The District of Columbia Mental Retardation Volunteer Advocates Association, Inc. Historically, the Mental Retardation Branch of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and
the District of Columbia Mental Retardation Volunteer Advocates Association, Inc. were formed as a result of the passage of D. C. Public Law 2-137, the Mentally Retarded Citizens Constitutional Rights and Dignity Act. Prior to the
passage of the law, many cognitively challenged wards of the District of Columbia were housed in a large residential facility know as Forest Haven. After many years of debate and controversy, the Court ruled that Forest Haven should be
closed and that all residents should be out-placed and moved into residences within the community. From this point on, Public Law 2-137 became the main instrument to secure constitutional rights for those with mental and developmental
disabilities as well as to provide and define rights of procedural due process and rights to habilitation and care for such persons. The law attempted to assure the fullest normalization possible in the lives of these individuals. The responsibility for the implementation of this bill lies with the Department of Human Services and the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Department of Human Services must provide for and complete an
evaluation for individuals living in group homes and facilities throughout the city. They must also provide these evaluations for each petition filed in the D. C. Superior Court on behalf of mentally challenged persons living in their own
homes. The D. C. Superior Court's responsibilities include, but are not limited to, providing volunteers to serve as advocates for those clients with mental and developmental disabilities whose cases are reviewed by the court. This
responsibility is achieved through the D.C. Mental Retardation Volunteer Advocates Association, Inc. The advocate is appointed by a court order signed by a judge. Prior to the issuance of the court order
assigning the advocate to a client, the volunteer must undergo a Criminal History Check. Advocates are required to visit the residential homes
and vocational facilities of their clients to monitor the care received on a frequent and on-going basis. Advocates interact with a number of individuals and agencies to secure services for their clients. Our volunteers must communicate
with Judicial Officers of the Court, court personnel, attorneys for their clients, the Office of the Corporation Counsel, the Mental Retardation & Developmental Disabilities Administration (MRDDA) social workers, facility staff, physicians
and other individuals that supply services to their clients. The duties and responsibilities of the volunteer advocates are extremely important and comprehensive. Advocates must attend hearings, conferences, and any meetings
dealing with the habilitation plan or any services received by their client. They are involved in guiding and assisting their clients towards self-reliance and every effort is made to facilitate habilitation of the individual and to address
the emotional, social, and personal needs of the client. The Mental Health/Mental Retardation Branch, in collaboration with the DCMRVAA, is responsible for the recruitment of volunteers through public service announcements on
television and radio and from churches, civic organizations, and other various resources. Efforts to supply an adequate amount of volunteers are continuous and diverse. The Court conducts subsequent training of the advocates and provides
assistance and direction to the advocates on a continual basis. To guarantee the right to a least restrictive environment and normalization of the cognitively challenged individual's lifestyle, to whatever extent
possible, are the essential focus and on-going goals of the association. Daily achievement of these goals is the responsibility of each and every volunteer in the program. New volunteers are always welcomed!
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