FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2025
Reintroducing the Charlottesville/Albemarle Youth Opportunity Center: Your Online Connection to Youth Resources
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - Summer is here, and the Charlottesville/Albemarle Youth Opportunity Center is available to ensure families, youth, and community members are aware of this powerful, user-friendly resource. Originally launched in 2024, www.cvillealbyouth.org serves as a centralized online hub for discovering local youth-focused programs, services, and support across the Charlottesville and Albemarle region.
With students out of school and families seeking meaningful activities, support services, and enrichment opportunities, this site offers a clear, organized way to search for what’s available by age, topic, or provider. Categories include education, health and wellness, recreation, youth leadership, basic needs, and more.
The Youth Opportunity Center site is the result of a community-based partnership between the Charlottesville Department of Human Services, Albemarle County Department of Social Services, Region Ten, Charlottesville Area Network Dedicated to Youth Development (CANDYD), and the Center for Community Partnerships at the University of Virginia. These organizations came together with a shared commitment: to ensure that every young person in our region has access to the opportunities and support they need to thrive.
From summer activities to long-term opportunities, the website is designed for easy and equitable access to programs and services in categories such as :
- Academic Programs
- Arts & Culture
- Health & Wellness Resources
- Internship Opportunities
- Nonprofits Supporting Youth
- Physical & Recreational Activity
Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, teacher, mentor, or community leader, this site is built for you and the young people you care about. It’s also a helpful tool for service providers and organizations making referrals.
“This website highlights the many available resources this community has to offer. It also serves as a hub for all community members to support our shared goal of making sure youth are connected,” said Misty Graves, Director of the City of Charlottesville Department of Human Services. “We hope this website is highly utilized and sustained long-term.”
“This site is such a cool insight into our community,” said Kaki Dimock, Chief Human Services Officer for Albemarle County. “There are so many interesting and engaging resources for young people and their families here. I’m certain you can find something connected and compelling to do!”
Help us spread the word. Share www.cvillealbyouth.org with the youth and families in your life.
Want to make it even easier for a young person to stay connected?
Here’s how to set The Charlottesville/Albemarle Youth Opportunity Center as their homepage:
- Open their browser settings or preferences.
- Find the “Homepage” field and enter: www.cvillealbyouth.org.
This summer, let’s keep our young people engaged, informed, and inspired; together.
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About the Charlottesville Department of Human Services
The Department of Human Services (DHS) was created in 2010. The Department includes all of the foster family and community-based services of the Community Attention Programs and a variety of human services program and initiatives. The Director serves as a human services policy advisor to the City Manager and works to implement the social policy initiatives of the City Council.
Learn more: https://www.charlottesville.gov/224/Human-Services
About the Albemarle County Department of Social Services
The Department of Social Services (DSS) works to ensure that individuals and families in Albemarle County can meet their full potential and plan for their future. To realize this vision, the mission of DSS is to provide services that promote self-sufficiency and support individual and family well-being. Additionally, the department’s core values are identified as: Equity and Inclusion, Hope, Respect, Opportunity, and Self-Determination. As an agent of public service, DSS seeks to catalyze change in the community to move towards the opportunity of a quality-life for all.
Learn more: https://www.albemarle.org/government/human-services/social-services
About the Charlottesville Area Network Dedicated to Youth Development (CANDYD)
The Charlottesville Area Network Dedicated to Youth Development (CANDYD) is a network of out of school time programs and providers for youth in the greater Charlottesville region. CANDYD members are youth serving professionals and advocates working to enhance equitable, accessible, and high-quality out of school experiences so that all youth (ages 5 - 18) are able to thrive.
Learn more: https://lists.virginia.edu/sympa/info/candyd_directory
About Region Ten
Region Ten is where people go for help with mental health, substance use and/or developmental disabilities. Those who qualify for Medicaid, have insurance, and those with no payment source receive services designed to help them achieve their individual goals and recovery. Region Ten has more than 35 different programs to aid and support all ages from babies with developmental delays, teens who have experienced trauma, adults with a serious mental illness, and those struggling to maintain a drug-free life. Region Ten provides a variety of outpatient, intensive outpatient, day support and residential programs with 24/7 crisis support. The agency’s mission is Working Together to Enrich Our Community One Life at a Time.
Learn more: https://regionten.org/ 
About the Center for Community Partnerships at UVA
In 2019, the community was called upon to understand how the University of Virginia could work towards its goal of being both great and good, and they answered. Over 3,000 survey respondents stated that the University should leverage the past sentiments of students, faculty, staff, and community members alike.
As an anchor institution, aspiring to be a good neighbor, the University has made a commitment to intentionally apply its place-based economic power and human capital in partnership with the local community to mutually benefit the long-term well-being of both. The Center for Community Partnerships plays an important part in carrying forward this mission. Our work in this area is evolving as we seek to establish more partnerships and to reciprocally engage with our neighbors in response to the needs and opportunities that are identified.
Learn more: https://communitypartnerships.virginia.edu/
Media Contact
Sydney Shuler
Communications Specialist
Center for Community Partnerships at UVA
snshuler@virginia.edu