Human Services Annual Report Fiscal Year 2024

Community Engagement and Resources (CER)

Community Engagement and Resources (CER) connects people to services and opportunities to engage with the community. This department is a resource hub for all those who live, work, and play in Chesterfield County. CER provides information so that community members will be knowledgeable of the services they can access. Community Engagement and Resources has three divisions, Aging and Disability Resources (ADR), Community Engagement, and Mobility Services. The following are snapshots of CER accomplishments in FY24:

Aging and Disability Resources (ADR)

• Aging and Disability Resources is the leading resource for older adults and individuals with physical and sensory disabilities.
• ADR partnered with Mental Health Support Services to highlight “Older Adult Suicide Prevention."
• A National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award was granted to Chesterfield for the “Older Adult Suicide Prevention” campaign.
• Aging and Disability Resources along with the Council on Aging hosted an inaugural Caregiver Café to provide family caregivers a connection with experts who provided information on services available to them in the community.

Community Engagement

• Community Engagement is committed to fostering relationships among county government, citizens, businesses, and local and regional organizations. The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, partnered with Parks and Recreation and the community to assist in launching the county’s first multi-cultural/Hispanic Farmers Market currently located at Rockwood Park.
• The office hosted the third annual My Chesterfield Academy cohort with 17 graduates representing 15 countries of origin and 1 U.S. territory and partnered with Chesterfield County Public Schools to host the first International Teacher’s Welcome dinner.

• Successfully coordinated two signature programs: First Responders Cultural Festival Community Cup, and the Three Kings Celebration.
• Several Youth engagement events were held including the regional Teen Summit RVA, Greenleigh Summer Program, and the Workforce Bridge program.
• In addition, the Youth Advisory Board created a Middle School Workshop focused on preventing youth violence in the community with a focus on mental health, creating a positive culture, and the importance of community service.
• The department hosted spring and fall Government Citizens Academies that graduated 41 participants and held seven blood drives that collected 277 units of blood. Other events included, Customer Service Week, Public Service Week, Chesterfield Community Champions, Academy State of the County Address, and the United Way Campaign.

• C-Fit Community connects Chesterfield residents and visitors with information to enhance their health and wellness. C-Fit Community was awarded a $90,600 grant from the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth to promote the value of increased consumption for fruits and vegetables among youth in Chesterfield County. In addition, C-Fit Community partnered with Chesterfield’s Parks & Recreation and Sports and Visitation and Entertainment to launch the inaugural Outdoor Fest 2024 which focused on the fun of outdoor recreation in Chesterfield County.

Workforce Development

• Workforce Development in partnership with Social Services, Economic Development, and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, utilized grant funding from the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) to sponsor three Learning through Exploration and Active Participation (L.E.A.P.) Suenos (Suenos - means dreams) - events targeting youth, Latinos, and childcare providers.
• Workforce Development also developed 7 new community partnerships.

Mobility Services

• Mobility Services focuses on improving existing transportation options and coordinating community-wide transportation service network with providers to meet community needs.
• Mobility Services promoted Access on Demand this past year to make sure residents were aware of alternative methods of transportation. National Association of Counties (NACo) recognized the Mobility Services program, “Information Technology Mobility Platform Process Improvement” for an achievement award.
• Mobility Services has seen a significant increase in ridership in FY24. The ridership data for September 2022 indicated 5,674 paid transportation trips and in September 2023, the number of paid trips increased to 9,073. The demand for transportation services continues to rise.

Fiscal Year 2025 Goals

• Continue to serve as a resource guide for Chesterfield County.
• Expand the voice of our multi-cultural community through engagement and conversation.
• Provide resources to caregivers and seniors to age well.
• Engage our youth in workforce development opportunities.
• Celebrate our volunteer community through engagement and recognition.
• Connect residents with resources to enhance health and wellness.

Courts: Circuit Clerk's Office

The Circuit Court Clerk’s Office is committed to efficient processes and improving access to justice. Our staff are working diligently to identify critical process areas where we can leverage technology effectively. We are working on reducing paper in our office and providing resources through social media engagement and public events.

Our office is committed to providing the highest quality services and going the extra mile for our customers. Through a collaboration with the Commissioner of the Revenue, we were able to provide important information to Chesterfield residents on our fraud alert system, reaching hundreds of thousands of residents at minimal costs. We also improved services for concealed carry permit holders and people with protective orders who qualify for HOPE cards. A HOPE card does not replace the existing protective order.

