When I moved back to Roanoke after 12 years, the Blue Ridge Mountains moved right back into my heart. It was like we’d never been apart. There is little I love more than my town. Just like the other loves of my life—my three stinky boys (a husband and two sons), the four beating and …
Youth Development Spotlight: Hannah Hopkins
Hannah Hopkins wasn’t always the awesome Youth Development Specialist (and blooming social worker) she is now. In fact, not that long ago, she was about as far away from a social worker as one could imagine. With a Bachelors of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering, Hannah spent seven years as a product development engineer in the …
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The Truth about PTSD
WHAT DO LADY GAGA, DARRELL HAMMOND, AND AUDIE MURPHY HAVE IN COMMON? Lady Gaga is an American singer-songwriter who has received numerous awards and nominations for her contributions to the music industry. Darrell Hammond is recognized for his impersonations of Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Sean Connery, John Travolta, and many more on Saturday Night Live. …
Starkey comes to Family Service with long history of helping others
Jamie Starkey is a force to be reckoned with. As the newly hired Project Director for the Health and Wellness Interpreters of Roanoke Valley with Family Service of Roanoke Valley, she is continuing the career she’s built based on serving people who need it most. With her career originally starting in law enforcement, Jamie quickly …
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Why World Refugee Day Roanoke?
World Refugee Dayis celebrated internationally on June 20th to recognize the courage and resilience exhibited by over 21.3 million refugees around the world. “While every refugee’s story is different and their anguish personal, they all share a common thread of uncommon courage – the courage not only to survive, but to persevere and rebuild their …
Youth Development Spotlight: Deseree Stanfield
Deseree Stanfield has always loved helping others and started “officially” doing so at just 12 years old by tutoring refugees in English at the West End Center. If that doesn’t tell you about her character, I’m not sure what will! (Except the rest of this blog). Deseree has a Bachelor’s in Sociology and is a …
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Family Service and West End Center maintain summertime service for youth
Family Service of Roanoke Valley is proud to be a community partner with The West End Center for Youth. A youth centered community resource proudly serving Roanoke for nearly 40 years. Established in 1979 to provide a safe haven for the youth of the west end and mountain-view communities, the West End Center offers after …
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Tough Talks: Parents, Children, and “13 Reasons Why”
Thirteen Reasons Why was written in 2007 by Jay Asher. By 2011, it was #1 on the New York Times best-seller list and, unbeknownst to most parents, it is currently on many high school reading lists. For those who haven’t heard, Thirteen Reasons Why, and its Netflix adaption “13 Reasons Why”, follows the story of …
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Youth Development Spotlight: Ana Zuniga
Ana Zuniga, Family Service Youth Development Specialist, graduated with a Bachelor in Social Work this month! We are so proud of her accomplishments and are excited to have had her on the Youth Development team. A lover of ice breaker games, Ana has a passion for working with kids and youth and developing connections with …
The health benefits of counseling for older adults
“Ann” is 70 years old and recently came to Family Service seeking treatment for depression. She said it all started with the death of her son 10 years ago. She became the primary caregiver for his children after his death, and ignored the signs and symptoms of her own depression. Three months ago, her husband …
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