In the spring of 2018, OMNI collaborated with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), Office of Behavioral Health Wellness to examine the status and needs related to behavioral health and substance use in Virginia.

The report represents the synthesis of more than seventeen national and local secondary data sources, including: health surveys; morbidity and mortality data; criminal justice and law enforcement records; and population and social determinants of health statistics. In addition, OMNI collected primary data from over three dozen stakeholders through a facilitated discussion of the data findings with the Statewide Epidemiology Outcomes Workgroup; a discussion of priority areas with DBHDS staff; and a SWOT analysis with local prevention staff.

The results of this report were also used as a foundation for OMNI’s evaluation plan of Virginia’s State Opioid Response Grant programs.