SJV and Insight Telepsychiatry bring psychiatric care to children in Crisis Stabilization Unit

St. Joseph's Villa is collaborating with Insight Telepsychiatry to bring telepsychiatry to our Crisis Stabilization Unit, a therapeutic setting that diverts children in mental health crisis from unnecessary hospitalization.

Why is this partnership important?

Telepsychiatry provides a medium for treatment designed to help children better express themselves, and thereby help families discover how to prevent future crises.

"Kids are used to Skyping, but they can be intimidated by adults. Children can relate to them better through a TV screen, which provides them a layer of safety and protection," says Craig Hedley, the Villa's Director of Community Partnerships.

Click here for the full story with more information about our CSU and its life-saving services for children and families.
 
May is Mental Health Month
A child's mental health impacts their entire family. Four million children in the United States are living with a serious mental health issue, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The stigma of mental illness too often inhibits families from getting the support they need to avert crises and prevent a child's removal from home.

This year, the Virginia General Assembly took a great step forward by appropriating increased funds for children's mental health services, thanks to advocacy by Voices for Virginia's Children and partner organizations. Villa CEO Kathleen Burke Barrett was featured as Correspondent of the Day in the Richmond Times-Dispatch last month, writing, "I am greatly heartened by the General Assembly's steps to see mental health as an important issue. The needs our children and families are experiencing today are profound, and they deserve the opportunity to get help to achieve all life has to offer." Click here to read the full letter to the editor.

This month, please join us in celebrating mental health professionals. They keep families together and save lives every day.


VCU recognizes Villa peer mentoring partnership with Currents of Change Award
Virginia Commonwealth University has honored the Villa's Career and Transition Services and VCU's Department of Focused Inquiry with the Currents of Change Award for their partnership in peer mentoring. The award was presented by VCU's Council for Community Engagement on May 4, 2016.

In the first two years of the program, 43 VCU students provided more than 1,600 hours of service to the Villa! In turn, VCU students benefited from working with young people with a range of abilities and life experiences. Many thanks to these mentors for forming sustained relationships with our middle and high school students, and for introducing them to a welcoming college community.

Currents of Change Award presentation

Preparing teens with autism for the real world
While all parents worry about how to prepare their teens for life in the real world, parents of kids on the autism spectrum worry even more than most.

How will they earn a living?
How will they manage their finances?
Where will they live?
How will they maintain social relationships? 

These are just a few of the questions that come to mind when parents consider the challenges their child will face beyond high school. Preparation throughout the teen years is the key to a successful transition to adulthood. 

Learn more about transition planning and resources on our Sarah Dooley Center for Autism blog.
 
Villa students volunteer with local animal shelter
Through our Career and Transition Services (CATS), Villa students began volunteering with Richmond Animal Care and Control in April. Students help the shelter provide care to adoptable pets while learning valuable job skills and about careers working with animals.

For many students, working with animals is a calming and therapeutic experience.

Our CATS staff is always looking for new ways to help our students engage with the community. If you are interested in providing a learning opportunity or finding out more about the program, please call Matthew Kreydatus, CATS director, at 804-533-3224 or email

There's still time - get your Bluegrass Ball
tickets today!
Join us at the Villa this Saturday, May 14 for the 22nd annual Bluegrass Ball benefiting our Flagler Housing & Homeless Services!
  • Live music by Whiskey Rebellion and Slack Family Bluegrass Band
  • Corn hole tournament with prizes
  • Emceed by NBC12's Andrew Freiden
  • Delicious BBQ and drinks
  • Kids Corral and much more! 

Bluegrass Ball graphic

The Bluegrass Ball will be held 6-10 p.m., rain or shine.

Flagler helps homeless individuals, families and veterans find and maintain safe, permanent housing using the nationally recognized rapid re-housing model. Since 2010, Flagler has rapidly re-housed 595 households, including 931 children. Click here to learn more about the program on our website. 

In this Issue
How to Give


Make an Online Gift
Your gift helps transform the life of each child and family we serve. Learn more.

Donate Goods
Our Donation Center welcomes clothing, housewares and school supplies for families in need. Learn more.

Volunteer
Volunteers are essential to the Villa's daily operations. We have a wide variety and individual and group opportunities available. Learn more.


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Words of a parent
"We were both grateful and delighted at the quality of service delivered, all the while maintaining an excellent level of respect and honor with our son. Thank you."
 
- Parent of child served by the Villa's Crisis Stabilization Unit




 
VAISEF
 

St. Joseph's Villa | 8000 Brook Road | Richmond | VA | 23227