St. Joseph’s Villa announced this week that it had received notice of a one-year, $50,000 grant from The Walmart Foundation in support of workforce development programs. The grant follows a similar one awarded by The Walmart Foundation in late 2009.

Funds will be used to support “Stepping Up,” the Villa’s workforce development and transition planning initiative. The initiative continues to be based on assessment, planning, and training for Villa clients at Flagler Home, Dooley School and the Sarah Dooley Center for Autism.

Clients in the workforce development program complete a career assessment, develop a transition plan which incorporates interests and abilities, and develop a budget based on the lives they envision following graduation.

St. Joseph’s Villa has operated its “Stepping Up” program at Flagler Home for the past 10 years, and similar programs at Dooley School and Sarah Dooley Center for Autism have increased efforts to better prepare students for life after graduation.

This year, the Villa intends to begin the CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) accreditation process, to develop a partnership with the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) to offer work adjustment services, and to create additional internship opportunities in support of its vocational and transition services.

“We are thrilled to have this support from the Walmart Foundation,” said Cynthia Faison, Chief Operations Officer at St. Joseph’s Villa. “Career and transition services are vitally important to the futures our clients are building for themselves and their families. The Walmart Foundation’s support enables us to ‘take it to the next level’ and make many of our plans a reality.”