Rae Barker, who shared her personal story of substance use and addiction at this week’s Shared Space (pictured above), said she started drinking at 12 years old to ease her anxiety. The 23-year-old, who has been in recovery for two years, eloquently spoke to the audience of 70 gathered for the community conversation. She talked about her early …
Continue reading “What you need to know: Teens and substance use”
Maintaining self-control and making personal decisions are important to all persons. Being able to decide where to live, who to live with, daily activities, choosing a doctor, money management, religious preferences, and whether to be buried or cremated are basic human desires and rights. Everyone wants to be able to make their own life choices. …
Continue reading “Guardianship brings dignity and respect to life decisions”
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, one in five of adolescents (20 percent) have a diagnosable mental health disorder with problems starting as early as 14 years old. If left untreated, teens can face isolation and discrimination. Undiagnosed and untreated trauma and mental health issues may lead to increased emotional and behavioral …
Continue reading “Learning life skills empowers teens to address mental health”
Sharing stories brings all of us together. Shows the commonality among the human experience. Guides us to see past exterior presentations and preconceptions and relate on a more meaningful level. Four local refugee and immigrant persons shared their stories at the Third Annual Roanoke Language Access Conference today. The panel and a series of presentations and …
On Wednesday night, our community stood up for mental health, raising $59,400 to support our neighbors in their journey to #RestoringHope. Thanks to you and our celebrity waiters, the success of Celebrity Tip Off allows people in our community to receive the help they need, when and where they need it. With #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth starting in just a few weeks, I just knew …
Let’s pause a moment and appreciate the incredible strength of our community. You may be attending Celebrity Tip Off next week, or plan on supporting one of the celebrity waiters raising tips for mental health. You may know a teen in our program learning peer leadership and the value of giving back. No matter your connection, you are …
It’s 9:00 am on a Monday morning and I already know I’m not going to get much done today. I’m mentally paralyzed by a headache, foggy-ness in my brain, and feelings of shame. Yesterday afternoon had been swallowed up by an episode of anxiety, and this morning I am living with regrets. Forget responding …
For National Professional Social Workers Month, I chatted with the fine folks I get the opportunity to work with–many who are social workers, social workers in training and social workers at heart. Not everyone at Family Service is a social worker (ahem… me for example). But everyone here works hard for our community, helping others find the tools …
A team of dedicated students, including Teen Outreach Program® veteran and Patrick Henry High School senior Anthony Patrick (left), are bringing Roanoke’s Global Youth Service Day 2018 to life. Supported by Family Service of Roanoke Valley youth development specialists, the youth-led planning team is hard at work planning activities for the 30th Anniversary ofGlobal Youth Service Day (GYSD). …
Continue reading “Teen Outreach Program Experience Culminates with Leadership Opportunity”
Youth volunteers from communities throughout Roanoke are helping plan the annual fun run. Everyone can participate in the excitement of race day during “America’s Toughest Road Marathon.” Carilion Children’s and Family Service of Roanoke Valley, who organize the Global Youth Service Day in Roanoke, have partnered to host the third annual Carilion Children’s Family …
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