Virgin Islands: Health & Disability Programs

The Virgin Islands Department of Education’s Special Education
This office offers training, technical assistance, and monitoring activities of special education services provided by public schools and state-operated programs. The office is also responsible for managing the federal dollars for special education programs.
Commissioner of Education
(340) 774-0100
http://www.usviosep.org/


The Virgin Islands Department of Health’s Diabetes Prevention and Control Program (VIDPCP)
VIDPCP has the following goals and objectives: to increase the percentage of people with diabetes in the VI receiving foot exams, eye exams, influenza and pneumococcal vaccines, and A1c tests; reduce health disparities for high risk populations through diabetes prevalence and control; establish useful programs for the promotion of wellness, physical activity, weight, blood pressure control and smoking cessation for people with diabetes; and develop a process for continuous improvement for the VI State Diabetes Public Health System. Funded by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention since 1997, the VIDPCP has supported annual diabetes awareness fairs, “Diabetes Today” (a community-based curriculum), National Diabetes Education Program Campaigns, The Virgin Islands Diabetes Advisory Council, the CDC Flu Campaign, professional education seminars and workshops, diabetes self-management education, specialized media campaigns, and publications.
Saint Croix Office
Charles Harwood Complex
3500 Estate Richmond
Charles Harwood Complex
Christiansted, VI 00820
(340) 773-1311
Sandra.charles@USVI-doh.org
http://usvidiabetes.org/
 
The Virgin Islands Department of Health’s Division of Mental Health, Alcoholism and Drug Dependency Services 
This agency provides prevention and treatment services to men, women, and children who are mentally ill and/or substance abusers and their families. Services include substance abuse prevention and treatment, outpatient mental health services, mental health residential services, and limited off-island residential placement.
Kathleen Greenaway, Assistant Director, DMHADDS
Charles Harwood Complex
3500 Estate Richmond
Christiansted, Saint Croix, VI 00820
(340) 773-1311, ext. 3033
 
Elsie deNova, MSW, Assistant Director, DMHADDS1303 Hospital Ground, Suite 10
Saint Thomas, VI 00802
(340) 774-4888
http://www.dhs.gov.vi/commissioner/documents/ServiceProvidersfortheHomeless.pdf
 
The Virgin Islands Department of Human Services’ Children, Youth, and Families
The Division of Children, Youth and Families is responsible for the overall administration and supervision of three programs: 1) The Office of Intervention Services (child abuse and protective care, foster care adoption and juvenile justice units), which provides long-term intervention, social work supportive services, referrals, counseling, case management and other types of services to families with extreme and chronic dysfunction and/or are at high-risk.  Programs of the Office of Intervention Services include   oversight for an alternative sentencing program, an alcohol treatment aftercare program for women with children, pre- and post-planning for youth remanded to the Youth Rehabilitation Center (YRC), and juvenile intensive support services, which serves youth in a community-based program to prevent incarceration, as well as help to transition post-discharge youth from YRC back into the community.  2) The Youth Promotion and Delinquency Prevention Program administers the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities grant and works with the Department of Education to prepare high risk adolescents to enter the adult world of work and support community groups to reduce the likelihood of drug use and delinquency by coordinating and providing positive youth activities.  3) Protective and foster care, which focuses on children who have been abused or neglected by their families and may need to be removed from their home and placed in foster care.
Saint Croix:
3011 Golden Rock Christiansted
Saint Croix, VI 00820
(340) 773-2323
Saint John:
Cruz Bay, Saint John, VI
(340) 776-6334
Saint Thomas:
1303 Hospital Ground Knud Hansen Complex Building A
St. Thomas, VI 00802
(340) 774-0930
http://www.dhs.gov.vi/CYS/index.html
 
The Virgin Islands Department of Human Services’ Disabilities and Rehabilitation Office, Division of Disabilities, Community Rehabilitation Facilities
Three community rehabilitation facilities provide vocational evaluation, work and personal adjustment training, independent living skills, extended employment, and transition services for special education students to help facilitate their adjustment from school to work.
Saint Croix:
3011 Golden Rock Christiansted
Saint Croix, VI 00820
(340) 773-2323
Saint John:
Cruz Bay, Saint John, VI
(340) 776-6334
Saint Thomas:
1303 Hospital Ground Knud Hansen Complex Building A
Saint Thomas, VI 00802
(340) 774-0930
http://www.dhs.gov.vi/disabilities/community_rehab.html
 
