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Category Archives: Education


Understanding the Youth Mental Health Crisis: Livestream Panel Discussion

Posted on October 19, 2022
DID YOU KNOW... During the COVID-19 pandemic, 37% of high school students reported they experienced poor mental health. LGBTQ+ youth are 4x more likely to attempt suicide than their peers. In the U.S., there is an average lag of 8-10 years between the onset of a mental health condition and the start of treatment. 1 in 5 American youth live with a mental health condition. In October, the Villa hosted a panel discussion on the current Youth ...Read More

Back To School Supplies Drive: Help a Villa Child Succeed!

Posted on July 7, 2022
Each summer, the Villa works to ensure that every student is prepared with the supplies and resources they need to reach their full potential in the classroom on the very first day of school. While many of our families cannot afford essential school supplies, they don’t have to worry about that at the Villa. Thanks to supporters like you, every Villa student can depend on a full backpack and focus ...Read More

Adam Dreyfus, Center for Autism Senior Director, appointed to Virginia Board of Education Special Education Advisory Committee

Posted on June 27, 2022
St. Joseph's Villa congratulates Adam Dreyfus, Senior Director of the Villa's Sarah Dooley Center for Autism, on his appointment to serve on the Board of Education's State Special Education Advisory Committee. Adam has led the Sarah Dooley Center for Autism since 2013, after serving the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Technical Assistance Associate at VCU’s Autism Center for Excellence. He has worked in Region 1 and 8 providing direct services ...Read More

In The News: St. Joseph’s Villa Garden serving as sanctuary, educational space for children, families (WRIC ABC 8News)

Posted on June 22, 2022
Our Villa Garden will celebrate its 10th anniversary in October. Thanks to support from our community partners and volunteers, each season has seen the garden expand as an ever-changing therapeutic and educational resource for all Villa students and clients. On their annual Founder's Day of Caring, volunteers from the ABC 8News team joined us in the garden to install galvanized raised beds and prep them for growing. These sturdy new ...Read More

Villa joins Frontline Wellness VA partnership for mental health

Posted on June 13, 2022
The extraordinary demands of the pandemic have placed a heightened burden on the mental wellbeing of our frontline healthcare workers. St. Joseph's Villa is pleased to partner with Virginia Department of Health, Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), and Virginia Health Care Foundation to provide healthcare workers with specialized resources and support as part of the Frontline Wellness VA program. Visit our Frontline Wellness VA web page ...Read More

Director of Career & Transition Services Matthew Kreydatus receives VAISEF Making a Difference Award

Posted on May 2, 2022
Congratulations to Matthew Kreydatus, our Director of Career and Transition Services, for receiving the 2022 Making a Difference Award from VAISEF! For over 20 years at the Villa, Matthew has been extraordinarily committed to meeting students’ most immediate needs so that they can thrive in and outside of school. Many of our students face significant food barriers and rely on the Villa for two meals a day. In 2019, Matthew ...Read More

New Villa Garden Greenhouses quadruple sheltered growing space for students

Posted on April 11, 2022
The possibilities that come with each spring are always met with excitement at the Villa. They bring a new season of growth in the Villa Garden, meaning fresh opportunities for students to immerse in the colors, textures, smells, and wildlife that reawaken. This year, we had even more reasons to celebrate the return of spring with the installation of two beautiful greenhouses, made possible through a generous gift by Mark ...Read More

Dooley School, VCU students team up to imagine brighter future for their communities

Posted on January 24, 2022
Career and Transition Services (CATS) continues providing opportunities for Villa students to explore their creativity in partnership with local colleges and universities. This fall, Dooley School and VCU students will share ideas for improving their communities using models created with a 3D printer. “Our shared goal with CATS is to help Villa students practice teamwork and communication skills, while also reflecting on what Richmond needs to be a healthier and ...Read More

St. Joseph’s Villa Announces Grand Opening of New Autism Center

Posted on August 6, 2021
Historic School Building Repurposed to Serve as National Model for Autism Education and Teacher Training RICHMOND, Va. – Inspired to make a difference by rising autism rates and the demonstrated long-term impact of expert educational intervention, St. Joseph’s Villa unveiled its new Sarah Dooley Center for Autism (SDCA) on Sept. 2, 2021. The school will expand SDCA’s capacity beyond the current 96 students, with the goal of reaching thousands more ...Read More

You Are Not Alone: WTVR CBS6 features therapeutic Villa Garden

Posted on April 29, 2021
Isabel's son Xavier was thrilled to return to his friends and teachers at the Sarah Dooley Center for Autism earlier this year. “When he saw them, the smile he had on his face. He remembered everybody at the school. He was where he was supposed to be." Throughout the pandemic, staff from all programs have banded together to find new and creative ways to meet the needs of children and ...Read More



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