We anticipate more positive changes to come and invite you to follow us @ChesterfieldCCC on Facebook and Instagram to learn about initiatives in real time.

The Circuit Court Clerk’s Office is working with Chesterfield County officials and the Library of Virginia to ensure the proper preservation and duplication of the 1749 Commission of the Peace. This will not only safeguard the original Commission of the Peace but also allow likenesses to be displayed, enabling residents to appreciate this piece of Chesterfield's history. By partnering with the Library of Virginia, we are committed to preserving our county's oldest written artifact — a document older than the Declaration of Independence.

In conjunction with the Sheriff's Office, the Circuit Court has collaborated to realize Sheriff Karl Leonard's vision of greater information for court-involved people and families. Wall displays for government services pamphlets and brochures, provide an opportunity for government resources to be shared. Each month, the display table rotates to feature departments within the county.

Sworn to Serve: Clerk's Vital Role

The Clerk administers oaths for ministers, notaries, local commission and board members, law enforcement officers, and other sworn officials. This role ensures that these individuals are properly sworn in and authorized to perform their duties. By administering these oaths, the Clerk upholds the integrity and legality of the positions held by these officials. This essential service supports the effective functioning of local government and law enforcement.

Juvenile Justice Services

The Department of Juvenile Justice Services (JJS) serves, supports, protects, and empowers the court-involved youth and juvenile victims of Chesterfield County and the city of Colonial Heights. The department manages a multifaceted network of juvenile-focused programs and facilities, including the Chesterfield Juvenile Detention Home (CJDH), Adolescent Resource Pathways, the Davis Child Advocacy Center, and several community-based programs funded in part through the Virginia Juvenile Community Crime Control Act (VJCCCA).

Detention Home

The purpose of the Juvenile Detention Home is to provide a safe, secure, and supportive environment for court-involved youth with the goal of promoting individual growth through education and empowerment. The detention home also houses two treatment programs and the Home Incarceration Program, an alternative to secure detention.

Information and Statistics

• The Detention Home had 309 admissions in FY24, an 8% decrease from FY23. Of those 309 admissions, 27 were served in our treatment programs. An additional 189 juveniles, who would otherwise be detained in detention, were placed on electronic monitoring, house arrest, or diversion outreach as an alternative to secure detention. This was an 18% increase from FY23 and continues to demonstrate our 12th District Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Judges reserving secure detention for the highest-risk cases.
• The Home Incarceration Program started a pilot earlier this year supervising program participants who reside in the city of Richmond. Historically, juveniles needed to reside in Chesterfield County or the city of Colonial Heights to be eligible for electronic monitoring. We recognized this created a disparity in the program based on a juvenile’s residence. While the program does not have the resources to supervise juveniles state-wide, our hope is to continue to expand within the Metro Richmond area. This pilot began in February 2024, and through the end of the fiscal year, nine juveniles were successfully supervised in the city of Richmond. These nine juveniles would have otherwise been detained in the detention home.
• For the 2023-2024 school year, four students earned their GED, and two students are nearing completion. One student earned a high school diploma. Not only was the remaining coursework completed, but the individual also passed the required tests to earn three verified credits for graduation. Many of our students were able to earn industry certifications as well. Students earned certificates in OSHA, SERVSAFE, EVERFI, and W!SE (100% of our students passed the National Financial Literacy W!se test for the 23-24 school year). These accomplishments are a testament to the focus on student achievement and outstanding instruction and support provided by the faculty and staff.

• The students at CJDH embraced the idea of the Compassion Project with open arms. The Compassion Project is about individuals thinking beyond their current situations to provide help and assistance for someone else who is in need. Starting off with positivity cards, the students creatively reflected on images that promoted kindness and motivation. Additionally, the students “lived” the words and images by making 60 no-sew-blankets. The recipients were patients at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond. Ranging from infancy to age eighteen, these kids were delighted to receive these thoughtful acts of kindness. We’re hoping to continue this project for years to come.

• The Detention Home’s medical and transportation staff facilitated 171 outside medical appointments. This includes scheduling, transporting, securing medications, following change orders and treatments, contacting parents when necessary, and scheduling follow-up appointments. In addition to outside medical appointments, 74 in-house telepsychiatry sessions were conducted.
• As part of our on-going, fabulous partnership with Chesterfield County Public Libraries (CCPL), local author, Lamar Giles, visited with the residents as part of our July Summer Enrichment Program. The children read his book, The Getaway, as the featured book club book of the summer. The residents loved engaging with Lamar, and all received signed copies of his book.