The Virgin Islands Department of Human Services’ Disabilities and Rehabilitation Office, Division of Disabilities, Independent Living Program
This program provides grants to agencies and groups to prepare individuals with significant disabilities to live and function independently and reduce the risk of long-term institutionalization, including attendant care and deaf interpreter services.
Saint Croix:
3011 Golden Rock Christiansted
Saint Croix, VI 00820
(340) 773-2323
http://www.dhs.gov.vi/disabilities/independent.html
 
The Virgin Islands Department of Human Services’ Disabilities and Rehabilitation Office, Division of Disabilities, Vocational and Rehabilitation Services (VR)
The Special Services Unit of this program provides services to adults with disabilities and adult foster care; administers the Disabled Persons Fund; provides support for the Community Rehabilitation Facility, Developmental Disabilities Council and cancer care programs; and assists people with disabilities in obtaining handicapped parking permits. Services include assessment for guidance and referral services, physical and mental restoration services, vocational and other training (including on-the-job training), transportation related to other VR services, interpreter services for the deaf, reader services for people who are blind, transition services to assist students with disabilities, personal assistance services while an individual is receiving VR services, rehabilitation technology services and devices, supported employment services, and job placement services.
Saint Croix:
3011 Golden Rock Christiansted
Saint Croix, VI 00820
(340) 773-2323
Saint John:
Cruz Bay, Saint John, VI
(340) 776-6334
Saint Thomas:
Vernon Finch, Director
1303 Hospital Ground Knud Hansen Complex Building A
St. Thomas, VI 00802
(340) 774-0930
http://www.dhs.gov.vi/disabilities/index.html


The Virgin Islands Department of Human Services’ Intake and Emergency Services
This department provides assessments and evaluations to assist the client’s access to necessary services that address the client’s immediate needs and determine the required long-term services needed to facilitate the family; an oversight administrative branch provides technical assistance and support to sub-grantee funding recipients.
Saint Croix:
3011 Golden Rock Christiansted
Saint Croix, VI 00820
(340) 773-2323
http://www.dhs.gov.vi/intake/index.html
 
The Virgin Islands Department of Human Services’ Residential Services
This program coordinates residential placement of children and adults with disabilities both on and off the island who might exhibit behaviors requiring specialized residential treatment, are considered extremely at risk, and are unable to be cared for in a general or foster home setting. All services are provided through contracts, which are administered by the program.
Saint Croix:
3011 Golden Rock Christiansted
Saint Croix, VI 00820
(340) 773-2323
http://www.dhs.gov.vi/residential/index.html
 
The Virgin Islands Department of Human Services’ Senior Citizen Affairs and Elder Social Services
This office operates six areas: Foster Grandparent Program, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Senior Community Services Employment Program, Information and Referral, Homemaker Services Program, and Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged.
Saint Croix:
3011 Golden Rock Christiansted
Saint Croix, VI 00820
(340) 773-2323
http://www.dhs.gov.vi/seniors/index.html
 
Virgin Islands University Center for Excellence on Developmental Disabilities (VIUCEDD)
VIUCEDD houses the Virgin Islands Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities (VITRAID), established to promote inclusion of people with disabilities of all ages through the use of assistive technologies that increase their independence at home, at work, in the community, or for leisure. The community can also access the TRAID project for services such as technical assistance, training, and on-site demonstrations. VITRAID administers the Virgin Islands Assistive Technology Loan, Incorporated program, which gives people with disabilities, their caretaker or family members a chance to purchase AT through a low-interest loan.
University of the Virgin Islands
Saint Thomas Campus
#2 John Brewer’s Bay
Saint Thomas, VI 00802
(340) 693-1322

University of the Virgin Islands
St. Croix Campus
RR1 10,000
Kingshill, VI 00850
(340) 692-1919
http://www.uvi.edu/sites/uvi/Pages/VIUCEDD-Home.aspx?s=CO