Virginia Home For Boys And Girls

VIRGINIA HOME FOR BOYS AND GIRLS (VHBG) IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN SERVING YOUNG PEOPLE IN CRISIS SINCE 1846. VHBG PROVIDES TRANSITIONAL LIVING SERVICES, SPECIALIZED EDUCATION, AND THERAPEUTIC RESOURCES TO YOUTH WITH EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONCERNS. OUR MISSION IS TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS VIRGINIA WITH EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONCERNS BY FACILITATING THE HEALING PROCESS USING A RELATIONSHIP-BASED, COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL APPROACH. THE TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE YOUTH RECEIVE IN OUR GROUP HOMES, INDEPENDENT LIVING HOMES, SPECIALIZED K-12 SCHOOL (JOHN G. WOOD), AND THERAPEUTIC RESOURCE CENTER RESTORES HOPE TO THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO THEN FIND THE COURAGE TO THRIVE.

GROUP CARE SERVICESVHBG'S GROUP CARE SERVICES IS A PROGRAM FOR YOUTH AGES 11-17 WHO ARE IN TRANSITION TO THEIR NEXT BEST LEVEL OF CARE. VHBG SERVES YOUTH FROM ALL OVER VIRGINIA AND IS LICENSED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES. USING THE TEACHING-FAMILY MODEL, VHBG AIMS TO CREATE THE MOST NATURAL ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUTH THAT STILL PROVIDES THEM WITH THE SUPPORTS THEY NEED TO OVERCOME PAST TRAUMA, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, AND WORK ON TRANSITIONING TO A MORE PERMANENT ENVIRONMENT. VHBG WORKS DIRECTLY WITH THE CHILD'S PLACING AGENCY (TYPICALLY THE CITY OR COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES) TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE IN THEIR BEST INTEREST. YOUTH ARE ABLE TO LEAVE CAMPUS TO SPEND TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES, ATTEND SUMMER CAMPS, GAIN EMPLOYMENT, AND PARTICIPATE IN OTHER EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. VHBG GIVES YOUTH THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A CHILDHOOD AND EXPERIENCE THE JOY IN LIFE. IN FY23, WE OPERATED TWO GROUP HOMES ON OUR 30+ ACRE CAMPUS.

JOHN G. WOOD SCHOOL-SPECIALIZED EDUCATION (JGW)JOHN G. WOOD SCHOOL (JGW) TEACHES STUDENTS WITH EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES THAT IMPACT THEIR ACADEMIC SUCCESS. SMALL STUDENT-TEACHER RATIOS ACCOMMODATE INDIVIDUAL LEARNING STYLES WITH A GOAL TO TRANSITION STUDENTS BACK TO THEIR PUBLIC SCHOOL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. JGW INCLUDES A BROAD RANGE OF COURSES FOR CHILDREN IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 12, AND EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE DURING THE SUMMER. JGW IS ACCREDITED BY VAISEF AND IS LICENSED BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. TEACHERS AND TRAINED BEHAVIOR COACHES INCORPORATE THE TEACHING-FAMILY MODEL INTO THE CURRICULUM.

INDEPENDENT LIVING (IL)VHBG'S INDEPENDENT LIVING (IL) IS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 17-25 WHO ARE EAGER TO LEARN HOW TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY BUT ARE FACING HOUSING INSTABILITY DUE TO LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES. KNOWING THAT RELATIONSHIPS ARE THE FIRST STEP TO OVERCOMING THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA, EACH YOUNG PERSON IN IL WORKS DIRECTLY WITH AN IL CASEWORKER WHO GUIDES YOUNG PEOPLE ON THEIR PATH TO INDEPENDENCE THROUGH EFFECTIVE RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING, SUPERVISION, COACHING, COUNSELING, AND SERVICE PLANNING. VHBG'S IL MEETS THE NEEDS OF YOUNG ADULTS THROUGH TWO APPROACHES TO INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES.VHBG'S INDEPENDENT LIVING ARRANGEMENT IS A PROGRAM LICENSED BY THE VDSS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE TRANSITIONING OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM AGES 17-21 AND IS COORDINATED WITH FOSTERING FUTURES, WHICH PROVIDES SOME FUNDING. THEY MAY BE SINGLE OR THEY MAY BE PREGNANT AND/OR HAVE THEIR YOUNG CHILD(REN) RESIDING WITH THEM IN THE PROGRAM.VHBG ALSO PROVIDES INDEPENDENT LIVING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 18-25 WHO ARE NOT CONNECTED TO VDSS BUT ARE FACING HOMELESSNESS DUE TO A VARIETY OF CHALLENGES AND NEED SHORT-TERM TEMPORARY HOUSING. VHBG ALSO HAS AN AFFINITY GROUP FOR YOUNG ADULTS WHO IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ+ ON CAMPUS CALLED PRIDE PLACE AT VHBG. VHBG IS ABLE TO DESIGNATE HOUSING EXCLUSIVELY FOR LGBTQ+ YOUTH IF NEEDED AND IF AVAILABLE.