GAINING GROUND - St. Josephs Villa

SPRING 2014
The Newsletter
of St. Joseph’s Villa
GAINING
GROUND
Governor Terry McAuliffe
signs mental health reform
bills at St. Joseph’s Villa
Virginia Senator Donald McEachin (l) and Delegrate Jennifer McClellan (m), bill patrons, witness the signing.
Also pictured: Delegate Vivian Watts and Secretary of Public Safety Brian Moran.
C
hildren’s mental health services
represent the fastest growing
area at St. Joseph’s Villa. In
recognition of the ground we are gaining,
Governor Terry McAuliffe selected St.
Joseph’s Villa as the site to sign into law
eight new bills in mental health reform.
to find psychiatric placements for patients
in emergency custody, and makes provision
for a state bed if necessary. It also requires
the state to administer a real-time bed
registry for individuals needing inpatient
or residential crisis stabilization services,
among other changes.
Governor McAuliffe signed the bills
on National Children’s Mental Health
Awareness Day (May 8), an annual day of
hope, inspiration, and education on the
importance of mental health in children’s
growth and development. The new
legislation increases the time officials have
According to the National Alliance on
Mental Illness (NAMI), four million children
and adolescents in the United States have
a serious mental health issue that impairs
functioning at school, at home or with
peers. However, NAMI reports that only
20 percent of youths with mental illness
are identified and receive mental health
services.
Among the Villa’s mental health programs is
the Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU), serving
children ages 5 to 17 in mental health
crisis. The six-bed CSU opened on the Villa
campus in May 2012 in partnership with
Richmond Behavioral Health Authority
(RBHA). Two years later the CSU has
served more than 230 children and their
families, with 80% successfully diverted
from hospitalization.
Continued on the next page.
THE ARCHWAY SOCIETY
GAINING GROUND
(continued from front)
Support that spans lifetimes
One parent said, “We became closer than
we have ever been as a family. We left
the CSU with a list of resources, a plan
and goal that we had all worked on and
agreed upon together.”
Civil War Doctor Daniel Hopkins Gregg did it in the 19th century. Richmond
philanthropist Major James H. Dooley did it in the 20th century. They left
bequests to help fund the work of St. Joseph’s Villa.
More recently, Mrs. Mary Temple Murrill chose to leave a lasting legacy of love
and support for the Villa’s ongoing mission.
The Villa also offers mental health services
through Therapeutic Day Treatment,
Intensive In-Home Support, Outpatient
Counseling and Mental Health Skillbuilding Services. More information
about these programs is available at
www.NeverStopBelieving.org.
For decades, Mrs. Murrill was a neighbor of the Villa and a faithful annual donor
of gifts of $25 and $50. She lived a life of service and passion for the charitable
work of our community, leading her to make provisions in her estate to help
a variety of wonderful causes. Conviction to break the cycle of homelessness
was high on her list, so she instructed that her gift to the Villa be dedicated to
helping homeless women and children.
Governor McAuliffe stated that this
legislation is an important first step, but
there is still a long way to go.
“We are honored by Governor
McAuliffe’s decision to sign this historic
legislation at St. Joseph’s Villa,” said
Kathleen Burke Barrett, CEO. “It’s an
immense tribute to our mental health
professionals who change lives every day.”
As a result, the SJV Foundation will use Mrs. Murrill’s generosity to establish
an endowment in her name, expected to exceed $400,000, for long-term
support of our Flagler Housing and Homeless Services. Thanks to
Mrs. Murrill’s estate provision, families will be assisted in turning
homelessness into hopefulness for generations to come.
The SJV Foundation recognizes Mrs. Murrill as a perpetual member of
the Archway Society, honoring friends who provide enduring support
for Villa children and families. It is easy for anyone to join the Archway
Society—and the league of Mrs. Murrill, Dr. Gregg and Major
Dooley—by connecting their life assets to the life-changing mission
of the Villa through an outright gift or estate provision in virtually any
amount. If you are interested in no-obligation information, please
contact David Huffine, VP for Advancement, at 804-553-3220 or
dhuffine@sjvmail.net.
Gov. McAuliffe with Villa staff and Trustees
NEW ON CAMPUS:
Villa Garden expands
with Greenhouse
The campus of St. Joseph’s Villa
presents more outdoor learning
opportunities than ever before
following the successful $10 million
Believing Is Seeing campaign. Research
shows that outdoor learning benefits
students’ physical and mental health
and improves problem solving skills.
