March is a month of Holidays and Observances: St. Patrick’s Day, International Women’s Day, Pi Day, and World Water Day. March is also the month when daylight saving time begins in most parts of North America and when spring officially begins.

March is also the awareness month for various health and social issues, such as colorectal cancer, multiple sclerosis, endometriosis, and women's history.   

To highlight a few, Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture, and society and has been observed in the month of March in the United States since 1987. We remember such women as: Abigail Adams, Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Rosa Parks, Virginia Dare, Pocahontas, Harriet Tubman, Clara Barton, Helen Keller, Amelia Earhart, Janet Reno, Toni Morrison, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and Condoleezza Rice who have collectively made their mark in history with so many amazing accomplishments. 

March is Social Services month and this year’s theme is “Social Work Breaks Barriers.” Barriers in the social work practice include transportation, safety, housing, food, physical and environmental safety. All these barriers and many more, can be overwhelming for those that are trying to navigate the system.  Our Human Services groups help to protect our most vulnerable populations and are able to provide services and connect those citizens with resources and be their advocate.   Thank you to the Human Services Division of Chesterfield County – we commend you for your constant day in and out efforts to be the advocate for our citizens in need and make our County a great place to live, learn, work, and thrive for individuals of all needs and abilities.

Human Services in the Community

Human Services Leadership enjoys meeting our partners in the Community!

Photo Above: Dr. Worsley met with Mercy Mall Executive Director, Stacey Jones, for a tour of the facility. Mercy Mall is a ministry serving individuals overcoming the obstacles to stability, learn more here.

SOAR 365 Community Champion of the Year

Chesterfield County was recognized at SOAR365’s 2022 Community Champion of the Year at an Awards Banquet on February 23, 2023 at the ACCA Shriners Center.   

We are deeply grateful for the many ways that you and Chesterfield County support our mission, participants and employees and their families. 

Pictured below are: John Walker, President and CEO, SOAR365, Kelly Fried, Executive Director MHSS, Dr. James Worsley, DCA Human Services and Dr. Joe Casey, County Administrator 

Nominate a Community Champion

Nominations are open to recognize Chesterfield County residents and organizations whose volunteer service activities benefit the community. Nomination Categories are:

• Youth (aged 12 and under)
• Teen (aged 13 and older)
• Youth Group (two or more under the age of 18)
• Senior (Aged 60+)
• Group (two or more persons, no age restriction)
• Organization (business, church, etc)

For more information and to nominate please click here.

Senior Volunteer Hall of Fame

The Senior Volunteer Hall of Fame recognizes and celebrates Chesterfield seniors who have rendered unusual or outstanding services to the community. To learn more about the Hall of Fame and nominate a Senior visit here.

Staff Recognition

Black ‘82 is Virginia State University’s Black History Month Celebration. The opening ceremony was held on February 1, 2023, 7:00 p.m., in the Anderson Turner Auditorium. During this program, Ms. Kim Conley, Assistant Director of CIR, was awarded the Alumni Impact Award. This award recognizes her for outstanding services to VSU for her connection and community service with Chesterfield County. Ms. Conley has strategically executed the Martin Luther King Day of service where countless students, student leaders, and organizations have engaged. 

The month of March marks the 10th Annual Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Diaper Drive. Residents and businesses are encouraged to purchase new, unopened packages of diapers – specifically diaper sizes 5, 6, and 7 – to assist hundreds of families across Chesterfield and Colonial Heights enrolled with Families First, a nationally accredited program of Healthy Families Virginia which provides family support services to first-time parents to ensure their children are healthy, well-adjusted individuals ready to start school by age 5. The drive also assists The Infant & Toddler Connection of Chesterfield which provides early intervention support and services to infants and toddlers from birth through age 2 who are not developing as expected or have a medical condition that can delay normal development.

Drop off donated baby diapers and wipes at:

• MHSS Rogers Building at 6801 Lucy Corr Blvd, Chesterfield 23832
• The Chesterfield Infant and Toddler Program at 9711 Farrar Court, Suite 140, North Chesterfield, 23236
• Any Chesterfield County Public Library branch location

• Citizen Information and Resources: Emily Ashley, director
• Community Corrections Services: JoAnn McLaurin-Carpenter, assistant director
• Drug Courts: Melanie Meadows, administrator 
• Juvenile Justice Services: Justin Crostic, program administrator for treatment programs & detention alternatives 
• Mental Health Support Services: Jaroslaw Muchowski, assistant director of administration and planning
• Social Services: Kiva Rogers, director