Governor proposed closing Southeastern Virginia Training Center. Legislators back plans to keep it open.

From the Norfolk Virginian Pilot:

A legislative conference committee will soon weigh in on the dispute between Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and the legislature over whether to close an institution for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Advocates and family members are similarly divided on the question.

Family members of residents have actively opposed closing the facility down, saying they fear their loved ones would not get the same level of care in community-based housing. Southeastern Virginia Training Center has 163 residents and 460 employees.

Howard Cullum, president of the Arc of Virginia, said the organization supports the governor’s proposal to close the facility in Chesapeake and use the money to help people with disabilities live in apartments and homes in the community.

The budget proposals now go to a conference committee before being voted on by the General Assembly and considered by the governor.

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 19th, 2009 at 1:38 pm and is filed under advocacy, families, institutionalization. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.