Newsletter Editor: Drew Melson
Director of Marketing Communications
804-553-3318, dmelson@sjvmail.net
Thanks to a generous gift from
The Good Shepherd Fund, a new
greenhouse in the Villa’s Learning &
Therapy Garden gives students another
hands-on way to experience the
wonders of nature. It is a shared space
where students of all ages and abilities
can grow and harvest fresh produce
while learning to eat healthy. Students
of our Career and Transition Services
use garden ingredients as they develop
job skills in our Culinary Arts Center.
facebook.com/st.josephs.villa
@sjv_richmond
Kion, Career and Transition Services student,
tends to the greenhouse watermelons.
youtube.com/stjosephsvillarva
Flagler Housing & Homeless Services Awarded
Rapid Re-Housing Certification
T
he National Alliance to End Homelessness
(NAEH) named the Villa’s Flagler Housing &
Homeless Services one of first three certified
rapid re-housing providers in the nation.
Certification signifies proficiency in all rapid re-housing
activities, meeting outcome standards, and program
orientation and policies.
Since completing its transition to a full rapid re-housing
model in 2013, Flagler has tripled the number of homeless
families served—300 this year—at one third of the cost
per family. More important is the success experienced
by our families: approximately 93% of families rapidly
re-housed by Flagler in the Richmond and Tri-Cities areas
have remained in their homes.
“It takes an innovative spirit for
an organization to shift its vision
and resources from a long-standing
practice. That’s exactly what
St. Joseph’s Villa did.”
—Kay Moshier McDivitt, National Alliance
to End Homelessness
“I don’t know how I could’ve made it without Flagler,”
said LaToya Currie, who was rapidly re-housed earlier
this year. LaToya is a single mother who lives in Petersburg with her 18-year-old son Justus. Now that she has
stable housing, LaToya is seeking full-time employment as
a teacher.
In addition to certification by NAEH, Flagler received the
National Council on Accreditation’s Innovative Practices
Award for performance and quality improvement.
LaToya Currie and her son found a place
to call home in time for the holidays.
Students of Brook Road Academy,
the Villa’s private college prep school,
helped SDCA staff make it a special
day by volunteering at the event.
FUN FOR ALL:
Sarah Dooley Center
for Autism holds
student Field Day
While Field Day is all about fun, it’s
also part of SDCA’s commitment to
provide students with occasions to
build social skills every day.
Laughter echoed across the front
fields of our Sarah Dooley Center for
Autism (SDCA) during their annual
Field Day on April 25th. Students
were treated to ice cream, face
painting, a moon bounce and games to
kick off spring.
For more information about
SDCA, visit their new website at
www.SarahDooleyCenter.org.
Brook Road Academy students helped bring the fun.
8000 Brook Road • Richmond, VA 23227
804.553.3200 • NeverStopBelieving.org
The Newsletter
of St. Joseph’s Villa
Inside:
GAINING GROUND
Governor McAuliffe signs
mental reform bills at SJV
We never stop believing in children and their families.
THE ARCHWAY
SOCIETY
Recent bequest to support
homeless services
GOING GREEN
New Villa Greenhouse
enhances outdoor education
St. Joseph’s Villa
Board of Trustees
John B. Catlett, Jr., Chairperson
Jill M. Kennedy, Chair-Elect
Kathleen Burke Barrett,
Executive Vice President
Darren J.Nolt, Secretary
Janice McNee, Treasurer
Cynthia P. Balderson
Richard L. Bennett, MD
Ronald L. Carey, Ed.D.
Jennings D. Dawson III
Patricia W. DeOrio
James C. Farley, Jr.
James M. Fitzgerald
John C. Gentry
Robert J. Himmel
Harvey Latney, Jr.
William H. Millsaps
Neil S. Talegaonkar
Karl W. Werwath
Richard P. Wintsch
Thomas S. Zachry
Words of a parent
A testimonial by Sarah, mother of twin sons
served by St. Joseph’s Villa
I wanted to make St. Joseph’s
Villa aware of their outstanding
gem of an employee in Rachel
Boggan. Rachel is one of the most
compassionate, professional and
committed autism behavioral
therapists that I have ever had
the privilege of working with. My
twin sons—both of whom have a
diagnosis of autism—hare a great
deal of affection for her.
to progress to each
new level they face.
I am so grateful
for how Rachel has
helped my children
Rachel Boggan, In-Home Clinician,
learn, how she has
with Sarah’s twin sons
been a collaborative
advocate for their education needs,
and for the ways in which she has
taught me to be a better, more
effective parent.
Rachel has made an immeasurable
difference in the lives of my
children and family. Her
commitment to my children has
been a blessing that will resonate
with them for their entire lives.
She has made it possible for them
In January my family relocated to
Massachusetts, and the hardest
part of leaving Virginia was leaving
Rachel. I send my best wishes
and thank you for seeking out and
hiring such amazing therapists like
Rachel!
See what else is going on at St. Joseph’s Villa!
Visit our website at www.NeverStopBelieving.org.