Chesterfield Adolescent Resource Pathways (CARP)

CARP had a very successful year! CARP Programs are all designed to prevent or rehabilitate juvenile offenders. Every CARP program recorded re-arrest rates lower than state averages. We received approval to add a Gun Violence Prevention program for youth with firearms charges.

Information and Statistics

• Community Service Program (CSP) is an organized opportunity for youth to serve up to 24 hours of court required community service while also giving back to the citizens. CSP served twice as many youths and cost half of what was projected! Furthermore, 99% of participants completed their service within the prescribed time. All of this was accomplished under an acting Community Service Coordinator since April 1, 2024.
• Day Reporting serves youth who are long-term suspended or expelled through CCPS Homebound school. Day Reporting celebrated that 98% of youth were not rearrested while participating in the Day Reporting Program. Moreover, every youth eligible to graduate did so!
• Court Navigator assists families to complete court requirements, through referrals and guidance. The Court Navigator accomplished 97% success in meeting court requirements. We are grateful for the families’ receptiveness to the voluntary services.
• 2024 was another successful school year for the Substance Abuse Awareness (Vision) Groups. The groups introduce a variety of techniques that help students to end their use of illegal substances. Ninety-six percent of youth successfully completed the group and signed the pledge not to use illegal substances in the future.
• The Pocahontas Youth Conservation Corps is a collaboration with the Department of Conservation and Recreation and Colonial Heights. Youth can experience entry-level job duties in Virginia State Parks. Youth learn how to clear trails, repair fences, restore campsites, etc. Additionally, they learn “soft skills” like teamwork, punctuality, responsibility, and time management. We’re proud that the program has been operating at Pocahontas since July 1999.
• Educational and Vocational Connections Coordinator assisted students in becoming successful in school and transitioning to their next endeavor. Of the students scheduled to take SOL tests, all took and passed their SOLs in Math, Science, Social Studies, and English with a 100% pass rate. One of our students, a senior, was able to finish all remaining graduation requirements for on-time graduation. Subsequently, their FAFSA was filed and began working on their Associate of Science in Information Technology, specializing in Cyber Security, this summer. Their plans are a testament to the success of our program and a reason for optimism about the impact we can continue to make. We assisted a young man who had never worked before to complete his resume and apply for jobs. He secured his first job at Popeye’s, kept it, got off probation, and is looking to join Job Corps.

Davis Child Advocacy Center (CAC)

• After successfully becoming an Accredited Children’s Advocacy Center through National Children’s Alliance in January 2023, the Davis CAC Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) has continued to spread its’ wings in service provision and engagement with the communities we serve. We presented to the Kiwanis Club of Chester, Chester Women’s Club, the Chesterfield Domestic Violence Task Force, and provided tours of our facility to these organizations and the Regency Women’s Club.
• The CAC MDT was the recipient of a VACo 2023 Achievement Award for enhancing the protection of children in Chesterfield County through cooperation and collaboration in investigations and prosecutions of reported child abuse.
• The CAC conducted 327 forensic interviews with 14 forensic interviews conducted off-site by ChildFirst trained MDT members due to imminent safety concerns for the child. There was an exception made and a CAC Forensic Interviewer conducted a forensic interview at the hospital because it was in the best interest of the child.
• Chesterfield County Police Department’s Vulnerable Populations Division acquired a facility dog that partners with the CAC to provide services to children and families who visit the CAC. To date, Hobbes, and his handler, have been utilized 189 times.
• The CAC has its first CAC based Clinician through our partnership with the Chesterfield CSB. Our clinician provides evidence-based therapeutic services to CAC MDT children only. In addition to providing services to our children and families, our clinician serves as a clinical consultant to the larger MDT regarding child trauma and therapeutic treatments, and comes with a facility dog, Conrad, that is utilized in therapeutic treatment with children.
• The CAC held its Second Annual Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) retreat for our partner agencies in early May 2024. The retreat was a great way for our partners to continue to build rapport outside of the hard jobs we do. The group engaged in team-building activities facilitated by Chesterfield County Parks and Rec, pour painting, yoga, pickleball, and a food truck lunch. The benefits of this retreat will be longstanding as it continues to strengthen existing relationships while allowing opportunity to build new ones after numerous transitions on our MDT.
• CAC staff attended the 2nd Annual Commonwealth Attorney’s Office-sponsored Chesterfield Child Safety Fair on April 27th at the Chesterfield Fairgrounds. This was a great way for CAC staff to bring awareness to child safety, collaborate with our MDT partners, and engage the community. The CAC handed out brochures, a variety of fidgets, Forget-Me-Not seeds with our logo, wildflowers to plant, and had a facility dog present for children to pet and play with.
• One of our two full-time Forensic Interviewers (FI) was asked to become ChildFirst faculty by CACVA (our state chapter). The individual is now training law enforcement, CPS investigators, and attorneys across the commonwealth in the following topics: Effective Interviewing, Dynamics in Child Abuse, The Process of Disclosure, and Exploring Details thru Closure in the Forensic Interview. They were also called to testify as an expert witness in their role as forensic interviewer in multiple criminal cases that resulted in convictions.
• The CAC MDT Leadership Team created the first A.C.T. (Assist Children Together) training that was a one-day presentation for our SROs and Family Life Nurses in our school system about the CAC MDT model. The 32 attendees were provided education from the following MDT partners: CAC, Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, Bon Secours Violence Response Team, and Chesterfield Police-ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children). It was a great experience and the overview of the Chesterfield MDT, our roles, and potential future partnerships was well received.
• The CAC Director is on the Board of Directors of the CAC State Chapter (CACVA), their governing body. As an active Board Member, they are assigned to the Governance Committee to assist with strategic planning for growth of CACs, review board expectations, policies, and bylaws. This year the CACVA Board was focused on securing current funding for FY25 and advocating for CACs across the state during the GA session.

