DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

The Faces we Serve

One Parent’s Story

I didn’t know what to do. My child was defiant, rebellious and

sometimes aggressive.

I felt my family coming apart at the seams. Family life was

chaotic at best.

Then, we found Pendleton Child Service Center and all that changed in a positive way.

My child had no friends and everyone in the family was

becoming more and more isolated.

My child learned how to get along with her peers and her grades

improved.

Individual and family counseling helped us with social

interactions and how to get along with each other.

Pendleton serves an average of 320 children/month with residential and outpatient counseling services.

Youth at the Juvenile Detention Center learn the 5 Ds, tools used for anger management and substance

abuse:

Distract yourselfDelay decision to use or get angryDeep breathingDrink waterDiscuss with others

I learned to stop and think.

It helped me realize I was getting too old for the foolishness.

It helped me stop smoking marijuana.

Post-D helped me get a better relationship with my mother and

avoid pushing her buttons.

You truly made a difference in my family’s life.

JDC* Post-dispositional Program is a co-ed,15 bed, program serving court-ordered youth sentenced for a

maximum of 180 days.

In a matter of 6 months, my son’s behavior turned

around.

Juvenile Detention Center

Michelle’s Story

I have a degree in textiles. I know fabric and how to design.

High rent, the cost of doing business, and the economy did me in.

I had my own shop at Hilltop.

I was forced to close my shop.

A failed marriage did not help.

I just need a little time.

Applying for benefits and trying to take care of my three children

became a full time job.

SNAP* serves 26,000 people and brings $27.3M into the city. >10,000 people receive medical assistance

through FAMIS**.

*Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program** Family Access Medical Insurance Security

Now I am self employed and work out of my home.

Keith’sStory

I grew up receiving financial assistance in Baltimore.

Mom didn’t work, and my dad was never around.

I was raised by a single parent with substance abuse problems.

I came to Virginia Beach when I was 20, got married, and quickly had

children.

I didn’t drink every day but when I did drink, I did things that later I

didn’t remember.

I was drinking.

Fortunately, I was never abusive.

My wife worked, but we needed help with food and medical expenses. We applied for the TANF*-Unemployed

Parent Program.

TANF serves 1,232 families and generates annual revenue of $3.5M;

Medicaid payments to providers total $185.7M for 41,000 clients.

*Temporary Assistance to Needy Families

From TANF, I entered the VIEW Program.

I went to Job Readiness Group every day and became better prepared to

interview.

Then I went into substance abuse counseling and stopped drinking.

That was 99% of my problem.

Now that I am working, I get help with medical* and child care expenses.

VIEW serves 480 families a month. >1000 families receive help with child care.

SNAPET

Cynthia’s Story

After 29 years of working, I got fired!

I was devastated.

I was so depressed. I hardly left the house for a year.

I applied for food assistance and had to go into the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education and Training

Program*.

SNAPET served 151 residents in January 2010 558 more were on a waiting list.

*SNAPET

Then my worker suggested I enter the GED program through the Adult

Learning Center.

They had to drag me into job readiness and job search.

After 4 months I

received my GED diploma.

Now I want to go to TCC.

Billy’s Story

Fathers in Training

(FIT)

After I was charged with domestic violence, my probation officer

referred me to Fathers in Training.

At the second or third meeting, I started feeling accepted as a

man and a dad.

I learned it's okay to talk about love, hugs and tears. I learned about

respect and anger management.Each FIT class graduates 30-40 dads.

I learned it is “ok” to talk about and hear love, tears, hugs…things you

don’t hear anywhere else.

ABUSED

146 new CPS cases opened monthly

ABANDONED

Average 194 ongoing CPS cases

NEGLECTED

6000 calls received last year

Meet Tim and Judy

We have been foster parents for five years. We have fostered six children

long-term and served as a short-term emergency placement

for many others.

Average 285 children in Foster Care

Fostering is the perfect fit for us. It is personally very rewarding and

fulfilling.To see a child that we have nurtured

change in a positive way is like watching a flower blossom.

This is our life work and one of the most worthwhile things we have ever

done.

Bernie’s Story

PATH* - Outreach for 82 homeless individuals per month

*Projects in Assistance for Transition from Homelessness

As a severely depressed alcoholic, Bernie lived on the

railroad tracks for five or six years and panhandled along Virginia

Beach Boulevard.

He had terrible cancer on his nose.

His recovery began when a localphysician volunteered to treat him.

He struggled for over a year and returned to the street several times. After his friend, Buddy,

passed away from cirrhosis of the liver, Bernie decided he was ready.

He completed the substance abuse programs and has

been sober for 3-4 years. Now he reaches out to other homeless

individuals and shares his story.

