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A Message to Children’s Home Society Supporters

As we all deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to take a moment to let you know how Children’s Home Society is proactively assuring that we can continue our mission of serving Virginia’s at-risk children, youth and families.

First, our work goes on. We continue to serve the foster children and youth with whom we are working to place into adoptive families. Our Foster Care Adoption Team is serving as a resource to our foster and adoptive families to ensure all the children on our caseload are with supportive, loving families. Our Post Adoption Program team, while taking appropriate precautions by working virtually, is counseling families who may be going through especially stressful times as schools are closed and uncertainty is the norm. In addition, we continue to be a resource and provide guidance to youth in The Possibilities Project. These are times of uncertainty. But what is certain is that our team is there to support and coach children, youth and families through challenging times—as we do in all others. As we all struggle to understand what the new normal might look like, our team will continue to counsel, guide, teach, advocate and be a pillar of strength.

Second, because all of our staff have laptop computers, the vast majority of them are now working remotely. Those of us who do come into the office are practicing social distancing. We have implemented a new Coronavirus Policy which provides for expanded leave opportunities if any of our staff does become ill, must care for a family member who becomes ill, or needs to care for minor children who have lost school or childcare options. Access to our office is restricted to staff and essential visitors. We know that we cannot serve our children, youth and families if we do not first practice self-care.

Finally, we are disappointed to announce that the May 7th celebration of CHS’s 120th Anniversary has been postponed. We are currently working with the Jefferson Hotel and our fabulous speaker, Leigh Anne Tuohy, to find an alternative date—likely in the fall—that will work for everyone. We thank all of you and especially our amazing sponsors for your patience and support as we continue to plan for a wonderful event.

We thank you for your support through these difficult times. We ask that you thoughtfully consider making a gift to CHS to support our ongoing work. The postponement of our signature fundraising event is a financial challenge for our agency. Your contributions will assure that the important work we do for Virginia’s children, youth and families continues.

In the coming days and weeks we will continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation and will continue to communicate with you through social media and other means. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].

 

 

 

Nadine Marsh-Carter, J.D.
Children’s Home Society of Virginia CEO and Adoptive Parent