Grantee Spotlight: Colonial Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Youth Mentoring Program

Sep 29, 2025 | Grantee Spotlight

Grantee Spotlight: Colonial Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Youth Mentoring Program

By: WHF Staff

When Robin Thrall decided to become a foster parent 15 years ago, she couldn’t have known how many lives, including her own, would be changed. A single mother with one biological daughter, Robin felt the desire to have more children. Learning she was able to adopt as a single parent, Robin began the process of becoming a therapeutic foster parent through James City County’s Department of Social Services. She welcomed children in need of love and stability into her life, heart, and home, eventually adopting four.

Many foster and adopted children face a challenging journey toward stability and healing. Through Robin’s training and independent study, she learned the value of having positive role models and mentors for her children. She turned to Colonial CASA to help find mentors.

For Robin’s son Kenny, being paired with a mentor through Colonial CASA’s Youth Mentoring Program in Williamsburg, VA, has been life-changing. His mentor meets with him twice a week to lift weights, practice healthy eating, and even shop together for nutritious foods. More than just fitness lessons, these visits have given Kenny something positive to focus on as he navigates the grief of losing his family. Kenny and his mentor have formed an almost sibling-like bond.

Robin has many stories of how the volunteer mentors at Colonial CASA have influenced her children’s lives. Each child’s mentor provides them with new experiences, fresh perspectives, and someone who shows up just for them. These one-on-one connections enable each of her children to expand their experiences beyond their home. “I wish everyone, at every age, every situation, could have a mentor,” Robin says.

Youth Mentoring and HEAL

In 2022, Colonial CASA launched the Youth Mentoring Program to connect trained, adult mentors with youth aged 10-18. Navigating the adolescent years can be a difficult time for both youth and parents, and the program offers support to address these challenges. Mentoring has been shown to have a positive effect on children’s emotional well-being. Adult mentors provide guidance, resources, and support in various aspects of a youth’s life, including emotional and educational support, and teaching valuable life skills. According to Mentoring.org, these relationships benefit the youth and have a positive impact on the adult mentor.

To make the Youth Mentoring Program physically beneficial for participants, Colonial CASA introduced the Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) Colonial CASA program. HEAL encourages each mentee/mentor to incorporate physical activity into each weekly meeting. Colonial CASA provides participants with memberships to the JCC Recreation Center to reduce financial or weather barriers to being physically active.

WHF’s Continued Support

Colonial CASA’s HEAL program aligns with WHF’s strategic plan. The program contributes to the Foundation’s vision of individuals making healthy choices in a community with health opportunities for all, and the goal of targeting behavioral and social risk factors that influence the health of individuals across the life span. The Foundation has supported Colonial CASA’s work through 23 grants totaling more than $257,000 since 1999.

The account used in this article was adapted from Inside Look: Parent Shares Mentorship Impacts, a summary of an interview with Robin Thrall, by Linda Palmer. To learn more about Colonial CASA and their programs to support youth in Greater Williamsburg, please visit colonialcasa.org. To learn more about WHF’s grant funding opportunities, please visit williamsburghealthfoundation.org.

WHF is an independent private health foundation with the mission to collaborate, innovate, and invest to impact systems that improve the health and well-being of individuals living in Greater Williamsburg. The Foundation was established in September 1996 when the Williamsburg Community Hospital and Sentara developed an affiliation agreement and later merged. This agreement included a provision for a new, locally organized, and managed Foundation to benefit community health. Since inception, WHF has awarded over $116 million in grants to improve community health and well-being.

Grantee Spotlight: SHIP (School Health Initiative Program)

Aug 27, 2025 | Grantee Spotlight

Grantee Spotlight: SHIP (School Health Initiative Program)

By: WHF Staff

If you walk into any classroom in Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools (WJCC Schools) and ask any student what SHIP is, you might hear a variety of adjectives, including “lowkey lit^”1, “bussin’^”2, or “fire^.”3 What you probably won’t hear is “it is a program that is teaching me how to choose healthy food, live an active lifestyle, and learn evidence-based wellness techniques that I can share with my family.” But that is exactly what SHIP is “lowkey” doing in the classrooms of the 16 WJCC Schools throughout the school year.

Since SHIP’s launch in the Fall of 2006, the program has engaged thousands of teachers and staff, and tens of thousands of students in health and wellness improvement education opportunities across the school division, including:

- Teaching nutrition classes in all kindergarten, first, and second-grade classrooms.
- Training teachers how to incorporate movement into lesson plans.
- Providing home kits and teaching cooking and gardening skills to families.
- Managing 85+ before- and after-school challenge clubs, which include nutritious snacks, physical activity, and transportation for 2000+ students annually.
- Delivering interactive cooking lessons to 27 special education classrooms.

