The mission of the Division of Mental Health & Developmental Services is to develop and operate programs that assist individuals who have mental illness or developmental disabilities to live as independently as possible.

MHDS is a Division of the Department of Health and Human Services. The Division is one of the largest State human services agencies in Nevada, employing more than 1,800 in 8 agencies located in Las Vegas, Reno, and each of the rural counties. The MHDS "Central Office" is located at 4126 Technology Way, Second Floor, in Carson City, Nevada. We can be reached by telephone at (775) 684-5943.

There are approximately 30 employees in the Carson City central office. Together they provide oversight to all eight MHDS agencies across Nevada serving about 26,000 mental health clients and 4,500 developmental services clients. By statute, the Division is responsible for planning, administration, policy setting, monitoring, and budget development of all state funded mental health and developmental services programs. The Division administration is also directly involved in decisions regarding agency structure, staffing, and program development.

In addition to coordinating the work of its agencies, Division staff work with many stakeholders, including family members, advocates, service providers, legislators, law enforcement, and the general public.

The Division is obliged to offer care regardless of ability to pay, assure services are offered in the "least restrictive environment," base services upon individual needs, and honor consumer rights.