SOUTHSIDE VA TRAINING CTR

The **Southside Virginia Training Center (SVTC)**, located in Petersburg, Virginia, was a state-run residential facility that served individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Operating for many years under the oversight of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), the center provided specialized care, medical support, and therapeutic programming for residents with complex needs. It was part of a larger network of training centers across the Commonwealth designed to offer a highly structured environment for those who required 24-hour clinical supervision and habilitation services.

In recent years, the facility has been the subject of significant transition due to the *U.S. Department of Justice* settlement agreement regarding the "deinstitutionalization" of individuals with disabilities. As Virginia shifted its focus toward community-based care models—prioritizing independent living and integrated support services—the state systematically moved toward closing its large training centers. Consequently, the Southside Virginia Training Center underwent a phased closure process to relocate residents into smaller, community-integrated settings, marking a major shift in how the state delivers long-term care and support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.