The impact of SHIP’s work goes beyond the walls of WJCC and the school grounds. Both students and staff participants share SHIP resources and experiences with the program with their friends, family, and neighbors within the Greater Williamsburg community.

From a Problem to a Program

According to a report using data from the 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, nationally, 16.5% of children between the ages of 2 and 19 were overweight, and 17.1% were classified as obese or severely obese. Specifically, in the Williamsburg-James City County local data compiled in 2004 by the Coalition for Obesity Prevention-Peninsula, the percentage of overweight youth in Williamsburg and James City was 29%, 27%, and 39% in kindergarten, third grade, and fifth grade, respectively. With this data in hand, Williamsburg Health Foundation’s (WHF) Staff and Board were moved to collaborate with WJCC Schools and other community partners to develop and launch a quality health program to foster lifelong physical activity, healthy eating habits in children, and provide access to health insurance. WJCC Schools launched the SHIP program in the Fall of 2006. Nineteen years later, the program continues to support and promote healthy eating and active lifestyle habits in schools, homes, and throughout Greater Williamsburg.

WHF’s Continued Support

SHIP’s work aligns with the WHF’s strategic plan. The program contributes to the Foundation’s vision, individuals making healthy choices in a community with health opportunities for all, and the goal of targeting behavioral and social risk factors that influence the health of individuals across the life span. As a Foundation-initiated program, WHF funds 68% of SHIP’s 2025-2026 program budget. Since 2004, the Foundation’s Board of Trustees has approved over $12.9 million to WJCC Schools to support SHIP and their mission.

Notes

Something that is secretly Exciting/excellent or enjoyable
Something is really good
Amazing or exciting

WHF is an independent private health foundation with the mission to collaborate, innovate, and invest to impact systems that improve the health and well-being of individuals living in Greater Williamsburg. The Foundation was established in September 1996 when the Williamsburg Community Hospital and Sentara developed an affiliation agreement and later merged. This agreement included a provision for a new, locally organized, and managed Foundation to benefit community health. Since inception, WHF has awarded over $116 million in grants to improve community health and well-being.

Grantee Spotlight: Child Health Initiative Care Teams

Aug 1, 2025 | Grantee Spotlight

Grantee Spotlight: Child Health Initiative Care Teams

By: WHF Staff

The City of Williamsburg’s and James City County’s Child Health Initiative Care Teams support local families as they work to improve their health and well-being. These initiatives pair each participating family with a dedicated team to work side-by-side in reaching the family’s goals. Grounded on the Aspen Institute’s evidence-based two-generation (2Gen) approach, Care Teams support the whole family, both the child and the adult. By simultaneously addressing the needs of both children and their caregivers, Care Teams help families tackle multiple challenges that affect their well-being with personalized, meaningful support.

The Care Teams implement the 2Gen approach of supporting both children and their caregivers for stronger, healthier families. Care Teams consist of a coordinator, case manager, registered nurse or community health specialist who collaborate in working with each family to build stability and resilience. Services are voluntary, free to eligible families, and tailored to families’ individual goals and needs.

Through their work, Care Teams help families build life skills around healthy living, self-advocacy, and economic stability. Families receive guidance in navigating healthcare and education systems and making connections to job training and employment resources — all tailored to their unique circumstances. The program involves frequent contact with families through home visits, medical accompaniment, ongoing monitoring, and collaboration with community partners.

The program assists families residing in Williamsburg or James City County who have a child in 5th grade or younger and are facing challenges in various areas. Eligible families include those who:

Experience limited income or struggle to access basic needs such as food, housing, or transportation.

Encounter difficulties navigating various community systems.

Have a child enrolled in services provided by Head Start, Bright Beginnings, or Child Development Resources.

Data gathered by the Foundation in 2024 revealed Care Teams had supported more than 170 individuals from 46 local families, helping them strengthen connections, navigate barriers, and take steps toward healthier, more stable futures. Entry and exit data show participation in the program improved health for children in the areas of adequate sleep, healthy food, physical activity, primary care medical home, recommended immunizations, school attendance, and up-to-date well care visits.

Williamsburg Health Foundation’s Continued Support

The work of the Child Health Initiative Care Teams aligns with the Williamsburg Health Foundation’s strategic plan goal of targeting behavioral and social risk factors that influence the health of individuals across the life span. Since 2015, the Foundation has awarded the City of Williamsburg and James City County 20 grants totaling nearly $5.1 million to support the Care Teams’ 2Gen approach to improving the health and well-being of families in Greater Williamsburg.

Visit https://www.williamsburgva.gov/756/Community-Programs to learn more about the City of Williamsburg’s Care Team. To learn more about James City County’s Care Team, visit https://www.jamescitycountyva.gov/3647/Care-Team.

