INSIDE

Summer 2019

Eight students from the Edna Hayden Gwaltney School at

Jackson-Feild received either their high school diploma or

GED certificate on June 7.

Mr. Johnnie McKeller, Director of Education, presided

over the ceremony which was held at the Golden Leaf

Commons at the Southside Virginia Community College

Emporia Campus.

Seven scholarships and two book awards were given

to students to help with college, nursing school, or trade school expenses. The

funds for these scholarships were donated by loyal supporters of Jackson-Feild.

One graduate spoke about her experience at Jackson-Feild and at the Gwaltney

School. She expressed thanks for the help and assistance she received while in

treatment and shared

her plans to attend

nursing school in

the fall.

Each graduate was

presented with a

class ring given

by an anonymous

donor. Young ladies

were given a dozen roses, and young men a wallet. In addition, cash gifts were given

from two anonymous donors and the Episcopal Church Women of the Diocese of

Southern Virginia. After the ceremony, everyone enjoyed a special lunch prepared

by the food service staff of Jackson-Feild.

Since its opening in 1994, 185 students have graduated from The Gwaltney School.

2 Letter from Tricia Delano

3 Alumna’s Story

4 Golfers Help JFBHS

Special thanks to Helen Markiewicz

and students of Collegiate Upper

School (above) for providing another

fantastic experience for the children

during The Fairy Godmother Project.

After dancing the night away students

(below) take a break to grab a bite

during Jackson-Feild’s 2019 Spring

Fling Prom.

Spring Prom

Graduation Day at Jackson-Feild

www.jacksonfeild.org

Marketing and Development Office

4905 Dickens Rd., Suite 202

Richmond, Virginia 23230

804-354-6929

On a recent beautiful but windy

Saturday morning, volunteers from

Petersburg Breakfast Kiwanis Club

arrived bright and early and went

straight to work

on a much-needed

project.

The decking around

our modular school

buildings had

weathered over

time, and the wood

Kiwanians Lend a Helping Hand around Our Campuswas practically crying out in parched

anguish. The Kiwanians spent several

hours applying a fresh coat of stain

that immediately improved the appear-

ance and is helping preserve the wood.

The Kiwanis club has been a faithful

friend to Jackson-Feild, participating in

a number of ‘hands on’ service projects

as well as providing financial support

for specific needs. The children and

staff at Jackson-Feild are most grateful

to the Petersburg Breakfast Kiwanis

Club for all their acts of kindness over

the years.

A constant truism is: “Everything

changes.” At Jackson-Feild, we do our

best to meet the ever-changing challenges

before us, and throughout our 165-

year history, our mission to serve

children and families has never faltered.

People are complicated, and families

are comprised in many different ways

with both strengths and weaknesses.

Boundaries in laws and relationships

are blurred with the varying viewpoints

of what is or is not in the best interest

of society, and mental health issues are

evident in just about every arena in our

culture.

Parity in behavioral health treatment is

commanding public attention, and the

From Tricia Delano, JFBHS President and CEOavailability of funding to address issues

of mental health and substance use is

gaining support for treatment. We

recently initiated an 18-month-long

intensive staff training program

designed to raise the collective skills

of those providing treatment services

at Jackson-Feild. We employ experts

in psychiatry, psychology, social work,

and nursing, and our paraprofessionals

need to possess the appropriate and

unique skills to work with an increasingly

complex clientele.

For 165 years, Jackson-Feild has

persevered. We have survived wars

and economic depressions. We have

navigated social reform and regulation

revisions. We have observed and

adapted to

funding shifts

and changing

donor trends.

Over the

years, society

has changed. Jackson-Feild has

changed. The needs of the children we

serve have changed. What has never

changed is Jackson-Feild’s devotion to

help children.

Thank you for being our partner and

supporter.

Best wishes,

2Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services Summer 2019

This artwork, on

display during the

spring, was created

by our residents

with the assistance

of Tracy Wilder,

the art teacher.

A Place for Parents to Find Help for an Out-of-Control Child To whom do parents turn when their

child is totally out of control? Where

does such a child go for help? The

answer is Jackson-Feild.

Too often, parents with an out-of-control

child struggle to restore normalcy to

their lives. These parents are anxious,

uncertain of their capabilities, concerned

about the safety of themselves and their

other children, and afraid for their

family’s future. At

Jackson-Feild, we

have years of proven

experience and skills

to help.