Social Services

Social Services and Mental Health Support Services coordinated the Family Assistance Center staging area in response to the county’s more robust emergency preparedness efforts for the Fourth of July fireworks event.

FY 24 Accomplishments

Our People: Recruit and retain a high performing, trained and empowered workforce at every level of the organization:

• Instituted enhanced bilingual compensation incentive process to support recruitment and retention efforts.
• Launched a redesigned departmental New Employee Orientation structure focused on promoting organizational culture of excellence, safety and emergency preparedness, psychological safety and exceptional customer service expectations.
• Increased recruitment strategies to include career fair participation and expending recruitment audiences.

Our Customer: Create a customer-centric culture where services are delivered timely, accurately, efficiently and with compassion:

• The Assessment and Resource Team (ART) joined the county-wide Strategic Planning for Individuals in Need or Transition team (SPRINT). ART is a team comprised of stakeholders from the police department, mental health, social services, county attorney’s office, sheriff’s office, fire department, mobile integrated health and workforce safety whose purpose is to develop focused strategies for customers experiencing complex needs.
• Partnered with Community Engagement and Resources to expand use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits at the Chesterfield Farmer’s Market.

Our Business: Provide FIRST CHOICE social services by using best practices, innovative strategies that maximize technology and efficient processes that proactively respond to the changing demands of the community:

• Average timeliness in Childcare and SNAP application processing exceeded 97% performance expectations.
• The department has leveraged technology to improve internal and external customer service and efficiency.
• Some enhancements include: Redesigned customer lobby to improve efficiency and customer experience. Enhancements include: furniture positioning, creation of customer workstations and expanded implementation of Q-flow, a system designed to prioritize and direct customers to the most appropriate team.
• Creation of an online request for services to allow customers to request crisis financial assistance virtually.
• Children’s Services Act office implemented inaugural paperless contract process.

Our Community: Create connections that positively impact the lives of individuals, families and the community, and promote lifelong changes:

• Addressing housing insecurity is one of Social Services’ primary areas of focus. In FY24, Social Services executed a Memorandum of Understanding with Virginia Housing to begin offering Fostering Youth to Independence vouchers. These vouchers will help meet the needs of young adults who have aged out of foster care.
• The Assessment and Resource Team (ART) has leveraged two key partnerships to assist with managing the workload and maximizing impact on customers. A collaborative partnership with Dominion Energy has allowed for more customers to be served through Energy Share and the Percentage of Income Payment Program to prevent a disruption in electric services. ART staff expanded their partnership with ACTS (Area Congregations Together in Service). This partnership was vital in our ability to meet the growing demands for eviction prevention assistance.
• Department-wide, community engagement has increased. Staff within Benefit Programs and Services has increased community outreach to provide greater access for customers and promote benefits and services available to assist the community.

FY25 Goals

• Strengthen customer service by leveraging technology to improve efficiency in accessing services.
• Expand community engagement efforts in strategic areas of focus.
• Enhance community referral process through further development of resource knowledge and collaborative partnerships that reduce barriers for customers.