Development of a Database Management System to Manage the Storage, Retrieval and Reporting of Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation Data

The disability Law Center of Virginia (dLCV) worked with many groups for this project. One group was made up of people with developmental disabilities (DD), their family members, staff and others. dLCV made a database on health and safety cases. They looked at the data and found ways to protect people with DD.

dLCV got health and safety data from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) and the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). These cases involved harm (abuse); lack of clothes, food, healthcare or shelter (neglect) and wrong use of a person’s money (exploitation). dLCV worked with a company to make a database. They organized the cases. dLCV also made a group called the Coalition of Community Safety. This group was made up of 50 people: people with DD, family members, staff, interns and other volunteers. This group helped to guide the project.

Through this project, dLCV was able to:

1. Review thousands of reports and see trends of abuse, neglect and exploitation
2. Propose ways to get rid of abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disabilities
3. Oversee the health and safety of people with disabilities who receive DBHDS services

dLCV provided data to the Board for two years, through September 2023.