When someone treats you with kindness, support and understanding, you don’t tend to forget it. Fourteen years ago, the wonderful staff at Family Service helped me through what was then the hardest time of my life. Navigating through territory I had never even considered before, I was gently guided to first take stock, then make …
Annual Impact Report 2021-2022
This document is a broad overview of the programs and services that we offer to the Roanoke Valley Community and demonstrates the impact that FSRV has in the areas of counseling, public guardianship, and youth development. Thank you to everyone who makes our work possible by supporting us financially or by volunteering! Click on the …
Ariel’s Story
Ariel is a former client of Family Service of Roanoke Valley who experienced abuse and trauma as a child. Ariel states that her mother was diagnosed with a serious mental health condition in addition to being a substance user. Ariel’s father had a challenging childhood and as an adult, was sentenced to serve time in …
Signs You Might Need Support
Recently there has been a lot of uncertainty growing with the COVID-19 pandemic, and many people are experiencing stress, heightened emotions, and grief that they have never experienced before. But how can you tell that you are currently struggling? There may be changes in your behavior or lifestyle that seem different, and you may not …
The importance of talking and listening
Most everyone spends large portions of their day talking and listening. People do so from the moment they wake up until the moment they go to bed – we talk to our families, our friends, our coworkers, our clients and sometimes even to ourselves or to strangers at the grocery store. It is such an …
Being a foster parent
Roller Coaster of Emotions: In Virginia, there are approximately 5,300 children in foster care and nowhere near that number of approved foster parents. Deciding to become a foster parent is not an easy decision to make. There are a number of factors to consider even before making the call to your local Department of Social …
Mental Health Warrior: You, our advocates
In May 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month was celebrated for the first time and was the beginning step to spreading awareness and breaking down barriers for people accessing care. 70 years later, people like you are still working to Stamp Out Stigma or are reminding others that mental health is just as important as physical …
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Mental Health Warrior: Cory Simmons
Cory Simmons supports Family Service as a Youth Development Specialist, contributing to Positive Action and the Teen Outreach Program (TOP®). Positive Action is an evidence-based program offered in elementary schools, while TOP® is an evidence-based program for middle and high school students. Both address self-esteem, effective communication, goal setting, healthy relationships, and substance use prevention. …
Substance Use: Seeking Community Solutions
When local author Beth Macy released her latest book Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America, there was an instant buzz around opioid use and addiction within Southwest Virginia. The book left many in the community asking how did this happen in our community? How can we help? While there is no …
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Mental Health Warrior: Briana Campbell
As a Youth Development Specialist, Briana Campbell contributes her skills widely at Family Service, adopting several roles in Youth Development Services. In addition to working with the youth in the Teen Outreach Program (TOP®) Briana helps facilitate Project AIM and Positive Action. “I facilitate several Positive Action groups, co-facilitate Project AIM groups, and serve as …
