Where do I start?
That is the question hundreds of thousands of Virginians have asked themselves as they turned to VirginiaNavigator for help.
Families in transition often need assistance locating resources such as transportation providers, housing options, caregiver support, or in-home care. For others, however, it can be for a more urgent need requiring quick information about vital services in their community.
Adrienne Johnson, executive director of VirginiaNavigator, can easily remember many stories of individuals and families who’ve used the websites:
— The daughter, a long distance caregiver for her mom, who needed information on housing options so she could feel comfortable about being so far away.
— The man with a physical disability, whose medical expenses absorbed nearly all his monthly funds, who needed prescription and food assistance programs.
— And the veteran who, after three tours of active duty, needed resources to address his PTSD and guidance to transition to another career.
Johnson points out that individuals are frequently seeking additional information beyond their initial request and that VirginiaNavigator is uniquely positioned to help individuals and families access a broad array of resources and supports over time.
VirginiaNavigator (virginianavigator.org), a statewide, public/private partnership nonprofit, provides free health and community support information and guidance to older adults, people with disabilities, veterans, and their caregivers and families through its one-of-a-kind family of websites.
“I am proud of how the organization has grown and evolved over the years from its original launch as SeniorNavigator to currently having three robust websites serving as vital resources for Virginians,” said John Hager, VirginiaNavigator’s board chairman and former Virginia lieutenant governor.
The family of websites – disAbilityNavigator.org, SeniorNavigator.org, VeteransNavigator.org – encourages consumer direction, offering:
• An easy-to-search resource directory of 26,000-plus programs and services.
• Connection to local programs and services on a broad array of topics including housing and long-term care options, legal and financial matters, caregiver support, benefits assistance, transportation offerings, employment and retirement, and many more.
• 800-plus educational articles and tip sheets to help guide folks through difficult decision-making processes.
• The Ask an Expert service that provides free, confidential, expert assistance from more than 60 subject-matter experts who offer comfort and answers (case managers, physicians, insurance counselors, attorneys, housing specialists, and others).
• A community calendar allowing visitors to search for happenings taking place in their community – everything from health screenings to job fairs and recreational opportunities to support groups.
• A chat feature that enables visitors to get on-the-spot support when they need it most.
“One of the biggest, most overwhelming challenges families face is navigating the maze of services and information,” said Johnson. “You simply need to enter a topic and your city or county and we can provide you with the options available right in your local community, as well as a wide range of customized articles, links and tools to help ensure you’re able to make an educated decision based on your needs.”
Launched in 2001, the genesis of the organization was the difficulty that Senator Mark Warner, a business executive at the time, experienced in locating resources to support and care for his mother. “After receiving the devastating news of my mom’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, I struggled to locate community resources to support my family,” Warner expressed. “I knew there had to be others experiencing the same frustration and I knew there had to be a viable solution.”
While there is a wealth of resources and high-tech interactive tools available through their websites, VirginiaNavigator is equally focused on providing first-class, high-touch service to its users through its grassroots-based Navigator Centers and direct-service options via chat, Ask an Expert, and phone.
Of the nonprofit, Johnson said, “We’re passionate about ensuring we meet the diverse individual and family needs of folks across the state. While VirginiaNavigator cannot erase the challenges felt by many throughout our community, we CAN make the journey a little easier.”
For more information about VirginiaNavigator and its family of websites or to be connected to local programs and services, visit virginianavigator.org or call 804-525-7728, toll-free 1-866-393-0957.
This feature is one in a series about the Richmond Region’s nonprofit organizations and their contributions to our communities. It is brought to you by the featured organization in collaboration with the sponsoring advertiser on this page.
