The City of Richmond’s Office of Community Wealth Building is accepting applications for the Mayor’s Youth Academy 2019 Summer Employment Program through April 1, 2019. The Mayor’s Youth Academy is open to all City of Richmond youth, ages 14-19, who are enrolled in either a secondary or post-secondary educational institution. Eligible participants must be registered as full-time students during the preceding academic year. Youth are not required to have previous work experience to apply, but they must meet the program’s eligibility criteria.

Interested youth may apply here for one of the following areas:

Counselor In Training (CIT), youth ages 14 – 16:
This program is designed to give youth an opportunity to develop skills related to recreational and educational careers. CITs will be responsible for assisting the counselors in daily administration of the Summer Camp Program, including ensuring the well-being and safety of all participants, administering games and activities, maintaining a fun and safe environment for the participants, keeping the camp room clean and assisting with signing campers in and out each day.

Beginning in April, counselor candidates will participate in a six-week training program that will meet on Wednesdays from 6 – 8 p.m. Training sessions will include customer service, dressing for success, First Aid & CPR certification, health and nutrition, ethics, leadership skills, arts & crafts, and group game facilitation. Upon successful completion of all required training, candidates will be assigned to a recreation facility and serve as counselors for nine weeks.

Summer Work Experience, youth ages 16 – 19:
Interns participating in this program are provided with diverse employment placements and introduced to a variety of industries and career paths including: higher education, non-profits, library sciences, entrepreneurships, human/social services, state government, law, healthcare and information technology. Mayor's Youth Academy Work Experience interns are prepared to enhance productivity and contribute to a positive work environment with enthusiasm and professionalism. Mayor's Youth Academy Work Experience interns will be certified “Job Ready” and receive four weeks of pre-employment training designed to strengthen the skills needed to succeed in the workplace.

King’s Dominion, youth ages 16 – 19:
The Mayor’s Youth Academy offers summer employment opportunities for city youth through Kings Dominion Amusement Park located in Doswell, Virginia. Transportation by bus is available for selected program participants.

For more information, please call (804) 646-7480 or email MayorsYouthAcademy@richmondgov.com.

The Richmond City Health District and Henrico County Health Department are reminding residents of Richmond and Henrico to take precautions to reduce the risk of people or pets contracting rabies from domestic and woodland animals.   

Recently, a stray cat (Adult female, Domestic Shorthair, black fur with white paws and chin) that was a popular fixture at Bryan Park tested positive for rabies. Richmond Animal Care and Control took custody of the cat on February 19th after a park visitor was bitten while interacting with the usually friendly feline. The bite victim is a Henrico resident whose Post Exposure Prophylactic (PEP) treatment is being supervised by the Henrico County Health Department.

Visitors to Bryan Park who may have been exposed to this cat between the dates of February 9th to 19th are at possible risk for rabies and are advised to contact their public health department. Richmond residents should call the Richmond City Health District at 804-482-8020.  Persons who live in Henrico should call the Henrico County Health Department at 804-501-4656.

Exposure is defined as any bite, scratch or other situation where saliva or central nervous tissue of a potentially rabid animal enters an open, fresh wound or comes into contact with a mucus membrane by entering the eye, nose or mouth.

Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. Once symptoms in humans develop, the infection is usually fatal. Administering preventive treatment following an exposure and before symptoms develop is critical in preventing the disease. It is important to seek medical attention promptly after a possible exposure.

The public is advised not to approach wild or stray animals either in urban or wooded areas or if they wander onto your property, especially if the animal is acting strangely.  Take the following steps to prevent family members and pets from being exposed to rabies:

•    Don’t attract wild animals into your yard by leaving out pet food or uncontained garbage
•    Vaccinate all cats, dogs and ferrets against rabies and keep their shots up to date
•    Don’t allow your pets to roam freely through the neighborhood; keep them on a leash when walking them
•    Report stray animals to your local animal control agency

If you or your pet is attacked or bitten, report it to the health department or animal control authorities. Get a good description of the animal that you can provide to authorities.

For more information about rabies and animal bites, talk to your veterinarian, health department, or visit http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/DEE/Rabies/

Mayor Levar M. Stoney is being tapped by the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) to develop a “proactive, strategic agenda” as the new chairman of the USCM’s Children, Health and Human Services Standing Committee.
 
“Mayor Stoney has demonstrated leadership, commitment and a collaborative approach to meeting the needs of children and families in the City of Richmond,” said USCM president Steve Benjamin, the mayor of Columbia, South Carolina. “We’re grateful for his willingness to chair this important committee, and are excited for him to share Richmond’s recipe for success with USCM cities and localities across the country.”

Over the last two years, the Stoney administration has brought national attention to Richmond with numerous successful initiatives to benefit children and families.

Working with private, community and nonprofit partners, the administration implemented a critically important expansion of after-school programs for city school children and formed a partnership to provide tablets and internet access to incoming public high school freshmen. The administration also created a free ride program on the city bus system for students, and launched the successful “Change for RVA Schools” initiative, which generated $150 million to finance the construction of three new schools.

