Who they are:
HopeTree Family Services is a faith-based Virginia nonprofit that has provided compassionate care and support to children, families, and adults with intellectual disabilities for nearly 140 years, guided by a mission to foster hope through God’s love and empower families, youth, and adults to lead fulfilling lives. HopeTree operates across the state through a range of ministries, including treatment foster care offices in Salem and Richmond, nearly 20 community-based group homes serving adults with developmental disabilities, a fully-accredited secondary school at HopeTree Academy, a therapeutic group home program in Salem, and Family Centered Treatment services that address the needs of the whole family unit. Rooted in core values of ministry, people, stewardship, excellence, and accountability, HopeTree is supported by the Virginia Baptist Children’s Home & Family Services Foundation and operates as a mission partner of the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV).
Persons met:
- G.L.
- Denashia
Their mission:
To be the hands and feet of Jesus and demonstrate Christ’s love to everyone we come in contact with. We believe we are here for the purpose of going the extra mile while serving those in our care and one another.
What stood out on the visit
- The depth of community support behind HopeTree was evident everywhere we looked. From donors and church partners to volunteers and local businesses, it’s clear this organization has built a network of people who show up for their mission again and again, not just once.
- How they tailor the approach to the community it’s serving rather than applying a single model everywhere. In far Southwest Virginia, services are shaped around the rural, close-knit nature of that region, while in Richmond the approach reflects a more urban, resource-dense environment, showing a real responsiveness to place rather than a one-size-fits-all program.
- The positivity radiating from staff at every level was hard to miss. Even amid difficult and often heavy work, the team carries a genuine warmth and hopefulness that clearly shapes the experience of everyone in their care.