Independent living
Achieving inter-dependence
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Impact Living Services (ILS) provides comprehensive supportive services for 17 to 21-year-old foster youth. ILS has apartments in Lynchburg, Roanoke, Richmond, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, and Harrisonburg. ILS promotes interdependence as a core belief in helping youth achieve their educational, vocational, and financial goals. Interdependence is an idea of "mutual dependence between things" (i.e. community, friends, staff, DSS, and counselors). Youth are most successful when they achieve lifelong permanency through these various avenues. ILS promotes the idea of creating lasting relationships and services for youth in the program.
Wesley Bell
Program Manager
Wes graduated from James Madison University in 2007 with a B.S in Sociology. He started his career working for the City of Roanoke Department of Social Services, specifically with the foster care department and working with older teens. Wes now has over ten years of experience working with teenagers in the foster care system, both in foster homes and in Independent Living Arrangements, and embraces the joys and challenges of working with such a diverse and deserving population.
Carissa Bates
Program Manager
Carissa has her Masters of Social Work at George Mason University. She started her social work career in residential services at a girls home in 2016, and came to Impact in January of 2019 as a caseworker. She became the Site Supervisor of the Fairfax location in August 2020. Carissa is passionate about merging her knowledge of macro practice with micro practice needs, and her desire is to not only impact youth but to see them become leaders and change their communities.
Megan Pelletier
Program Manger
Megan graduated from Ferrum College in 2012. She has over ten years of experience working with at-risk youth in the Roanoke Valley. Megan assisted youth with emotional disturbance and autism in the private day school setting before starting her social work career working for the City of Roanoke Department of Social Services. She worked with youth in foster care, focusing on working with youth aging out of foster care. Megan assisted her LDSS with transitioning from Virginia’s Independent Living program to what’s now practiced: The Fostering Futures program. Megan was previously a Site Supervisor for the Roanoke location beginning in September 2020 until March 2022. Megan has continued her decade of experience working with teens and young adults as they age out of the Virginia foster system. She finds her true passion in assisting youth with breaking the cycle of poverty and trauma.
Courtney Cox
Roanoke Site Supervisor Courtney earned her Bachelor’s in Social Work with a minor in Psychology from Radford University in 2021. Courtney joined Impact Living Services as an intern in January 2021 in the Independent Living Program. Since then, Courtney accepted the Therapeutic Aide position in May 2021 and the Onsite Case Manager position in September 2021. In September 2022, Courtney accepted the IL Roanoke- District Vue Site Supervisor position. She enjoys engaging with the individual youth to identify their goals and aiding them in confidently pursuing their aspirations. Courtney is passionate about working with youth in various situations to successfully prepare them for independence.
Asiana Rollins
Hampton Roads Site Supervisor Asiana earned her Bachelors and Masters degree in Social Work from Radford University. She began her social work career at New River Valley Community Services Board (NRVCS) where she served in various capacities such as a Parent Coach, Intensive In-Home Worker, Direct Service Provider, Family Clinician and Behavioral Specialist. Asiana then transitioned to Floyd County Department of Social Services where she served as a Family Services Specialist working in the Foster Care and In Home unit. In 2020, she relocated to the Hampton Roads area to be closer to family and started working as a Permanency Worker and Independent Living Coordinator. Asiana joined the Impact team in August of 2022 as Site Supervisor. She’s passionate about assisting youth to be self-sufficient and develop into the future leaders of society.
Rebecca Bonds
Harrisonburg Site Supervisor Becky has a Bachelor's in Family and Consumer Sciences from Bridgewater College. She began her career as a high school teacher but transitioned to the nonprofit world and worked for Big Brothers Big Sisters for 7 1/2 years. After that, Becky started working in the Independent Living field in Charlottesville, but was looking for something closer to family here in Harrisonburg. She started at Impact in December of 2021 as a Case Manager and then accepted the position of Site Supervisor in May of 2022. Becky feels that she is able to utilize her teaching skills and nonprofit background in a unique way in Independent Living.
Dakota Ward
Lynchburg Site Supervisor
Dakota earned his B.S. in Psychology at Liberty University. He is currently pursuing a Masters in Business Administration. Dakota joined the Impact team in January of 2021 as an intern. Since then, Dakota accepted the current position as site supervisor. Dakota is new to the field, but enjoys working with teens in helping them develop life skills to succeed on their own!
Victoria Bailey
Fredericksburg Site Supervisor
Victoria earned her B.A. in Psychology from Converse University, formerly known as Converse College (2019), and her Master of Social Work degree from George Mason University (2021), where she also participated in the Child Welfare Stipend Program. Victoria began her social work career working in a domestic violence shelter in South Carolina and, upon returning to Virginia has worked with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington (2019) and the City of Manassas Department of Social Services (2020) while pursuing her Master in Social Work degree. Victoria recently transitioned to Impact Living Services from the Stafford Department of Social Services, where she worked in foster care and adoption. Victoria is pursuing clinical licensure and is eager to make a difference with the youth at Impact Living Services. She is confident that her experience in many child welfare sectors will provide valuable insight in assisting the youth with self-sufficiency, vocational skill building, and developing and growing skills to succeed as they move into adulthood.
Elizabeth Hopkins
Roanoke Site Supervisor Beth graduated from Meredith College in 2003 with a BA in Psychology. She began her career in non-profit fundraising before going on to receive her MA in Human Services-Marriage and Family Counseling from Liberty University in 2012. Beth worked in the field for more than 10 years as a TDT Supervisor and a TFC Senior Caseworker prior to joining Impact as the Roanoke Site Supervisor at The Orchards in October 2022. Beth enjoys working with young adults and watching them become more confident as they develop the skills necessary to become independent.
Below are key services that ILS provides:
On-site supervision for all campuses.
Alarm, motion, and monitoring detectors for apartments through professionally monitored security companies.
Monitoring alarm services accessed through each case manager's smartphone. Access gives ILS staff the ability to keep track of all doors, windows, and motion detector services and relay them to social workers or locality if desired.
Level 2 services offer a high level of support and supervision through daily face-to-face contacts, apartment cleanliness checks, and curfew checks, while Level 1 services are more appropriate for youth who have earned greater independence and trust as they have matured and progressed successfully through the program.
On-call support and services 24 hours a day, including holidays and weekends.
Social workers and localities will receive detailed and comprehensive case management logs monthly and upon request to keep track of service plans, transitional goals, employment and school progress, counseling treatment, and medication management.
Financial management services are used to help youth budget, save, and track their finances. Custodial, fee-free bank accounts are set up for all youth through Wells Fargo so that each youth can meet realistic saving goals if employed.
ILS is excited to partner alongside mothers in need of independent living services. Each mother will receive their own two-bedroom fully furnished apartment. It is vital for each mother and their child(ren) to have a home that meets their needs.
Christina’s Story
Lynchburg
316 Brook Park Place Suite A1
Forest, VA 24551
Richmond
1411 German School Rd, Apt 203, Richmond VA 23225
Roanoke
1454 Mexico Way NE
Roanoke, VA 24012
Harrisonburg
313 Neff Ave Unit A, Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Fairfax
10517-B Braddock Rd.
Fairfax, VA 22032
Fredericksburg
4660 Monroe Way
Fredericksburg, VA 22407
Virginia Beach
1329 White Pine Court, Virginia Beach, VA 23453
