The month of September is filled with special observations such as National Mental Health Recovery, National Centenarian's Day (9/22) and Hispanic Heritage Month. In this month's edition you will learn more about each of these topics. However, I would like to take an opportunity to provide a personal perspective, specifically, on Mental Health.
In past issues of Connecting and Caring you learned that I grew up on a farm in eastern North Carolina, but I did not share that several of my relatives faced mental health challenges. As a child, I would hear things like "he's off his meds again" or "she's acting crazy." Then I would learn that the sheriff deputies had to come and pick-up my family members and escort them to mental health evaluations which resulted into hospitalization at the state mental health institution. Sometimes they were gone for weeks and other times months.
I had so many questions and very few answers. No one talked about mental health. It was a very taboo topic in my family and as a child I was reprimanded if I asked too many questions. The tipping point for me and my desire to learn more about mental health happened after my mom's sister committed suicide on Mother's Day 1995.
Once I entered college, I found myself learning more about abnormal psychology and later working in the mental health profession. Therefore, my role as Chesterfield County Deputy County Administrator for Human Services has a special meaning to me. Like a lighthouse, it's my sincere desire to guide others to information and resources to enhance their quality of life.
If you or someone you know has a mental health emergency please call 804-748-6356 or 1-800-273-8255.
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Citizen Information and Resources |
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Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15. National Hispanic Heritage Month traditionally honors the cultures and contributions of both Hispanic and Latino Americans as we celebrate heritage rooted in all Latin American countries. During this month and throughout the year, we share history, heritage, and accomplishments of Hispanic and Latino Americans of past and present. Communities mark the achievements of Hispanic and Latino Americans with festivals and educational activities.
The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30-day period.
Hispanic refers to a person who is from, or a descendant of someone who is from, a Spanish-speaking country. Latino/a or Latinx refers to a person who is from, or a descendant of someone who is from, a country in Latin America.
Hispanic Heritage Month offers an opportunity to learn about and honor Hispanic American pioneers such as Sylvia Mendez. As a young child, Ms. Mendez was the child at the center of the landmark 1947 case, Mendez vs. Westminster, in which her parents and neighbors fought against segregated education for children of Mexican descent in southern California, a case that banned segregation in California public schools and paved the way for the national ban on segregated schools in Brown vs. Board of Education seven years later.
To learn more about Hispanic Heritage, visit:
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Farmers Market Youth Day a Great Success!
On August 18 Citizen Information and Resources partnered with Cooperative Extension, C-Fit, and the Chesterfield County Farmers Market team to host the first ever youth day. More than 50 Chesterfield County youth applied to be vendors and twelve were selected with a thirteenth invited to host a youth community table. The youth sold various types of items including jewelry, artwork, dog toys, and more. Watch this piece from WRIC Channel 8 to learn more about the market.
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Nina Argel, 10th grade, speaks to a farmers market visitor about her cards and artwork. |
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Elijah Lee, 8th grade, is interviewed by channel 6, WTVR, about his non profit Hear Our Voices. |
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Makaela Johnson, 7th grade, works with her mother to accept a payment for her handmade bath bombs. |
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Madison Hundley, 7th grade, sets up her booth with handmade doll clothes, purses and other fabric creations. |
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Juvenile Justice Services |
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The Child Advocacy Center would like to thank Buildings and Grounds for their help picking up and delivering donated water.
We are always thankful for the collaboration and assistance we receive from so many of our county agencies!
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Mental Health Support Services |
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September is National Recovery Month! This is a wonderful time to bring awareness to the impact of substance use on our community but more importantly to highlight that Recovery does exist, treatment can work, and individuals struggling do not have to struggle alone. The 2021 theme is “Recovery is for EVERYONE: Every Person, Every Family, Every Community”. This helps to reinforce the idea that there is not one single pathway to recovery. Recovery is unique and does not have to look any one way.
The Adult Substance Use Services team at Chesterfield Mental Health continues to grow and evolve to meet the needs of our community. Over this next year we are working to increase access to Medication Assisted Treatment Services in Chesterfield, including within our jail diversion programs and working to reduce barriers to treatment. This month, to celebrate recovery, including those we have lost, the team will be creating a memorial garden on site to allow space for quiet reflection. Reflection can give way to hope, which leads to energy, which leads to ideas, which leads to action. We look forward to continuing to serve this community with innovation and empathy.
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Pre Trial and Community Corrections Services |
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The Domestic and Sexual Violence Resource Center (DSVRC) received a National Association of Counties (NACo) Award for new and enhanced services in Chesterfield County.
The Chesterfield DSVRC is a unit of government, serving victims of domestic and sexual violence, dating violence and stalking in Chesterfield County. In 2019, the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) awarded a Victims of Crime Act, Victim Service Grant Program (VOCA/VSGP) grant to the DSVRC, funding an additional advocate and a senior clinician. Beginning October 1, 2019, the Chesterfield Domestic and Sexual Violence Resource Center established new clinical service and enhanced existing advocacy services.
The new and enhanced services addressed prevailing service gaps: absence of trauma-informed clinical services, and understaffed advocacy services for victims of domestic and sexual violence, dating violence and stalking.
The addition of a senior clinician provided the foundation to establish no-cost individual and group therapeutic services, previously unavailable in Chesterfield County.
The addition of a second advocate enhanced and increased existing advocacy services including: protective order assistance, civil court accompaniment, comprehensive victim assistance, thorough safety planning and risk assessments, case management and victim accompaniment to protective order appeals in an additional court.
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Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Pre Trial/Probation Officer
Community Corrections Services (CCS) hired Ms. Arecy Lee as the first MAT officer in August 2021. Ms. Lee will supervise a caseload of clients and monitor their participation in the treatment providing special focus on clients needing medication assisted treatment (MAT). The clients will receive assistance with their return to the community from incarceration, medication management, court compliance and treatment groups. Chesterfield County received a Building Bridges grant which supports this position.
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Did you know Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Social Services has a position dedicated to helping to connect the community to available resources offered by the Department and community partners?
Judy Critzer, Sr. Community Resource Specialist, began in her new role on January 25, 2021. As a Sr. Community Resource Specialist, Judy’s primary responsibility is to connect with citizens and partners in the community instead of serving customers who call or visit the Social Services seeking resources. Judy is bilingual and has many years of experience determining eligibility for various social services programs such as Medicaid, TANF and SNAP. Judy’s benefit programs knowledge allows provides her the ability to answer questions regarding existing benefit programs cases, as well as to assist residents with navigating the application process for various federal safety net programs. The Sr. Community Resource Specialist position is part of the Assessment and Resource Team, a team designated to serve as a clearinghouse for social services employees, citizens and partners. As part of this team, Judy has knowledge of benefit programs as well as various community resources available to assist citizens in meeting an array of needs such as housing instability, medical care, food insecurity and crisis assistance.
Judy is available to provide training and information sessions on navigating social services programs and those available in the community.
To learn more about how Judy best assist you in supporting citizens, you can email her or reach her by phone at 804-751-4312.
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Back to School, but Don't Forget About YOU! |
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As students head back to school stress may be on the rise for many. Morning routines get hectic, extra traffic adds time to commutes, and by the end of the day everyone is tired and maybe a little grumpy. During big changes and stressful times it is important to not lose sight of our own self care.
Next time you feel like you don't have time to take care of yourself, try one of these five minute self care activities:
- List 5 things you're grateful for
- Breathe deeply, feeling your belly rise and fall with each breath
- Wash your face
- Drink a glass of water
- Stand up and walk around
- Listen to a favorite song
- Stretch
- Color a picture
- Pay yourself a compliment
- Turn your phone on silent
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