Emily Rice Published

People With Intellectual, Developmental Disabilities To Get Help

Two women are seated in a brightly sunlit room with green walls. One woman has grey hair and is wearing a white shirt and the other has brown hair and is wearing a shirt with flower patterns. The woman is white is a therapist, employing exercise techniques to support the woman with intellectual challenges.
As West Virginia’s IDD Coordinator, Susan File will lead a new project for community engagement specialists tailored to IDD to facilitate community discharge placements.
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West Virginia has a new central point of contact to address opportunities for, and barriers to service, for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the state. 

On Monday, the Department of Human Services (DoHS) announced the hiring of West Virginia’s first statewide Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD), Coordinator, Susan File.

“I am honored to take on this role and look forward to working with the community, providers, and stakeholders to improve and expand services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in West Virginia,” File said.

File previously served as the behavioral health program manager for the Office of Inspector General.

In that role, File oversaw all state-licensed behavioral health facilities and acted as a liaison between the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification (OHFLAC) and DoHS’s Bureau for Medical Services (BMS) and other bureaus.

File has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from West Virginia State University and most recently served as the president of File Consulting, LLC, a consulting business focused on behavioral health and improving quality assurance and compliance for agencies. 

She was also the executive director of a privately owned, non-profit licensed behavioral health center.

As West Virginia’s IDD Coordinator, File will lead a new project for community engagement specialists tailored to IDD to facilitate community discharge placements.

File will report to Christina Mullins, DoHS Deputy Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders, in the Office of the Cabinet Secretary.

“We are thrilled to welcome Susan File to our team,” Mullins said. “Her extensive experience and dedication to behavioral health will be invaluable as we work to enhance services and support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the state.”

File began work on July 29, 2024.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.