CYFS Has Virginia Tax Credits Available
We have a limited number of Neighborhood Assistance Tax credits available for qualifying donations. These credits are valued at 65% of the donation value and can be used to reduce your Virginia tax liability. For example, a gift of $1,000 would receive $650 in tax credits. MORE
CYFS has Four New Board Members
James Bennett is a business commercial underwriter at State Farm Insurance Companies, where he held a variety of positions in Texas, Illinois and Alexandria, VA, before moving to Charlottesville in 2008, initially as multicultural specialist for the company. A native Spanish speaker, he has a bachelor's degree in mathematics and computer science and a master's in computer information systems. He is married and has one daughter.
Patrick O'Connor and his family -- his wife and three young children -- moved to Charlottesville two years ago from New York, where he worked in the financial industry and served on the board of an organization that raises scholarship money for underprivileged children. An accounting major and a graduate of U. Va.'s Darden School, he now works for Red Light Management.
Alyson O'Sullivan is a native of Charlottesville who graduated from James Madison University with a degree in accounting and additional coursework in television broadcasting. After serving as an auditor for nonprofits in the DC area, she was a producer for The Golf Channel and later a producer and reporter for NBC29. An active community volunteer, she and her husband have two young children.
Karen Rendleman came to Charlottesville more than 25 years ago, working first as a temp in the development office at U.Va.'s McIntire School of Commerce. She has since held a series of fundraising positions at the university and is now associate vice president for Health System Development, including the Children's Medical Center. She holds a bachelor's degree in foreign service, finance and commerce and a master's in public administration. Karen and her husband have two children, one a student at UVa.
Play Partners Volunteers Needed!
Did you know that a child from a middle-to-upper-income family arrives at kindergarten with a vocabulary of 25,000 words, while the average child from a low-income family arrives at kindergarten with just 5,000 words?
If you love kids, books and want to make a difference, consider becoming a Play Partner Volunteer with Children, Youth & Family Services. See the coverage on NBC29 MORE
Early Childhood Education Matters
“Every dollar invested in quality early childhood education produces a 7-10% per annum return in better education, health, social and economic outcomes.” Nobel Laureate in economics, Professor James Heckman
Watch this compelling one-minute video.
Congratulations to Liz Magill!! 
UVa Law School Professor and CYFS Board member Liz Magill was recently named Dean of Stanford Law School.
"Liz will bring impeccable judgment, grace and level-headedness to the deanship. Her style is inclusive and collegial, but decisive," said Virginia Law Dean Paul G. Mahoney. Read More
CYFS Honors Award Recipients at Annual Community Breakfast
On Thursday, April 26th, community leaders, business people, government officials and many local human service providers who care about children and families came together to honor the recipients of this year’s John L. Snook Child Advocate award and the Mitch Van Yahres Family-Friendly Employer award. These awards were presented at the annual CYFS Community Breakfast held at the Holiday Inn and Conference Center Dahlia Lithwick, Senior Editor at Slate Magazine, gave the keynote address. Ms. Lithwick is a senior editor at Slate, an online current affairs and culture magazine owned by the Washington Post Company. As senior editor she writes the “Supreme Court Dispatches” and “Jurisprudence” columns. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Harper’s, The Washington Post, and Commentary, among other places. She received the Online News Association’s award for online commentary in 2001 and again in 2005, for a series she coauthored on torture, and was the first online journalist invited to serve on the Steering Committee for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.
2011 John L. Snook Child Advocate Award Winner: Cheryl Lewis
Cheryl Lewis is currently a Child Welfare Supervisor with the Albemarle County Department of Social Services, serving also as Albemarle’s Comprehensive Services Act Coordinator. Cheryl has been with the county for over 25 years, serving in numerous roles, but always involved with helping kids and families. Whether as social worker, Foster Care/Adoption Supervisor, probation officer, counselor or task force member, for Cheryl, it has always been about the kids.
In her role as supervisor, Cheryl is famous for her knowledge of foster care and child care policy and procedures. While that may sound boring and dry, Cheryl’s mastery of these details is driven by her undying commitment to create the best possible service plan for a child. She begins with what is in the child’s best interest and then finds a way to make it possible with law and policy.
Cheryl’s upcoming retirement will create a hole within our community, but her presence will live on through all of the programs and processes that she has developed for the benefit of our kids and families.
Family-Friendly Employer Winner: Park Street Christian Church and Preschool
Throughout its twelve year history, Park Street Christian Church and Preschool has always strived to support the overall well-being of all of its employees. PSCC is a unique family-friendly workplace where the staff is able to make a living knowing that their individual challenges and needs are valued and respected.
For example, there was a time when two teachers at the preschool both had new infants to take care of while continuing to come to work each day. PSCC stepped up and hired a nanny to care for the babies while their moms worked. Later, when the children were old enough to attend the preschool, their families were given substantial tuition discounts, again providing a family-centered solution to its employees’ needs.
