Challenge Discovery Projects’ Virginia Health Center (VHC) is an outpatient community clinic located in Richmond’s East End at 719 North 25th Street. Since 1980, VHC has provided counseling services for at-risk youth, ages 12-18, and their families who face a multitude of challenges including substance abuse and mental health issues. Counseling settings include both group and individual sessions. Additional services include parenting skills, conflict resolution, and anger management training. Services are also provided to the family of the adolescent, as substance misuse/abuse not only affects the abuser, but the entire family unit. Many of the adolescents are involved with the juvenile court system as a result of criminal or delinquent behavior. Most have an unstable, dysfunctional family system. Some are experiencing academic problems, are at risk of dropping out of school, or have already dropped out of school.

In addition to group and individual counseling, VHC builds mentoring relationships by connecting adolescents and adults to provide meaningful learning experiences that promote personal growth. Building supportive and trusting relationships with adults encourages children to want to be contributing members of their school and community (Davis, 2005). By modeling how to positively handle adversity and effectively communicate, VHC is impacting the educational and social environment of the adolescent. VHC mentors become valued role models for children who may have few positive adults to look to for moral guidance.

Clients are referred to VHC in many ways including through the juvenile justice system, a school counselor or parent. Many are referred or receive information about VHC from the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA), ChildSavers, the Peter Paul Development Center, the Community Hospital, and the East End Family Resource Center. VHC is a member of the East End Partnership With Families, a group of area agencies working together to serve the community in a comprehensive, non-duplicating manner.

To learn more about the counseling programs available at VHC, please contact us at (804) 643-0002.