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Virginia Addiction Recovery Council

Health and Human Resources

Purpose

The purpose of the Governor’s Substance Abuse Services Council is to advise and make recommendations to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Board on broad policies and goals and on the coordination of the Commonwealth's public and private efforts to control alcohol and other drug abuse.

Term

Appointments of agency heads shall be for terms consistent with their terms of office. All other appointments of nonlegislative members shall be for terms of three years, except an appointment to fill a vacancy, which shall be for the unexpired term. No person shall be eligible to serve more than two successive terms, provided that a person appointed to fill a vacancy may serve two full successive terms.

Composition

The Council shall consist of 32 members. Four members of the House of Delegates shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates, and two members of the Senate shall be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. The Governor shall appoint one member representing the Virginia Sheriffs' Association, one member representing the Virginia Drug Courts Association, one member representing the Substance Abuse Certification Alliance of Virginia, two members representing the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards, two members representing the problem gambling recovery community, one member representing the board of directors of the Opioid Abatement Authority established pursuant to § 2.2-2367, and two members representing statewide consumer and advocacy organizations. The Council shall also include the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; the Commissioner of Health; the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles; the Superintendent of Public Instruction; the Directors of the Departments of Juvenile Justice, Corrections, Criminal Justice Services, Medical Assistance Services, and Social Services; the Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority; the Executive Director of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth or his designee; the Executive Director of the Commission on the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program or his designee; and the chairs or their designees of the Virginia Association of Drug and Alcohol Programs, the Virginia Association of Addiction Professionals, and the Substance Abuse Council and the Prevention Task Force of the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards.

Vacant Seats

The seat descriptions indicate if there is a specific requirement for that seat (a profession, consumer, someone who lives in a certain congressional district, etc.). If there is only a number listed (Seat 7), there is no specific criteria for that seat. A “citizen” seat requires someone who is not affiliated with that profession. If you're interested in any of these seats, please submit an application here.

Opioid Abatement Authority Representative	1 seat
Problem Gaming Community Representative	2 seats
Virginia Sheriffs' Association Representative	1 seat
Total seats available: 4

Current Board Members

Ms Madeline M Berry

Substance Abuse Certification Alliance of Virginia Representative Membership expires on 6/30/2023

Rebecca Holmes

Virginia Association of Community Services Boards Representative Membership expires on 6/30/2026

Mrs Jill M. Cichowicz

Statewide Consumer and Advocacy Organization Membership expires on 6/30/2026

Denise Thomas-Brown

Statewide Consumer and Advocacy Organization Membership expires on 6/30/2026

Lisa Bullard Sedjat

Virginia Association of Community Services Boards Representative Membership expires on 6/30/2028