Focusing on the welfare of residents and working families, the Stoney administration is well on its way toward meeting the promise of building 1,500 affordable housing units by 2023, and just weeks ago announced the first eviction diversion program in the Commonwealth of Virginia, designed to help vulnerable residents avoid the devastating impact of losing their home.
 
This year, the administration also achieved the highest Municipal Equality Index (MEI) score in Virginia, a program sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign that measures the support for LGBTQIA+ communities within American localities. 

Richmond’s nationally recognized Office of Community Wealth Building has expanded its Center for Workforce Innovation to improve the city’s workforce development programs. And in 2017, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation awarded Richmond its Culture of Health Prize, in recognition of the city’s initiatives to build a culture of health throughout the city.
 
“I thank Mayor Benjamin for this opportunity,” said Mayor Stoney. “We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished in Richmond, and I’m looking forward to working with my fellow mayors to advance our successful initiatives nationwide.”

More information about the US Conference of Mayors can be found here.
 
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Localities unite to address opioid crisis, offer hope to those battling addiction

The counties of Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico and the city of Richmond launched a website and a yearlong media campaign under the name Opioid Solutions RVA on February 7, 2019 to highlight the dangers of opioid use and to connect those struggling with addiction to information, treatment and resources.

The website — OpioidSolutionsRVA.com — provides a comprehensive, regionally-focused clearinghouse of information about opioids as well as services available for treatment, recovery and prevention. It directs those needing immediate help or recovery support to resources, and it offers practical guidance, for example, on discussing pain-relieving alternatives with a doctor as well as what parents can do if their child is suspected of using drugs.

The website also will highlight special programs and initiatives, such as drug take-back drives and classes on the administration of naloxone, which can be used to revive someone following a suspected opioid overdose. The website is being maintained by the localities and is funded through the Opioid State Targeted Response Grant received by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

“Opioid use and addiction are major problems for the entire RVA region,” said Tyrone E. Nelson, chairman of the Henrico Board of Supervisors. “These powerful drugs are destroying lives and affecting every group and demographic. To reverse these devastating trends, our community must elevate its collective understanding of the crisis and offer hope to those challenged with the disease of addiction.”

A yearlong media campaign for Opioid Solutions RVA is kicking off immediately to raise awareness of the epidemic and to promote OpioidSolutionsRVA.com. The campaign is expected to use a variety of media platforms, including billboards, traditional broadcast and internet radio, social media, television and print. The campaign’s $100,000 cost is being shared by the four localities.

“Our country’s opioid problem has been years in the making, and it won’t be solved overnight,” said Leslie Haley, chair of the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors. “Locally, we are committed to action and long-term success. We want to reach everyone — from teens and preteens to adults, parents and seniors. Opioids threaten everyone because they’re not just street drugs, like heroin. They’re often in our medicine cabinets at home and available from doctors by prescription. One of the goals of Opioid Solutions RVA is to create better-informed patients who participate fully in their health care decisions.”

The campaign’s first public service announcement underscores the addictive and potentially deadly nature of opioids and explains that they are often known by other names, including Codeine, Vicodin, Percocet, painkillers and pills. A second announcement offers hope to those struggling with addiction and encourages them to seek help in their recovery. Additional announcements are planned throughout the campaign.

“RVA cares deeply about its residents and knows their health and happiness are essential to our region’s prosperity and success,” Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney said. “By uniting in Opioid Solutions RVA, Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico and Richmond are harnessing their collective talents and resources to save and repair lives.”

Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico and Richmond have been working both independently and jointly to address the opioid problem for several years. Opioid addiction was declared a public health emergency in Virginia in 2016.

In October 2017, the localities joined forces to present Revive RVA: Regional Solutions to the Opioid Crisis, a daylong summit at the Greater Richmond Convention Center that featured keynote speakers, breakout sessions, panel discussions, a resource fair and naloxone training. The localities continued their collaboration through a work group that includes staff in the areas of human services, public health and communications.

 The number of fatal opioid overdoses continues to rise sharply locally, across Virginia and throughout the United States. In Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico and Richmond, the combined number of opioid overdose deaths increased from 51 in 2010 to 79 in 2012 before jumping to 108 in 2014, 189 in 2016 and 238 in 2017, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

“Sadly, as our first responders know, opioids now account for more deaths in Virginia than automobile accidents and gun violence,” said W. Canova Peterson, chairman of the Hanover Board of Supervisors. “While many people are fortunate enough to survive an overdose, they’re often burdened with a life-crippling addiction. As a community and a region, we can and must do better. Opioid Solutions RVA represents a bold, collective step to truly make a difference for our community.”

Members of the greater Richmond region are encouraged to participate in a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) survey to help identify where and how to improve the health and well-being of our collective communities.

Local public health departments and health systems are working together to conduct the Community Health Needs Assessment. The goal is to collect opinions from a variety of people, including residents, community leaders, businesses and policy-makers. Participant feedback will help shape the future work of local health organizations and determine the types of resources and services that may be available in our communities.

The survey can be completed by visiting the Richmond City Health District website at rchd.com. It is available in English and Spanish.

For additional information, send an email to the Richmond City Health District at george.jones@vdh.virginia.gov.