Whether a health crisis or a long term issue requiring flexibility and understanding, PSCC listens and works to find a solution that will address the needs of the employee AND their family. With this family-centered attitude, PSCC has created an environment of collaboration and a sense of teamwork among all of its employees.
UVA Law School To Host Softball Tournament Featuring Teams from 50 Law Schools
The 29th Annual UVA Law School Softball Invitational Tournament will be played beginning Friday, March 30th and continuing through Sunday, April 1st. An incredible 120 teams representing 50 different law schools from all over the country will be playing in 268 games on fields around Charlottesville, VA. More than 1,500 law student/softball players from 17 different states plus the District of Columbia will converge on the city filling scores of hotel rooms as they compete for trophies in two divisions. The tournament provides more than fun; for the thirteenth year in a row, Children, Youth & Family Services will be the primary beneficiary of the proceeds. Last year the Tournament organizers donated $20,000 to this nonprofit which provides a menu of needed services to children and families in the region. Over the years, Children, Youth & Family Services has received a total $146,500 from the efforts of these community-minded Law students.
Two tournament directors, Jen Becker and Blaire Hawkins, have overseen the work of 10 individual committees, which have been staffed by more than 75 UVA law students, all members of the North Grounds Softball League. They will be playing games at 14 fields in five local parks, the community college and at one local school: Darden Towe, The Park, Copeley Field, PVCC, McIntire Park, Washington Park, and Charlottesville High School.
December 22, 2011
Community Receives Promise Neighborhood Grant
Senior officials from the Obama Administration announced Monday that Children, Youth & Family Services (CYFS) was selected from among nearly 200 applicants in 45 states to receive one of only 15 Promise Neighborhoods planning grants. This grant will put educational improvement at the center of local efforts in the City to revitalize underserved neighborhoods. The award was made on behalf of the City of Promise initiative. CYFS’ role is to coordinate the federal funds in support of the proposed activities of this community collaboration. These funds were not awarded to support existing CYFS programs.
The federal Promise Neighborhoods program aims to address significant challenges faced by students and families living in high-poverty communities by providing resources to plan and implement a continuum of services from birth to college and career. “Promise Neighborhoods recognizes that children need to be surrounded by systems of support inside and outside of the classroom to help them be successful in school and beyond,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
While Charlottesville has a poverty rate of 20% – nearly twice the state average – and half the city’s public school students are eligible for free and reduced price lunches, poverty is largely concentrated in a few neighborhoods. One area of critical need is the Westhaven, Tenth & Page/Starr Hill Neighborhood where the high school graduation rate is still well under 50%, despite recent improvements, and SOL pass rates of 55% and 61% in English and Math, respectively, trail behind overall city pass rates of 83%.
Jacki Bryant, Executive Director of CYFS noted, “We are thrilled to have these resources to help ramp up the City of Promise initiative. This Promise Neighborhood grant will allow us to take a giant leap forward in our efforts to assure that our most vulnerable children are successful. The plan is eventually to scale the initiative up to serve all children in need in the City.”
“A key component of the work to be undertaken during the first year will be building community involvement and resident leadership in the selected neighborhood,” said Quinton Harrell, co-chair of the Dialogue on Race City of Promise Action Team. “Through a combination of organizing, small group meetings, and community engagement, residents will have a chance to help shape and guide the creation of the City of Promise.”
City Councilor Kristin Szakos pointed to another key part of the Promise Neighborhood Planning Grant: the entire target neighborhood will be wired for Internet connectivity by the end of the year. “Wireless Internet is critical in the neighborhood so students can take advantage of the new tablets provided by the City schools,” Szakos said. “We’ll also be working with area nonprofits to get computers into the hands of families who don’t have them.”
August 1, 2011
Detailed Information Now Avaiable on
Child Care Providers
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A staff member and child from the Westminster Child Care Center. |
July 29, 2011
Dave Matthews Band to Give Concert on August 20th and Donate All Proceeds to Local Charities
If you purchase tickets, please select CYFS as the beneficiary! More
July 20, 2011
CYFS Board Appoints New Members
On June 23rd, the Board of Directors of Children, Youth & Family Services appointed four new members and elected officers for the upcoming Board year beginning July 1st, 2011. New members are:
Byron Brown - Insurance agent with the Farmers’ Group and former Charlottesville School Board member;
Shelley Lieberman - Research team member at the UVa Curry School of Education
Emily Wampler - Director, the PB and J Fund
Bryan Slaughter - Attorney with Michie, Hamlett, Lowry, Rasmussen and Tweel
Officers for the coming year will be:
Ed Fowler – President
Suzanne Bednar – Vice President
Rich Schragger – Treasurer
Kelley MacDougall – Secretary
The Board bid farewell to departing members Kerry Moran, Juandiego Wade, Cynnie Davis and Jeff Mitchell.
