JUSTIN’S STORY Virginia Home for Boys and Girls addresses the problem of belonging. The youth we serve need to find a place where they belong and are seen so they can find hope and healing from their trauma. They often feel like they don’t belong to a family or they don’t belong at a school. … Read More
Stephen was asked by his school teacher ‘what do you want your life’s legacy to be?” He replied with the statement that he wanted people to know that he’d been through a really tough life that most people couldn’t go through, but that he’d overcome it. Stephen entered the foster care system at age 10 … Read More
Dyana’s wish to be reunited with her siblings came true! More than three years ago, Dyana’s family was disrupted. The trauma of neglect and abuse left her and her three siblings with behavioral and emotional issues that required different levels of care. Like most youth in crisis due to family dysfunction, they needed a safe … Read More
Imagine the sound of a large, iron bell ringing in the distance on a cold and snowy day – not once, but 27 times. Any time a loud bell on our campus can be heard ringing, you can expect that a happy occasion of some kind just occurred. Libbie was ringing that bell with all … Read More
Imagine how good it feels to overcome a challenge. Now imagine you’re 12-years-old. “In the beginning, when I first came to John G. Wood School, I hated it. I felt like I could not do anything fun. I felt like everyone was against me. I felt like I didn’t belong here so I started acting … Read More