CHIP of Roanoke Valley 2024-2025 Annual Report

Tge·he«, We G«Ñ Expanding care with compassion and commitment

In October 2024, we expanded our mental health services to include all family members living in the home: older siblings, parents, and other relatives of our CHIP-enrolled children. Our Director of Mental Health, LaTonya, is dedicated to meeting people where they are. For clients not yet ready to fully commit to therapy, she offers supportive counseling in the form of five mental health chats, helping meet immediate needs in an approachable way. Alongside these service expansions, our Mental Health Building also received meaningful updates during recent renovations. A fresh coat of paint, comforting new furniture, and wall-mounted sensory activities have transformed the space into a welcoming environment. To cap it off, a neon sign warmly reminds every visitor: “ You Belong ”. Families now walk in feeling more at ease and supported in their journey toward healing. Looking ahead, CHIP is carrying that mantra into fiscal year 2025– 2026 by building on our already exceptional mental health services. We are actively seeking funding to bring on a full-time bilingual therapist, a critical step for serving the 40% of our enrolled families who are Spanish-speaking. In Roanoke, access to bilingual mental health providers is extremely limited and all providers maintain long waitlists. Hiring a bilingual therapist would help ensure our families have reliable, timely access to care without facing language barriers. Another goal for the year ahead is to launch mobile Play Therapy, meeting families not just mentally but physically where they are. This service would help eliminate common barriers such as transportation and childcare, while ensuring children can access care in spaces that feel comfortable and familiar. At CHIP, we believe every family deserves to feel seen, heard, and supported. By expanding our reach, investing in accessibility, and staying grounded in compassion, we are creating a stronger, more inclusive community where all families can thrive. Together, we are building a future where mental health care is not a privilege, but a promise

“My tenure at CHIP began in 2017, bringing with me years of experience in community mental health. The intimacy of this role, working closely with our home visiting staff and joining them on visits, broadened my perspective and deepened my understanding of the psychological harm experienced by intentionally marginalized groups, and how those harms compound other personal struggles. What this experience did not change, but instead intensified, was my commitment to making service delivery more culturally sensitive and responsive. It also strengthened my empathy for families’ day-to-day challenges and my understanding of how societal “isms” contribute to mental health concerns.

The CHIP Counseling Center works to remove barriers to quality mental and emotional health services for enrolled caregivers, children, and family members in the same home. We provide psychotherapy in our clinic, virtually, and in the community, including green walking spaces. We plan to continue expanding culturally responsive care by adding mobile Play Therapy, broadening perinatal mood disorder screening, hiring a bilingual therapist, and offering both mainstream and integrative healing interventions.”

LaTonya Bolden Director of Mental Health