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The Williamsburg Health Foundation (WHF) is an independent private health foundation with the mission to collaborate, innovate, and invest to impact systems that improve the health and well-being of individuals living in Greater Williamsburg. The Foundation was established in September 1996 when the Williamsburg Community Hospital and Sentara developed an affiliation agreement and later merged. This agreement included a provision for a new, locally organized, and managed Foundation to benefit community health. Since inception, WHF has awarded over $116 million in grants to improve community health and well-being.

Grantee Spotlight: Gloucester Mathews Care Clinic

Jul 2, 2025 | Grantee Spotlight

Grantee Spotlight: Gloucester Mathews Care Clinic

By: WHF Staff

At the heart of the Gloucester Mathews Care Clinic (GMCC) is a mission centered on compassion and community. This dedicated clinic stands as a resource for those who live in the counties of Gloucester, Mathews, and King & Queen working to bridge the gap in healthcare access for those who need it most. GMCC provides medical care and support to over 500 uninsured and underinsured adults annually. Comprised of skilled professionals, passionate volunteers, and a network of generous community supporters, GMCC’s team shares a common goal: to ensure everyone receives the care needed to maintain and improve health.

GMCC serves a broad spectrum of patients, with more than half employed yet lacking adequate health insurance coverage. The clinic offers comprehensive services from primary medical and dental care to chronic disease management and patient education. GMCC provides relief and stability for the underserved by addressing both health and social needs through in-house services and partner referrals.

Reducing Medication Costs

An integral part of GMCC’s commitment to caring for the uninsured and underinsured is their longstanding collaboration with Rx Partnership. This partnership has helped lift the burden of high medication costs from patients. In 2024 alone, GMCC filled over 7,600 30-day prescriptions for their patients at their onsite pharmacy, with over one-third provided at no cost. Removing financial barriers to medication access enables patients to obtain essential prescriptions needed to maintain and improve their health without rationing or skipping doses due to the cost barrier.

Bridging Communities with Local Lab Services

Seeing the need for a local site for laboratory services, GMCC recently partnered with labcorp to transform a portion of the Clinic into a draw site. Teachers, first responders, and local public servants whose insurance contracts with LabCorp no longer need to travel to Williamsburg or Newport News for routine bloodwork. This local convenience saves community members time and allows the clinic to address a community need.

Williamsburg Health Foundation’s Continued Support

GMCC’s work aligns with the Williamsburg Health Foundation’s strategic plan and commitment to strengthen the local healthcare safety net for uninsured and underinsured individuals. Since 2006, the Foundation has awarded 39 grants totaling $4.8 million to support the clinic’s work.

For more information about Gloucester Mathews Care Clinic and the services they offer, visit https://www.gmcareclinic.com/.

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The Williamsburg Health Foundation (WHF) is an independent private health foundation with the mission to collaborate, innovate, and invest to impact systems that improve the health and well-being of individuals living in Greater Williamsburg. The Foundation was established in September 1996 when the Williamsburg Community Hospital and Sentara developed an affiliation agreement and later merged. This agreement included a provision for a new, locally organized, and managed Foundation to benefit community health. Since inception, WHF has awarded over $116 million in grants to improve community health and well-being.

well-being.

Grantee Spotlight: Olde Towne Medical and Dental Center

Jun 2, 2025 | Grantee Spotlight

Grantee Spotlight: Olde Towne Medical and Dental Center

By: WHF Staff

Olde Towne Medical & Dental Center was founded in 1993 as a public-private partnership in response to a community needs assessment conducted by James City County and the Williamsburg Community Hospital. The assessment results revealed a need for affordable health care in Greater Williamsburg that could serve the uninsured, underinsured, and Medicaid and Medicare-eligible patients.

At that time, there was only one hospital in Greater Williamsburg, and the closest health department was in Hampton. With no other local options for uninsured individuals and their families to seek affordable care, the area’s single emergency department was often overwhelmed with patients pursuing non-emergent care for their chronic conditions. Olde Towne was created as a primary health care facility to address the unmet medical needs in the area and alleviate some of the pressure on the emergency room.

Today, Olde Towne operates as a safety-net clinic and provides care to uninsured individuals with fees based on a sliding scale dependent on family income. They also accept commercial and government insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid. In addition to traditional primary care for adults and pediatric patients, they offer medication assistance, obstetrical, newborn, multiple specialty care, and integrated behavioral health services through partnerships with Bacon Street Youth and Family Services and Colonial Behavioral Health.

Recognizing that health is shaped by more than clinical care, Olde Towne’s staff also connects patients to community resources. Their strong connections with other agencies enable them to refer patients for other concerns, such as food and housing insecurity, domestic violence, and social services programs.

