Health & Family Institute

This year's conference was held November 15-17, 2017 at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel, Staunton, VA 24401

 Guest Presenter -  November 15, 2017: 

John Richardson-Lauve is a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience working in community mental health. He is committed to supporting and strengthening individuals and communities that struggle with adversity. His experience includes work with chronically mentally ill adults, substance abuse, residential youth care, foster care, and outpatient mental health. He has worked with homeless veterans in New York City, in a hospice home for those with HIV in the early stages of the AIDS crisis, and six years living in a home with eight teenage girls in foster care. John is an experienced trainer, lecturer, and keynote presenter. He is the Director of Mental Health and Lead Trauma and Resilience Educator at ChildSavers.  

 Guest Presenter -  November 16, 2017: 

 Emily Ballance, MEd, LPC, CSP is a professional speaker who travels across the country speaking to educational groups, health and child care organizations, corporations and associations. She speaks on stress management, generations, customer service, and communication, and other topics, all with a humorous twist.

Emily is a member of the National Speakers Association (NSA) and has received the Certified Speaking Professional Designation (CSP), the highest earned designation awarded by NSA. Women who have earned the CSP designation make up only 8% of the membership of NSA.

Also, a Licensed Professional Counselor, Emily is committed to helping people use positive, affirming humor to enhance their health, happiness, work and well-being. When she is not traveling, or speaking, Emily volunteers her time with older adults and the Autism Society of North Carolina.

2017 Health & Family Institute Agenda - Updated 8-14-17 PDF

2017 Health & Family Institute Presentations/Handouts - Updated 11-9-17

2017 Health & Family Institute Presenter Bio's - Updated 11-9-17

Congratulations to the following Scholarship Winners who received complimentary registration fee to the Health & Family Institute Conference.  

Pictured Above: Dawn Ault, Virginia Head Start Association; Shonya Howington, Clinch Valley Community Action; Kimberly Stegall, STEP Inc. and Mary Mitchell, Clinch Valley Community Action

Pictured Above: Julie Greene (HR-CAP), Health Advisory Committee Chairperson, Dawn Ault, VAHSA Executive Director, Regina Cantrell (Kids Central), Health Advisory Committee Secretary