Department of Family Services

CONTACT INFORMATION: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
703-324-7500 TTY 711
12011 Government Center Parkway, Pennino Building
Fairfax, VA 22035
Michael A. Becketts
Director

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Community Corner

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Welcome to the Department of Family Services' Community Corner. Our weekly newsletter, updated each Wednesday, provides information about upcoming events, parenting and wellness tips, programs and services, and more! Share these helpful posts with your family and friends.

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Sexual Violence Tier One is a 16-hour training on understanding sexual violence, systems responding to sexual violence in Fairfax County, and resources available in our community. This training is for professionals, volunteers, and community members looking to learn how and why sexual violence happens; the impact of sexual violence on individuals, families, and communities; and how to support those impacted. It is free, but registration is required. For more information, contact Angie Acosta.

This orientation is an introduction to Fairfax County's Domestic and Sexual Violence Services, the services we provide, the population we serve, and the opportunities for volunteers to contribute to the agency's mission. A summary of the application process and the requirements necessary to become a successful candidate is included. Register here or contact Tanisha Cox with questions.

Meet other dads. Talk about fatherhood. Gain parenting support. For more information or to register, contact Lisa Payne-Chesley, 703-324-7734, or Bennie Herron, 571-474-6822. Learn more!

Are you ready to become a more confident and effective parent? Join our free multi-week virtual parenting class starting Sept. 10! This class is designed for parents with children aged 5-11 years old and will cover topics such as increasing empathy, encouraging appropriate behaviors, building positive self-concept and self-esteem, and having fun as a family. The class meets on Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m. Ready to sign-up or have questions? Contact us by email at or call 703-324-7720. Learn more about the variety of parenting classes available.

Conocer a otros papas. Hablar de paternidad. Obtener apoyo para la crianza de los hijos. Para registrarse, llame: Mercedes Alonzo, 703-324-7677. Learn more!

When emergencies arise, caregivers often face a multitude of concerns regarding the wellbeing of their loved one. Join us from 7-8 p.m. for a presentation and discussion facilitated by the Department of Emergency Management and Security (DEMS) on the topic of Emergency Preparedness, including considerations to be made and actions steps that you can take now. Learn about available resources. Register for this ElderLink Virtual Support Call for Family Caregivers to receive a Microsoft Team Meeting link and phone number to join the call. Learn more about services for older adults.

Cultive relaciones sanas con sus hijos. Are you ready to become a more confident and effective parent? Join our free weekly Spanish-language, in-person parenting class starting Sept. 11 at Messiah United Methodist Church in Springfield! This class is designed for parents with children aged 5-11 years old and will cover topics such as increasing empathy, encouraging appropriate behaviors, building positive self-concept and self-esteem, and having fun as a family. The class meets every Wednesday from 5:30-8 p.m. Ready to sign-up or have questions? Contact us by email or call 703-324-7720. Learn more about the variety of parenting classes available.

Join this webinar to learn how good oral health is synonymous with good overall health. Dr. Rosa Mathai, DMD will explain how the ability to speak and eat remains relevant well into old age. Many caregivers are tasked with the responsibility of taking care of a loved one’s teeth once they are no longer able to do it for themselves. Learn how to care for someone else’s mouth as if it is your own. Participants will have a better understanding of the caregiver’s role in maintaining oral hygiene, even for patients who do not express a desire for dental care, and recognize which mouths require professional intervention and how to get it. Join this webinar from 12-1 p.m. Register to receive an email with access instructions. Learn more about programs for caregivers of older adults and adults with disabilities. 

Do you have children ages 0-4 years old? This FREE parenting class shows parents how to understand child development; create nurturing parenting routines; master infant massage; and develop ways to foster positive self-esteem in themselves and their children. This class meets every Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. Ready to sign up or have questions? Contact us by email or call 703-324-7720. Check out our online parenting tips and resources including upcoming classes.

Are you a parent with teenagers? Join our free parenting classes starting on Sept. 30 for those with kids ages 12-18! Learn how to communicate more effectively, understand your teen's developmental stages, and build their self-esteem. Classes will be held from 5:30-8 p.m. at Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Church, 3901 Sherwood Hall Lane, Alexandria, VA. Ready to sign-up or have questions? Contact us by email at or call 703-324-7720. Learn more about the variety of parenting classes available.

Do you have kids who are 12-18 years old? This multi-week virtual parenting class offered in Spanish shows parents how to learn communication strategies, how to recognize each other’s needs, how to understand the developmental stages of adolescence, and ways to build their children’s personal power, self-concept, and self-esteem. Cultivar relaciones sanas con sus hijos. This class meets every Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. Ready to sign up or have questions? Contact the Parenting Education Programs by email or call 703-324-7720. Learn more about the variety of parenting class

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CHECK OUT OLDER POSTS!

Want to be a part of ending teen dating violence in our community? Join the Fairfax County Teen Advocates Program and make your voice heard!

As a Teen Advocate you can:

  • Champion a cause you care about!
  • Become a leader among your peers.
  • Make new friends who are passionate like you!
  • Plan impactful events and activities!

Ready to make a difference? Apply by Friday, Sept. 20, 2024.

Is it possible to be a perfect parent? Of course not. Even if you think you have it all figured out with one child, the next one may be completely different. Were there things your own parents did that you swore you’d never do? Did you have a good role model to teach you how to be a parent? The free Parenting Education classes offered by the Department of Family Services will help you understand what to expect at all ages from birth through the teen years. Find out more about this incredible free resource!

Community Corner Categories

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Services
Stories
Tips
Wellness

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newsletter graphicFoster Family News for Current and Potential Fairfax County Foster Parents – July 2024

Our monthly Foster Family Newsletter shares resources and experiences relevant to foster and adoptive parents, children in care, and the resource workers who support them. Check out the July 2024 newsletter. This month we focus on supporting healthy teen dating relationships, ways to support our 2024 grads, and more.

newsletter graphicGolden Gazette Newsletter Covers a Variety of Topics Concerning Older Adults and Caregivers in Fairfax County

Check out the August 2024 Golden Gazette, featuring Betty Graves, who after a long and rewarding career as a special education teacher, has spent her retirement years giving back, engaging with her community and enjoying her life. You’ll also learn how you can help fight the opioid crisis, resources to help you cope with grief and more. 

newsletter graphicThe Volunteer Post Newsletter

We have many wonderful volunteers and donors helping children and families in Fairfax County. Our Volunteer Post Newsletter provides a glimpse into the many ways to get involved in making a difference and supporting families in our community. Check out the July 2024 Issue for the impact of Body Safety classes during this past year, our summer volunteer orientation dates, and ways to support foster care graduates. 

newsletter graphicVolunteer Voices Newsletter

Catch up with Domestic and Sexual Violence Services’ volunteer corps in the August 2024 Volunteer Voices! Find out why the Crisis Response Services team is the heartbeat of DSVS, go on Hospital Accompaniment Support Advocate Chris Royer’s volunteer journey, and learn how to talk to youth about healthy relationships and navigate grief after a love affair goes wrong. Plus, sign up for training, read our review of the documentary “Tell Them You Love Me,” help fellow volunteers blow out candles, and more!

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Department of Family Services logoThe Department of Family Services (DFS) promotes the well-being of the County's diverse community by protecting and improving the lives of children, adults and families through supportive services, education and advocacy.

Fairfax County Health and Human Services LogoThis Department of Family Services agency is a part of the Fairfax County Health & Human Services System (HHS). The HHS System is a network of county agencies and community partners that support the well-being of all who live, work and play in Fairfax County.

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