Expanding evidenced-based sex education while shifting systems to better support the sexual health needs of young people throughout Southwest Virginia requires strong partnerships. We are proud to work with several school systems and agencies throughout Virginia towards this goal. Scroll to learn more about each of them.

A Step Ahead Foundation - Tri Cities 

Three words to describe A Step Ahead Foundation - Tri Cities: Community-minded. Evidence-based. Caring.

Their work: A Step Ahead - Tri Cities offers comprehensive reproductive and sexual health education to teens throughout Northeast Tennessee. In partnership with community organizations, A Step Ahead educates teens about consent, healthy relationships, healthy boundaries, and STI treatment and prevention. Additionally, we provide direct access to free, confidential pregnancy prevention resources.

Mission: To remove barriers to Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC) and help prevent unintended pregnancy in Northeast Tennessee through education and access.

Vision: Our vision is that every individual and family is informed and knowledgeable about family planning, reproductive health, and preventative care, and is able to utilize and access resources and support to live their best, healthiest lives.

Anchoring Hope

Three words that describe Anchoring Hope: Nonjudgmental. Safe. High-quality.

Their Work: We provide individual, couple's, and family counseling to anyone wishing to get unstuck. Although we work with many ages and struggles, we specialize in trauma.

Mission: At Anchoring Hope, we focus on a personalized experience with clients to provide services that are tailored to their individualized needs. We prioritize two elements in therapy: a cohesive relationship between client and therapist as well as a desire to reach their stated goals. While we are happy to be a sounding board, we strive to assist clients with helpful tools to reach their goals and give them the confidence to process emotions that ebb and flow throughout life.

Vision: We would love to have a community that surrounds one other with acceptance. We believe that love and safety can provide the groundwork necessary for true growth. We hope to encourage our community in reaching their highest levels of self-actualization so we can build each other up- healed from the past, enjoying the present, and envisioning a future worth moving toward.

Ballad Health

Three words that describe Ballad: Creativity. Caring. Honesty.

Their Work: In the areas of community engagement, we work with community-based partners, government organizations, and systems to achieve goals and metrics related to social determinants of health. Having a pulse on the community health of our youth and their needs, we offer support through a multitude of Ballad health services and financially support community programs that directly address the social determinants of health that give all youth and their families access to a higher quality of life.

Mission: Honor those we serve by delivering the best possible care.

Vision: To build a legacy of superior health by listening to and caring for those we serve.

Family Services of Roanoke Valley (FSRV)

Three words that describe FSRV: Wellness. Hope. Resiliency.

Their Work: FSRV provides counseling for all ages beginning at age 2, regardless of the ability to pay. They also run preventative youth programs for elementary through high school—both in-school and after-school programs. In addition, they provide public guardianship for those 18 and older who need help making life decisions and run a personal affairs management program that prevents individuals from becoming homeless. Finally, FSRV implements healthy relationship groups for those who have a history of using violence with their partners.

Mission: Family Service of Roanoke Valley's mission is to support individuals and families as they journey toward lives of emotional wellness, healthy relationships, and a future filled with hope.

Vision: A resilient and healthy community where individuals and families are filled with hope.

FSRV facilitates Draw the Line/Respect the Line in Roanoke County Public Schools.

Girls Inc. of Bristol

Three words that describe Girls Inc. of Bristol: Strong. Smart. Bold

Their Work: Since 1950, Girls Inc. of Bristol has inspired all girls to be strong, smart, and bold, providing them with life-changing experiences and solutions to the unique challenges faced by modern girls. Hands-on, research-based programs provide girls with skills and knowledge to set goals, overcome obstacles, and improve academic performance. We work directly with children ages 5-18, serving only girls at our main facility and all children at all other outreach sites in Washington County, VA; Bristol VA Public Schools; Bristol TN City Schools; Sullivan County; and Norton City. Our programs address math and science education, pregnancy and drug abuse prevention, media literacy, economic literacy, adolescent health, violence prevention, and sports participation.

Mission: To inspire all girls to be STRONG, SMART, and BOLD.

Vision: That girls grow up healthy, educated, and independent.

Girls Inc. of Bristol facilitates Draw the Line/Respect the Line in Bristol Virginia Public Schools.

Lonesome Pine Office on Youth (LPOY)

Three words that describe LPOY: Supportive. Productive. Future-oriented.

Their Work: Since its inception in 1980, the Lonesome Pine Office on Youth has been conceiving, developing and implementing delinquency prevention and youth development educational programs in Wise County and the City of Norton. Our purpose is to prepare youth and adults to be active, self- sufficient and productive citizens, who can contribute to their community's social and economic development. This office emphasizes the coordination of services and specializes in research-based, locally driven community program designs and resources.

