Garth Callaghan, known nationwide as The Napkin Notes Dad, visited the Villa's Brook Road Academy and Dooley School in full Jedi apparel with a special holiday gift to impart to students: Star Wars toys. Why is Garth called The Napkin Notes Dad? Every day since his daughter Emma was in kindergarten, Garth wrote an inspirational note on a napkin and sent it in her lunch box. Garth has been diagnosed with cancer ...Read More
With support from United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg, Brookfield Foundation and Virginia Nonprofit Housing Coalition, Flagler Housing & Homeless Services has initiated a youth rapid re-housing pilot program as an extension of its successful rapid re-housing services for homeless individuals and families. The pilot program is designed to discover and prioritize the unique needs of young adults ages 18-24 who meet the HUD definition of literal homelessness, while ...Read More
The Villa's Flagler Housing & Homeless Services have been named Best Housing Program in the state. Our Flagler team received the Virginia Housing Award at the annual Governor's Housing Conference in Hampton Roads. Congratulations to our amazing staff whose work breaks the cycle of homelessness for children and families every day! “Creating a stable place for our residents to live is a key component in our efforts to build a ...Read More
Today we welcomed Delegate Lamont Bagby, Legislative Assistant to Delegate Jennifer McClellan Abbey Phillips, local educational agencies and parents for VAISEF Legislator’s Day (Virginia Association of Independent Specialized Education Facilities). We’re grateful for the opportunity to serve as a host site where everyone could participate in conversation about how private individualized education strengthens students, families and communities.
Reneé was diagnosed with autism when she was four years old. Not long after she began kindergarten at public school, her mother, Kimberly, recognized that Reneé’s behaviors were interfering with her ability to learn. Reneé had no means of communicating, and would often lash out and hit her teachers and classmates when her wants or needs were not met. Kimberly’s search for a school that would provide her daughter a ...Read More
Adam came to the Sarah Dooley Center for Autism in 2013 after serving the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Technical Assistance Associate at VCU’s Autism Center for Excellence. He graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor’s degree in Language and Child Development and went on to earn his Master’s degree in Special Education/Applied Behavior Analysis from Columbia University’s Teachers College. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Adam is a ...Read More
Project Yoga Richmond has teamed with our Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) for the past year to teach kids how to cope with their emotions through yoga. Yoga activities help offer a holistic approach to treatment by reinforcing the impact of physical health on mental health and increasing self-esteem. Yoga therapist Carolyn Keller Sells volunteers at the CSU each week. “By the end of each class all the kids seem to ...Read More
Join us Saturday, October 17 for the third annual Trick-or-Trot 5K benefiting Brook Road Academy! Enjoy a beautiful fall day on the campus of St. Joseph's Villa with Halloween-themed fun for all ages. Proceeds support the programs that enrich the education of our middle and high school students. Great prizes for top finishers in all age groups Live music Halloween costume contest Scenic flat course Professional timing T-shirts guaranteed for ...Read More
At St. Joseph's Villa our staff never stop believing in children and their families -- or each other! On August 31st the staff of the Sarah Dooley Center for Autism went to Richmond Ropes Course (http://richmondropes.com/) located in Fulton Hill as part of a team exercise. Through a series of physical and mental challenges we learned how to overcome fears, work as a team and remain focused on complex goals. ...Read More
The start of a new school year is one of the most exciting times at St. Joseph's Villa. As we prepare to welcome students back to our campus, we encourage families to become familiar with key health and safety information that has been prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Our teachers and faculty are committed to providing students with a safe, nurturing, inclusive environment that enables them to gain knowledge and skills ...Read More
