What’s on your plate for 2024?

Here we are at the start of a fresh new year, full of possibilities and opportunities to help our customers. While we had many successes in 2023, we can’t stop there but need to keep going. We need to keep looking for new and innovative ways to provide services to those in need and to help make our community stronger. 

As we move into 2024, let’s ponder on how we can best help each other to achieve human service excellence. 

I am grateful for the team of dedicated individuals that I get to work alongside with each day.   My hope is that we are all able to continue to work together to help provide our community with the resources that are needed and listen to the needs that still require attention and to take care of our mental selves so that we continue to be able to provide services that are vital to the healthy living for many. 

So, what’s on your plate for 2024? As we begin to fill it up, remember to take care of yourselves, recharge and reflect often so that we can take the best care of our customers. Happy 2024!

Annual Report

The Human Services Fiscal Year 2022-2033 Annual Report was released in December of 2023. The report evaluated the past year of success and looks towards future goals in each department. The Report can be found here.

Teen Summit

Save the date! The second annual Teen Summit is happening on Saturday February 24!

This event is open to High School youth in the Central Virginia Region. For youth to register please see the flyer listed below. There are also opportunities for vendors to participate in the Inspire Youth Workforce Event. To learn more about the event visit the Teen Summit website!

Economic Mobility Grant

Throughout 2023 many Human Services Departments and Economic Development participated in the ICMA Economic Mobility Grant. Through this grant, as part of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Human Services created the Learn, Explore, and Advance with Possibilities (L.E.A.P) workshop events. These events focused on our youth in workforce development. An overview of the Grant can be found on youtube. Dr. Worsley, Dalila Medrano and Emily Ashley represented Chesterfield at the final cohort meeting in December of 2023 for a report out and overview of our workforce development event L.E.A.P. Suenos that focused on Chesterfield's Latino youth.

Early Childcare Event

Chesterfield is hosting an event focused on Childcare providers and workforce. This event is sponsored by the ICMA Economic Mobility Grant and Bryant and Stratton College. Those interested in attending must register with the QR code listed in the flyer below.

Holiday Events!

On December 14, 2023, Chesterfield Service Coordination hosted a Let it Glow event at the Chesterfield Technical Center for the individuals that we serve. Over 550 people attended and enjoyed crafts, Santa, dancing, selfies, cupcakes, and drinks.

On December 13, 2023, Residential Services hosted their Candy Cane Cocktail Dance event at the Cultural Art Center of India for individuals and families. Over 300 people attended, enjoyed dinner, desert and danced the night away thanks to the DJ.

County Leadership Visit

The Juvenile Detention Home was happy to welcome Dr. Casey and Dr. Worsley to the facility this past fall. Dr. Casey and Dr. Worsley spent time touring our new library as well as took time to eat lunch with our treatment programs residents. We are thankful to Dr. Casey and Dr. Worsley for speaking with residents and providing words of encouragement. Dr. Casey was surprised by the amount of reading our residents do and even left with a few book recommendations from residents. This is one reason we are so grateful for our continued partnership with Chesterfield County Public Libraries. Dr. Casey finished lunch by asking residents their career interests and educating them on great job opportunities available in Chesterfield County now and jobs that are on the horizon. He stressed everyone has opportunities despite their current situation, and our staff and facility do a great job preparing residents for those opportunities.

• Citizen Information and Resources: Emily Ashley, director
• Community Corrections Services: JoAnn McLaurin-Carpenter, assistant director
• Drug Courts: Melanie Meadows, administrator 
• Juvenile Justice Services: Justin Crostic, program administrator for treatment programs & detention alternatives 
• Mental Health Support Services: Jaroslaw Muchowski, assistant director of administration and planning
• Social Services: Kiva Rogers, director