Column by CEO Kathleen Burke Barrett Published by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, March 26, 2022 More than two years ago, COVID-19 was declared a national emergency. The prevailing assumption was that U.S. schools would be closed for a week or two before reopening and returning to “normal.” Given the primary challenges for students with autism amid COVID were a lack of structure, social interactions and instruction delivery, our goal at St. ...Read More
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
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
For 40 years, Mr. Davis lived alone, homeless, under a bridge. He remembers a happy childhood with loving and supportive parents, and as one of three siblings, he'll tell you he was the baby of the family. But as a teenager, he suffered the unbearable loss of his mother to cancer, followed by the passing of his father one year later. Overwhelmed with grief, Mr. Davis could no longer focus ...Read More
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
While responding to COVID-19, the community of Crater Region/Petersburg, Virginia came together to reach functional end veteran homelessness — now it is working to sustain it. When the pandemic hit the Crater Region of Virginia, the community was faced with even more barriers to ending homelessness and keeping communities safe. Luckily, the community was able to lean on a strong network to focus on ending veteran homelessness with the accountability ...Read More
St. Joseph's Villa would like to give a huge THANK YOU to Meaningful Meals for generously treating all 245 Villa staff to lunch on Wednesday, May 12th – their largest donation of lunches to frontline workers yet! Meaningful Meals began in March 2020, when longtime educators Janet Meyers and Claudia Biegler decided to lift up frontline workers supporting Richmond during the pandemic through the kind act of providing lunch. To ...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
For people experiencing homelessness, getting to a COVID-19 vaccine clinic can prove difficult, especially without internet and transportation. When you consider that most local vaccine sites require a form of photo identification in order to receive a vaccination, it can be nearly impossible for many of our clients. As lead agency of the Crater Area Coalition on Homelessness (CACH), St. Joseph’s Villa participated in video conference brainstorming sessions with local ...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
