Our Story
ChildSavers is the only nonprofit in Virginia using a coordinated prevention and intervention model to prepare children for lifelong learning, address mental health, and recover from trauma.
Nearly 100 years ago, ChildSavers was established as the Children’s Memorial Clinic in memory of Dr. McGuire Newton, one of Richmond’s first pediatricians. Martha Patteson Bowie (Mrs. Melville C.) Branch connected concerned citizens to create an innovative agency “for the purpose of giving complete physical and mental examinations, free of charge, to all children who may need the same.”
We were one of the first ten child guidance clinics in the United States, and the first in the South, and we are the oldest provider of mental health services for children in the metro Richmond area licensed by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. As our knowledge grows and the community changes, we adopt new models and best practices to meet the needs of children.
Children’s Mental Health Services
Toxic stress occurs in a child’s life when they experience four or more traumatic events. Our mental health clients experience an average of six before turning 18. ChildSavers provides trauma-informed therapy for children in the Greater Richmond area.
In addition to in-person therapy, we are now offering teletherapy during COVID-19.
Child Development Services
90% of our brain develops before age five, which is why quality early child care and education for all children is crucial. We work to prevent childhood trauma and ensure thousands of children have access to quality early care. We do this through our six Child Development Services programs:
- Virginia Quality
- Child Development Associate (CDA) Credentialing and Training
- Child Care Aware
- Voluntary Registration
- Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
- Virginia Infant & Toddler Specialist Network (VA-ITSN)
- And additional child development training
Trauma and Resilience Training
Trauma creates changes to our biology, our genetics and epigenetics, our behavior, and ultimately a myriad of lifetime health outcomes. Looking through a trauma-informed lens allows us to have effective interventions to help individuals reach their full potential.
ChildSavers offers a multitude of trauma training opportunities for organizations, businesses, and community leaders. Our Director of Mental Health and Lead Trauma and Resilience Educator, John Richardson-Lauve, LCSW, is available to train in Richmond or around the US.
We are a community-supported nonprofit governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. ChildSavers is licensed by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services and accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Child and Family Services. We are members of the national child advocacy organization, Alliance for Families and we are the Central Virginia Child Care Aware and Virginia Quality agency.