WEST VIRGINIA

Governor Bob Wise (D) created the position of Olmstead coordinator on August 13, 2003. The position is located within the Office of the Ombudsman for Behavioral Health, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) and the Bureau of Behavioral Health and Health Facilities.

An Olmstead Web site also has been set up, that includes a fact sheet and a brochure on the Olmstead decision, information about how to file an Olmstead grievance, and a position paper. Issued on September 9, 2003, the position paper states that the Olmstead coordinator will assemble two groups to assist with development of an Olmstead plan: an advisory council that will be charged with being the steering committee for development of the plan, and a study group to assist in the research and writing activities for that development.

The first meeting of the advisory council was on November 7, 2003; a meeting of the study group was scheduled for December 5, 2003. A draft plan is to be available for public comment in June 2004. The deadline for sending a proposed plan to the DHHR secretary and the governor is October 2004.

In the future, the Web site will contain a roadmap for developing an Olmstead plan, guiding principles for the plan, and lists of the members of the advisory council and the study group.