Jill and her family

needed Jackson-Feild.

Jill’s mother had

ongoing mental

health issues including a diagnosis of

bipolar disorder. When Jill’s parents

divorced, she bounced between living

with her father and stepmother, her

mother, and her grandmother.

The inconsistency in her living

situation exacted a toll, and Jill began

to exhibit extreme emotional and

behavioral problems at home, at school,

and in the community. Jill was diagnosed

with multiple psychiatric disorders.

Community-based mental health

services were unsuccessful. Five

psychiatric hospitalizations were

equally unsuccessful. Jill’s impulsivity

and uncontrollable behaviors worsened.

Her father – an active member of the

U.S. military – and stepmother were

desperate to find help for Jill. At the

recommendation of clinical staff at

their military installation, the family

was directed to Jackson-Feild.

Jackson-Feild’s residential setting

provided the structure Jill needed.

Intensive therapeutic services and

our educational staff offered her the

motivation, confidence and support

Jill needed to complete her education.

Throughout treatment, Jill’s father

and family actively participated in

family therapy and were there for her

even when she rejected them. Medica-

tion management, psychiatric treat-

ment, and counseling addressed Jill’s

disorders and enabled her to learn the

skills to self-regulate her behaviors.

We are pleased to tell you that Jill

graduated from our Gwaltney School

in June and has returned home. She

hopes to attend community college

this fall and eventually pursue a career

in health care.

Jill is just one of many of children

afflicted with behavioral issues that

require professional treatment. At

Jackson-Feild, they find high quality,

evidence-based psychiatric, residential,

educational, and recovery treatment

services with a goal to restore wellness

and provide support for successful

reintegration into homes, families, and

communities.

3Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services Summer 2019

Around Campus – Staff and ChildrenAs part of our

staff development,

residential staff

received specialized

trauma-informed

treatment training to increase their skills to heal children and family relationships.

Jackson-Feild Homes has earned the Better

Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance Charity Seal, assuring donors that we meet the BBB’s comprehensive standards demonstrating a commitment to accountability and ethical practices. We are also registered in good standing with the Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) with the Virginia Department of Agriculture. A copy of our financial statement is available on our web site and with the office of OCA. We receive an independent audit annually, and our IRS Form 990 is posted on our web site.

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Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services546 Walnut Grove DriveJarratt, Virginia 23867

Golfers Help Jackson Feild’s Children On May 6, 2019, Jackson-Feild Behavioral

Health Services (JFBHS) was pleased to

host the 24th annual Go Golfing for

the Kids tournament at The Golf Club

at The Highlands. Proceeds from this

year’s event totaled $30,000 and will be

used to purchase molded, high-impact,

fire-retardant polyethylene bedroom

furniture for our cottages. According

to the manufacturer, the furniture is

“solid as a rock, yet features seamless

construction with rounded corners for

added safety and security. Each piece

can be easily sanitized.”

Following a lunch provided by Hardees,

19 teams from all over Virginia

and parts of North Carolina

enjoyed a beautiful day on

the links. Following play,

the golfers returned to The

Reserve at the Highlands to

4

enjoy the awards dinner and find out

who won the various raffle prizes

donated by numerous restaurants,

museums, jewelry stores, and more.

The highest bids in our silent auction

meant that one golfer took home a gas

smoker donated by Parker Oil, and

another took home the prize of a week-

long vacation at Kill Devil Hills donated

by a former JFBHS director of education.

JFBHS is tremendously grateful to

tournament sponsor Boddie-Noell

Enterprises, presenting sponsor

Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial,

and awards dinner sponsor Jones LTC

Pharmacy. Additional sponsors were

Old Point Trust, Virginia South

Psychiatric & Family Services,

ITA International, WellsColeman,

Kim & Steve Winston, Tod

Balsbaugh, Partlow Insurance

Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services Summer 2019

Agency, Inc., Parker Oil & Propane,

Boyd Chevrolet, Diamond Springs,

Wilson Clary & Associates, Virginia

Automobile Dealers Association, The

Wilton Companies, Mitchell-Wiggins,

and Eric Thompson & Family.

Over our last 24 years, the Go Golfing

for the Kids tournament has raised

more than $500,000 to fund a variety

of critical programs and capital needs.

Plans have already begun for the 25th

anniversary tournament to be held

on May 4, 2020. Please mark your

calendars and make plans to play or

serve as a sponsor for this special

anniversary tournament.

Go Golfing for theKids