The Hampton Roads Community Action Program (HRCAP) celebrated the opening of a Whole Family Approach Innovation Lab on Thursday, August 31, in Hampton. The new center will serve as a location for a wide variety of services and tools for Whole Family clients including computers and internet access, meeting and counseling space, a clothing closet, food pantry, and much more.

Congressman Bobby Scott, Virginia Secretary of Labor Bryan Slater, Virginia Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources Leah Mills, VDSS Commissioner Danny Avula, and Hampton Mayor Donnie Tuck were among the officials in attendance to celebrate the new facility. Following the ribbon cutting, HRCAP staff and board members were joined by these officials for a briefing to discuss top statewide community action legislative priorities, including $5.8 million annually in the Governor’s budget to take the Whole Family pilot funding statewide. Officials also heard from participating families and coaches who shared remarkable success stories from their experiences in the program.

Whole Family Approach is a family-led strategy which provides adults and children with the tools to set, plan for, and achieve their goals together. Families work with a coach who explores available tools and solutions for each individual family. Families must develop plans with long-term and short-term goals and a team of agencies must partner with families to reach their goals. Collaborating agencies must meet regularly to collectively manage family plans, share data, and synchronize efforts. HRCAP is one of six Community Action Agencies in Virginia participating in the Whole Family Pilot Program.