Mission: Our mission is to serve youth and families in Southwest Virginia through education, access to academic supports, and safe crime-free communities fostering the development of healthy families and children.

Vision: A crime free community where children and families can live, prosper and meet their full potential.

Mount Rogers Health District

Three words that describe Mount Rogers: Prevention. Promotion. Protection.

Their Work: Under the Sexual Risk Avoidance Education grant we provide education, support, and resources to empower Mount Rogers youth around holistic wellness.

Mission: The mission of Mount Rogers Health District is to build healthy communities through disease prevention and control, health promotion and education, protection of environmental resources, and preparedness for emergency response. We provide quality, customer-focused health services in our local health departments, schools, worksites, homes and other community locations.

Vision: Become the healthiest state in the nation.

The Mount Rogers Health District facilitates Draw the Line/Respect the Line in Carroll and Washington County Public Schools.

New River Valley Community Services (NRVCS)

Three Words to Describe NRVCS: Partnership. Leadership. Passion.

Their Work: New River Valley Community Services was established in 1969. We are the largest human services agency in the New River Valley, with approximately 800 full- and part-time employees. Our agency offers a full continuum of community-based behavioral health services. We serve approximately 12,000 residents each year.

Mission: New River Valley Community Services provides community-based behavioral health services which promote independence and improved quality of life for our citizens.

Vision: We strive to build a community which understands and recognizes that behavioral health conditions (mental health and substance use disorders) are equally as important as any physical condition when it comes to overall wellness - and ensures that its residents have access to the treatment and supports necessary to address those disorders.

NRVCS facilitates Draw the Line/Respect the Line and Teen Outreach Program in Radford City Schools.

Rise: Healthy for Life 

Three words to describe Rise: Healthy for Life: Innovative. Collaborative. Fun.

Their work: RISE: Healthy for Life provides opportunities for youth to educate themselves, their peers, adults, and legislators about bodies, relationships, and identities using evidence- and compassion-based approaches. In addition to programming and education, RISE is committed to collective impact work. RISE convenes and provides backbone services for Collective Impact for Emotional and Sexual Health (CIESH). CIESH seeks to improve emotional and sexual health for all people by increasing access to knowledge and constituent-based resources, promoting trauma-informed approaches, and actively opposing stigma and bias to reduce shame and fear.

Mission: RISE transforms culture around bodies and beings from fear-based to fact-based, from oppression to affirmation. They champion responsible, inclusive, trauma-responsive wellness education in the Appalachian Highlands.

Vision: People of all colors, abilities, orientations, ages, genders, and cultural backgrounds have ready access to factual information and compassionate, affirming care. All people have the information and freedom they need to make personal decisions about their sexual health and reproductive lives. 

Rockingham County Public Schools

It is our mission at Rockingham County Public Schools to empower all students to sustain daily lifelong physical, mental, social, and emotional wellness as a foundation for student experiences, and a healthy, productive, and fulfilling life. This will be achieved by creating an environment in which students will be given opportunities through a variety of fun, engaging, and meaningful activities to help them develop into collaborators, communicators, critical thinkers, creators, and good citizens.

Rockingham County Public Schools teachers facilitate Draw the Line/Respect the Line in their health and PE classes.

Russell County Health Coalition 

Three words to describe RCHC: Collaborative. Compassionate. Community-minded. 

Their work: Through regular programs and annual events, RCHC works with all populations in Russell County, including youth, families, and seniors. RCHC also has targeted programs for adults and youth with or at increased risk of diabetes. Our partnership with ARP will fund health education programs, increase access to accurate health information, replace unhealthy norms through a positive, healthy messaging campaign, and help connect youth to existing healthcare providers. RCHC will utilize our organizational credibility and community reputation to reverse community resistance and stigma to sexual health education.

Mission: To implement sustainable programs that improve access and opportunities for better overall health of all generations of Southwest Virginians.

Vision: We envision a community that embraces all aspects of health and wellness and all people have full, equitable access to health.

YWCA TNVA – Moms-R-Us

Three words that describe the YWCA of TNVA: Advocacy. Empowerment. Community.

Their Work: The YWCA partners with well over 50 community service agencies, area business, colleges, and financial and medical institutions. We provide affordable childcare to children 6 weeks of age- middle school, teen pregnancy programming, and victim advocacy. Established in 1943, our local association began as a residence for women who came to the area seeking employment during World War II. Growing from a home for the “Rosie the Riveters” of southern Appalachia, we are now a multi-site, multi-million-dollar human services and advocacy operation, serving nearly 9,000 annually. From the beginning, we have tackled some of the toughest community issues including the need for affordable childcare, racial injustice, teen pregnancy, and gender disparity and our work continues...

Mission: YWCA of Northeast TN and Southwest VA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

Vision: A community without racism, where are people are treated equally with respect and have all their basic needs met.