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.
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| Currents of Change Award presentation |
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. 
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. 
