November 9
Participants will preview a 26 minute segment of the documentary that investigates the reasons African American women have more than twice the risk of pre-term birth and infant death than the general population. Participants will engage in a discussion about the issues raised and other social determinants of health relevant rural communities (e.g. economic development, educational opportunities, transportation, discrimination). Then Dr. Royster will lead participants in brainstorming strategies to incorporate this new information into their efforts to improve health in rural communities. Click here for additional information on Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?
As part of the Mental Health track of the Annual Conference; VRHA is providing a unique opportunity to tour the Western State Hospital. Staunton is home to the former Western State Lunatic Asylum, a hospital for the mentally ill, which originally began operations in 1828. The hospital was renamed Western State Hospital in 1894. The facility was infamous for its practices of eugenics during the 1930s under then-director Joseph DeJarnette.
In its early days, the facility was resort-style. It had terraced gardens where patients could plant flowers and take walks, roof walks to provide mountain views, and many architectural details to create an atmosphere that would aid in the healing process. Western State vacated the property in the 1970s when the hospital moved to its present site near Interstate 81. The facility was then converted to the Staunton Correctional Center, a medium-security men's penitentiary. The prison closed in 2003, and the site was left vacant for several years.
The site is now in the process of being redeveloped into a mixed-use development, with many of the existing buildings being renovated for new uses, as well as construction of new structures. The development team consists of Frazier and Associates of Staunton, Folsom Group of Charlottesville, Miller & Associates of Richmond, and The Arcadia Land Company of Wayne, Pennsylvania.
The development as a whole has been designated "The Villages at Staunton," and is expected to take several years to complete. The first building being renovated is "The Bindery".