June 27, 2011
KIWANIS Volunteers Paint Fence Around New CYFS Playground Continuing a cooperative arrangement that has lasted nearly 90 years between the Kiwanis Club of Charlottesville and CYFS, two dozen Kiwanians came out for their Fourth Monday service work night on May 23 to put paint on a picket fence that surrounds a large playground at the agency's new headquarters in downtown Charlottesville. MORE
May 26, 2011
BB&T Partnered with CYFS' Play Partners in their end of the year picnic. In its third year, the BB&T Lighthouse Project is an all-hands-on-deck community service effort held throughout the BB&T footprint. Teams of employees volunteer time away from work to partner with organizations that help those people most in need of assistance. MORE
April 21, 2011
CYFS Honors Award Winners at Annual Community Breakfast
On Wednesday, April 20th, Judy W. Smith, Executive Director of Jefferson Area CHIP was honored as this year's John L. Snook Child Advocate. MORE
April 3rd, 2011
UVA Law School Hosts Softball Tournament Featuring Teams from over 50 Law Schools
The 28th Annual UVA Law School Softball Invitational Tournament was played on Friday, April 1st through Sunday, April 3rd. An incredible 120 teams representing over 50 different law schools from all over the country played in 268 games on fields around Charlottesville. MORE
April 1, 2011
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
Listen to our radio message. CYFS' VOCA program provides free direct outpatient counseling to children who have been victims of abuse or neglect as well as to their non-abusing family members including siblings, and parents/guardians. Counseling services are also available for children living in homes where domestic violence has taken place. VOCA Treatment Specialists help children to cope with the trauma of abuse and move forward successfully.
January 7, 2011
CYFS has moved in to its new buiding!
Children, Youth & Family Services recently moved all staff into our new facility at 1000 East High Street in Charlottesville. In this wonderful building we can now provide more services concurrently at times that are best for children. MORE
September 16, 2010
CYFS has a new Playground thanks to Building Goodness Foundation! Building Goodness Volunteers constructed a new playground for CYFS at their new buiding at 1000 E. High St. MORE
July 9, 2010
BEST BUY Gives $6,000 Grant to Support RESP
Best Buy Children’s Foundation provides generous grant to CYFS Runaway Services Program to support teen counseling. MORE
June 24, 2010
CYFS Earns FACT Award to Support Parent Education
The Family and Children’s Trust Fund of Virginia has granted CYFS $10,000 which will be used to offer a new Parenting class called “Surviving the Teen Years—It Can Be Done. MORE
May 20, 2010
CYFS Board Wins United Way Excellence in Board Governance Award
The Thomas Jefferson Area United Way granted their Excellence in Nonprofit Board Governance Award to the CYFS board. MORE
April 23, 2010
CYFS Honors Advocates for Work in Community
CYFS honored The Senior Center and long-time community advocate Emily Dreyfus Thursday for their efforts and policies supporting children and families. MORE
December 16, 2008
$4,500 Bama Works Fund Grant Brings CYFS ParentingMobile to the Southwood Neighborhood
Children, Youth & Family Services (CYFS) is pleased to announce a grant of $4,500 from the Bama Works Fund of the Dave Matthews Band in the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation (CACF). The Bama Works Fund supports many local charities working to improve the quality of life for all who live in Charlottesville, Albemarle and surrounding counties. More
December 4, 2008
CYFS Counselor for Runaway Teens Wins Regional Award
Children, Youth & Family Services (CYFS) is pleased to announce that Paige Nolt, a counselor in their Runaway Emergency Services Program, received the Outstanding Youth Worker of the Year award from the Mid-Atlantic Network on Youth at their conference held earlier this Fall. More
November 1, 2008
$2,000 Party Parade Grant Supports Play Partners literacy program
Children, Youth & Family Services (CYFS) is pleased to announce a grant of $2,000 from the Party Parade Fund of Virginia. The Party Parade Fund supports many local charities working to improve the quality of life for all who live in Charlottesville, Albemarle and surrounding counties. More
August 4, 2008
Orzo Kitchen and Wine Bar To Benefit Children, Youth & Family Services in August
Orzo Kitchen and Wine Bar will donate 10% of their revenue to Children, Youth & Family Services every Tuesday during the month of August. Orzo spokesperson, Kate Kroloff, calls it “our way of giving back to the community”. Orzo is open for lunch Monday – Saturday, Siesta (2 – 4 pm) and Dinner Tuesday – Saturday. CYFS is one of the oldest nonprofits in Charlottesville. For 86 years CYFS has been working to help kids increase their chances for a successful future by focusing its efforts on the prevention of problems. CYFS starts as early as possible and its programs meet kids and families where they are – in their homes, schools, communities, and even on the streets. More
