Papers of James M. Martinez re Mental Health in Virginia

Jim Martinez joined the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) in 1977 and managed the Department’s mental health, substance abuse, forensic, prevention, youth initiatives, and other programs. He was Director of the Office of Mental Health Services, and supervised various administrative, policy, and operational functions of Virginia’s public system of behavioral health services for adults. Throughout his tenure at DBHDS, Mr. Martinez focused on developing community services and supports for people with serious mental illness and substance abuse disorders and their families, and on shaping and implementing a person-centered, recovery-oriented behavioral health system for Virginia. Mr. Martinez served as an Advisor to the Supreme Court of Virginia’s Commission on Mental Health Law Reform (2006-2011), and has been a leader in Virginia’s efforts to improve the state’s involuntary treatment statutes and strengthen the safety net of behavioral health crisis response services in the Commonwealth. Mr. Martinez is a graduate of the Virginia Executive Institute, and holds a B.A from Washington and Lee University, and a M.Ed. from the University of Virginia.