Lauren Hudgins

Virginia Home for Boys and Girls (VHBG) is a nonprofit organization that has been serving youth in crisis since 1846. We now provide transitional living services, specialized education, and therapeutic resources to youth with emotional and behavioral health concerns. Program fees paid for with public dollars only cover a portion of what is needed to provide the trauma-informed care youth in crisis require. Nearly 50% of VHBG’s budget is supported by philanthropic dollars and other sources of income. Community volunteers play a critical role in supporting the organization’s needs. Our mission is to restore hope through teaching and healing to ensure youth, young adults, and their families thrive. We help youth across Virginia with emotional and behavioral health concerns by facilitating the healing process using a relationship-based, cognitive-behavioral approach. The trauma-informed care youth receive in our group homes, independent living apartments, specialized K-12 school (John G. Wood), and therapeutic resource center restores hope to them and their families who then find the courage to thrive.