VOACC Contact: Nicholle Granger
ngranger@voaches.org
JULY 31, 2024 | WOODBRIDGE, VA
Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas (VOACC) is excited to announce the opening of our newest service location for adults living with an intellectual/developmental disability in Woodbridge, Virginia. The new home, located at 1546 Featherstone Road, is a partnership with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) and the Prince William County’s Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) to provide four adults who require 24-hour staff supervision and specialized intervention to live in a community residence rather than more restrictive and institutionalized settings.
The home provides a place for individuals to receive behavioral, medical, social and emotional support and training from qualified VOACC staff. At the Featherstone home, our dedicated staff will support residents with personal care, meal preparation, budgeting, medication management, social interaction and community involvement.
“Our goal is to provide a home that is calm, comfortable, peaceful, and therapeutic for the people who live there. There are large, beautiful outdoor spaces for gardening and birdwatching; full-body massage chairs, arts and craft rooms, soaking tubs, and spacious living spaces to offer residents a variety of ways to enjoy and relax.”
Carrie Cortez, Executive Program Director, Virginia Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Services
According to the National Institute of Health, the lifespan of an individual living with an intellectual/developmental disability is 20 – 30 percent shorter than their non-disabled counterparts. A variety of factors contribute to this statistic, including limited access to quality housing and care, fewer financial resources, and increased feelings of helplessness and depression. As an integrated housing, health and human services nonprofit, VOACC believes that everyone deserves to live a long and fulfilling life to the best of their ability.
“This is incredibly exciting and a great opportunity for us, the individuals, their families and the overall community. We love our work and are blessed to support so many wonderful people. We love hearing the stories of impact on their lives, their neighbors and the community they contribute to. Whenever we can be a part of the solutions to the barriers that exist for supporting others in their journey for independence and a meaningful life, it is something to celebrate.”
Candace Vanderwater, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Since 1998, our Northern Virginia Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities programs have offered individuals living with intellectual/developmental disabilities a choice of community living supports and services. Based on each person’s support needs and preferences, services range from homes like Featherstone where staff are onsite 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; to offering scheduled support in the individuals’ own homes. VOACC staff support individuals to live, work and play in the Northern Virginia community.
To learn more about VOACC’s Northern Virginia Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Services programming, please visit www.voachesapeake.org/va-idd.
About Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas
Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas (“VOACC”) is a faith-based, nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire self-reliance, dignity, and hope through housing, health and human services.
At VOACC, we have been helping to create Healthy Communities for All for over 128 years by aligning housing, health and human services. We actively pursue health equity by filling the gap in housing and care for underserved populations, including those who are experiencing homelessness, low-income, underinsured or uninsured, justice-involved and veterans. By offering integrated housing and care, we address the social determinants that impact the long-term stability for those in need.
Through a dedicated team of management, staff and volunteers who are guided by our Core Values – Visionary, One Body, Integrity, Compassion, Excellence, and Faith – we are the safety net for thousands of men, women and children each year across Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia and the Carolinas. We operate over 49 programs focused on 8 areas of service: homeless services, affordable housing, mental health, substance use recovery, intellectual/developmental disabilities services, community re-entry, veteran services and workforce development.
VOACC has over 900 staff members and more than 2,000 volunteers. The organization helps over 11,700 individuals and families every year from Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia and the Carolinas. For more information on VOACC, please visit www.voachesapeake.org.