In Virginia Home Grown's recent episode on the healing power of nature, our own Matthew Kreydatus, Senior Director of Wellness and Transition Services, and Tyler Berkeley, Garden Coordinator, shared the many ways gardening can benefit students with specialized education needs. The Villa's 7,500 sq. ft. Learning & Therapy Garden is a dynamic shared space for everyone we serve, and home to a wide range of activities designed to enhance physical, ...Read More
Pilot program will serve as an emergency room alternative for children and adolescents experiencing mental health crisis St. Joseph’s Villa and Henrico County announce the groundbreaking of a new Crisis Receiving Center (CRC) that will provide immediate support for youth in critical need of mental health care. The facility will serve as an alternative to emergency rooms, with the goal of diverting hospitalization and allowing youth to be treated in ...Read More
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
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
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
What makes the Crisis Stabilization Unit at St. Joseph’s Villa different from a psychiatric hospital? For Emily and her mom, Heather, access to a nurturing, less clinical setting for mental health services brought healing to the entire family. “Emily walked away with coping skills, and found out that she wasn’t alone in her challenges,” said Heather. “She gained a renewed sense of pride in allowing herself to get help.” Emily ...Read More
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
The effects of childhood trauma echoed through the years for Caroline. She moved in with her 70-year-old grandmother after enduring neglect by her parents, but had trouble managing her emotions despite a more caring environment. Her anxiety and anger would often erupt into violent outbursts and destruction. When crisis situations escalated and became too much for her grandmother to handle, Caroline’s cousin Brittany stepped up to help, and was awarded ...Read More
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
URGENTLY HIRING CLINICIANS Crisis Stabilization Unit Are you... Ready to test your skills in an intense dynamic setting? Licensed to practice in Virginia? Not so sure you have the skills? We have several very seasoned clinicians to help mentor you in taking on any challenge. Not licensed yet but registered with one of the Virginia Boards of Health Professions and still gaining supervised hours? We'd love to talk to you! ...Read More
