Unabashedly Proactive
For 127 years, The Up Center has identified and responded to the ever-changing needs of our community. From infancy to the senior years, we provide innovative and effective programs and services including: 

• Foster Care and Adoption
• Parent Education
• Family Strengthening Programs
• Youth Mentoring
• Financial and Housing Counseling
• Job Training
• Services for People with Disabilities
• Veterans Counseling
• Support for Seniors
• Violence Prevention
  …….and so much more. 

Simply stated, our mission is to help people live better lives.
 
Our services are offered when and where they are needed—in homes, in offices, in schools and out in the community. Most programs are free or offered on a sliding fee scale.  The Up Center serves as a nonprofit United Way Community Partner agency. We are formerly known as Child & Family Services of Eastern Virginia.

Our Budget
 The Up Center has a budget of approximately $10 million, which is used to operate more than 25 programs in six offices. Much of our funding comes from government fees. However, amid governmental budget cuts, the agency now is relying more on grants and donations.
 
Our Credentials
The Up Center is a fully licensed organization, accredited, and recognized by the Council on Accreditation . Our staff includes more than 150 full and part time employees, who have expertise in a wide range of social services.

Our Performance
We ensure excellence by utilizing a comprehensive Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) system. This involves stakeholders from all levels, including our clients and the community. The purpose of the CQI process is to assess and improve our organization’s performance, ensuring that the highest standards of quality are achieved.

By the Numbers
In FY11, The Up Center assisted the community in the following ways:

How We’ve Protected Our Children

Nearly 200 youths were linked with community volunteers in the Team Up Mentoring Program.  Ninety-nine percent of those surveyed showed improvement in one of the three areas of school performance, behavior, and psychological & social functioning.

62 children were placed in loving foster or adoptive homes.

And Strengthened Families

Our counselors provided over 23,000 hours of service last year, assisting thousands of people in overcoming grief, trauma and other stresses of life – including military families dealing with the stresses of deployment.

Our Early Childhood programs provided intensive parent education and support in the homes of 200 families, helping to ensure healthy children and future school readiness.

How We Have Empowered People in Crisis

Our Food Bank served an increasing number of people in need, distributing over 18 tons of food to nearly 1,500 people.

Housing Counselors helped 400 families to avoid foreclosure and keep their homes, and assisted another 1000 households with financial and housing counseling. 

How We Have Given Voice to the Disabled

Last year alone, we helped over 1,200 people with disabilities, including disabled veterans, to avoid institutionalization and integrate into the community through bill paying services, day support, and supported placement in family homes.

The Up Center’s Camp Horizon served 122 children and adults with intellectual disabilities in the summer of 2011, while offering the region’s only sleepover camp for people with profound physical limitations.

If you are interested in supporting our programs or volunteering, please visit our How to Help page or our Employment & Volunteer Opportunities page.