In Fiscal Year 2023-2024, Olde Towne provided care to 3,735 patients through 13,745 appointments; administered nearly 1,000 immunizations; provided over 400 free dental services to over 210 children; provided nearly 2,800 total medications valued at $2.8 million; and began caring for the dental needs of Eastern State Hospital patients. An estimated 82% of their patients were uninsured or covered by Medicaid or Medicare.

Williamsburg Health Foundation’s Continued Support

Olde Towne’s work aligns with the Williamsburg Health Foundation’s strategic plan commitment to strengthen the healthcare safety-net for uninsured and underinsured individuals. Since 1997, the Foundation has awarded 95 grants totaling $16.2 million to support the Olde Towne’s work. For more information about Olde Towne Medical & Dental Center and its services, visit https://www.otmdc.org.

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The Williamsburg Health Foundation (WHF) is an independent private health foundation with the mission to collaborate, innovate, and invest to impact systems that improve the health and well-being of individuals living in Greater Williamsburg. The Foundation was established in September 1996 when the Williamsburg Community Hospital and Sentara developed an affiliation agreement and later merged. This agreement included a provision for a new, locally organized, and managed Foundation to benefit community health. Since inception, WHF has awarded over $112 million in grants to improve community health and well-being.

Boost!ing the Mental Health Workforce

May 28, 2025 | Grantee Spotlight

Boost!ing the Mental Health Workforce: Dr. Chelsea Washington’s Story

By: WHF Staff

Dr. Chelsea Washington has always been driven to give back to her community. Thanks to the Boost! program from the Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF), she is on her way to becoming a licensed counselor in York County, Virginia. Boost! covers the cost of clinical supervision required for licensure, a cost which can be prohibitive for early-career professionals. By providing mentorship to motivated Residents in Counseling or Marriage and Family Therapy, or Supervisees in Social Work who self-fund their clinical supervision hours, Boost! aims to address the critical shortage of mental health professionals in Virginia.

Chelsea’s upbringing in Virginia Beach, influenced by her mother, a counselor, and her father, an attorney, instilled in her the values of service and giving back to the community. These principles helped shape her decision to enter the mental health field. Now, as a Resident in Counseling at Ellie Mental Health, Chelsea applies those values to support clients navigating mental health challenges.

That work and her understanding of resilience took on new meaning after the unexpected loss of her husband of 25 years last October. “Life throws punches, and it is not just about getting back up, but it is really about the resilience to navigate the new space,” Chelsea reflects. These words resonate with her, both as a counselor and as someone walking through the grief process herself.

During this difficult time, support from her colleagues and VHCF has been invaluable. The VHCF staff guided Chelsea through a temporary pause in her participation in the Boost! program and the licensure process, offering compassion and encouragement until she was ready to resume. She expresses gratitude for the guidance and understanding provided by Boost! staff and her colleagues at Ellie Mental Health. “Without Boost!’s support, it would have taken me a much longer time for licensure, because I would have had to slow down after my husband’s passing.” Now resuming her path to licensure, Chelsea continues her work with clients while intentionally making space for herself and her healing. She understands that prioritizing self-compassion and self-care is essential not only for her own healing but also for her effectiveness in supporting others.

Committed to positively impacting her community, Chelsea’s journey in mental health counseling highlights how programs like Boost! can significantly increase the mental health workforce and provide essential support in areas facing critical shortages. The Williamsburg Health Foundation supports VHCF’s Boost! program through a $50,000 grant, which funds the required supervision hours for licensures of two behavioral health counselors and one licensed social worker in our service area: the City of Williamsburg, James City County, and York County. Upon licensure, Boost! graduates funded by the Williamsburg Health Foundation agree to a service commitment to practice in Greater Williamsburg for two years. This investment expands the mental health workforce in our area. By supporting and accelerating the licensure of mental health providers in Greater Williamsburg and across the Commonwealth, Boost! helps to improve earlier access for individuals experiencing mental health challenges, which can significantly improve their recovery.

Dr. Chelsea recommends that anyone who has recently completed a graduate degree in social work or counseling and is ready to begin their required supervision hours in Greater Williamsburg apply for Boost! “Don’t disqualify yourself—apply for the program! Because of Boost! and the Williamsburg Health Foundation, we are given the ability to serve the communities that need it the most.”

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The Williamsburg Health Foundation (WHF) is an independent private health foundation with the mission to collaborate, innovate, and invest to impact systems that improve the health and well-being of individuals living in Greater Williamsburg. The Foundation was established in September 1996 when the Williamsburg Community Hospital and Sentara developed an affiliation agreement and later merged. This agreement included a provision for a new, locally organized, and managed Foundation to benefit community health. Since inception, WHF has awarded over $112 million in grants to improve community health and well-being.