“I did it. You can too.”

Beach House supports an average of 90 people/day or 200/month

Duncan’s Story

After living on the streets, Duncan made the decision to get

clean and sober.

He has gone through substance abuse programs

and now resides in a recovery house.

He gives back to those who helped him by picking up

trash at Star of the Sea and

Potter House.

Bernie and Duncan also contribute by speaking at

AA meetings and other community events.

They hope others will see them giving back and understand why we need to respect and

take care of one another.

Our goal is to live a life like yours.

We are individuals with developmental and intellectual

disabilities.

Case Management coordinates services for 685 individuals.

EARLY INTERVENTION

>300 children served monthly

LIFETIME

SUPPORT

and

Intermediate care - 37Skilled nursing - 19Group homes - 22

Virginia Beach is our community for a lifetime.

We work, play, volunteer and strive to be productive and

contributing members of the community.

Max’s Story

Max lives independently. He works hard at Pizza Hut so he can

pay his bills.

He participates in the Supportive Living Program and now lives with a

roommate.

He volunteers at a nursing home and is actively involved in Special

Olympics.

The Supportive Living Program serves 132 residents

Jerry’s Story

Jerry entered the Supportive Living Program after his mother

passed away.

He now resides with his wife in a senior apartment complex and

continues to receive Case Management Services.

Jerry completed the Virginia Beach Senior Citizens Police Academy training and takes great pride in

helping others.

A Mother’s Story: Paul

At 3, we were told he would be severely disabled. He would never

be able to care for himself.

Our son was born with no chance of survival, it was a miracle

he took a breath.

We took him home to die, but with love and miracles he lived.

Now, at 25-years-old, Paul enjoys staying busy.

He works at three jobs, is active in his church and participates in

Special Olympics.

203 individuals employed through Community Employment Options Program

Carol’s Story

Carol was born in VA in 1958.

In 1964, when she was only 5 years old, she was sent to live

in an institution, Central VA Training Center.

After 32 years in an institution, she has been living successfully in the

community for 14 years!

She enjoys going out to eat. She attends parties and the SkillQuest day

program.

She loves to dance and volunteers at a local library.

SkillQuest serves 158 Virginia Beach residents

Adriane’s Story

Adult Outpatient Services sees 1654 people per month.

As a child I was treated unkindly and told I was worthless.

I first attempted suicide at age 13.

39 people committed suicide in Virginia Beach in 2008

As an adult, I married, and for 19 years, lived with emotional abuse and

physical and sexual violence.

I took my vows seriously and believed “till death do us part”.

My family never knew.

I was paralyzed on my left side. I thought I was having a stroke. The

hospital could find nothing physically wrong and referred me to Emergency

Services in the MHSA division.

I was not diagnosed as having a mental illness until I was 38 years old.

Emergency Services (24 hours) receives 600 requests for assistance per month.

I have participated in the trauma group, MESA (Mutual Education

Support and Advocacy) classes, the medication management

program and have received psychiatric treatment.

It took me seven years to get well.

I came out of that dark hole and want to help others.

TodayAdriane is a

Wellness Recovery Action Plan Facilitator

Lydia’s Story

Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Abuse serves 400-500

people per month

I blamed myself.

A car accident left me with a brain injury. Then something terrible

happened and I had to leave Texas with my 6-year-old daughter.

I turned to alcohol for comfort.

When we came to Virginia Beach we were homeless and my daughter

needed help.

Child and Youth Services helped her cope with her feelings and what had

happened.

She developed socialization and communication skills, and began to

progress in school.

I received medication and case management services along with

therapeutic services.

We both participated in the Project Link Program.

Thanks to the services provided by the Department of Human Services and to support groups for people

with brain injuries, I am now a recovering alcoholic.

I am so proud of myself.

Tim's Story

I am a 33-year-old man who started to use drugs when I was 15.

Until recently, my life was defined by my habit.

My habit was out of control. I was breaking the law to support a $300

a day heroin addiction.

My probation officer referred me to the City of Virginia Beach’s outpatient day

program.

For me, recovery was a full-time job.

At Magic Hollow, I gained many "tools" to succeed.

I still use them today.

Part of my recovery has been to “pay it forward."

Sometimes, it is as simple as sharing my story, and I appreciate

the opportunity to do so.

MHSA served 6000 people last year

I've been in recovery for about 5 years.

I got married.

I have a steady job.

I buried both my parents.

I secured my first mortgage.

I earned my bachelor's degree.

All these circumstances, in the past, could and would have

caused me to use (heroin). But through God's grace and the

lessons learned, I am substance-free.

I owe my life to Virginia

Beach’s day treatment program.