News and Information
May 31, 2024
Fairfax County is proud to announce the Veterans and Military Families Commission, a new commission established by the Board of Supervisors that will provide services to county veterans and their families.
Five commission at-large board members - Robert Magielnicki, Michael S. Donovan, Angela Howard, Penny Gross and Michael Halligan - were appointed by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. Thirteen more members representing FCPS, George Mason University and area military organizations, among others, have been nominated and will be confirmed at a future date.
The commission, coordinated through the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, was established to identify the unique issues and challenges faced by Fairfax County veterans, active duty service members, military retirees and their families to connect them with services and supports, address gaps in services and opportunities, improve access to service systems, and enhance the institutional structures across the continuum of care for the military community.
The commission will seek advice and guidance from county staff to address the problems facing the military community that lives and works in Fairfax County.
According to the Board Matter introduced in January 2024, Fort Belvoir is Fairfax County’s largest employer, and the county is home to more than 45,000 active-duty military, selected reserve members, and an estimated 65,000 veterans. More than 14,500 students in Fairfax County Public Schools are connected to the military, and 18 Fairfax County schools have been recognized as Purple Star Schools.
Christopher Pulley, NCS' Veterans Coordinator and an Air Force veteran, said years of efforts have resulted in the establishment of the commission.
"I can think of no better way to honor Military Appreciation Month in May than to formally announce this commission," said Pulley. "There are so many issues affecting today's veterans. Among them: affordable housing, food insecurity, affordable childcare, employment, mental health and medical treatment. "
For more information, please visit the Veterans and Military Families Commission website. For additional resources, please visit the Fairfax County veterans page.
May 13, 2024
Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services' Early Childhood Programs and Services and non-profit Fairfax Futures held the 20th Annual School Readiness Symposium on April 27, 2024.
Nearly 300 early childhood educators from centers, permitted county child care homes and public pre-K programs attended the event at the Fairfax County Government Center. This year's theme was "The Brain - Everything Starts Here: Understanding and Fostering Development." See a video of the event from Fairfax Channel 16.
“Twenty years is a special milestone to reach as an organization, and the Symposium marks the important role that Fairfax Futures plays in our community,” said Sallyann Rodriguez-Sawao, Fairfax Futures’ executive director. “It was wonderful to see so many educators coming out for the event. I also appreciate the dedication from my colleagues to organize this creative and impactful day for our community. We are grateful to our event supporters – the PNC Foundation; Eleccion, LLC; and Truist for joining us this year."
NCS Deputy Director Keisha Dotson welcomed everyone, followed by remarks from Jermaine Johnson, PNC Financial Services Regional President/Greater Washington and Virginia. The keynote was delivered by Dr. Angela Searcy, a teacher, early intervention provider and author of the book "Push Past It! A Positive Approach to Challenging Classroom Behaviors." See video of the keynote speech.
Participants also took part in breakout sessions, workshops and a resource fair. Workshop presenters included: IFEL Early Childhood Specialists Bernice Mayfield and Debbie Weigand; Michelle Saenz from the TMW Center for Early Learning and Public Health at the University of Chicago; Early Learning and Museum Specialists from the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center; Fairfax County Library Division representatives Tina Mraz and Renee Edwards; and Pamela Sneed, Early Childhood Education Program Administrative Specialist.
See a photo album of the event on our Flickr page.
Learn more about Fairfax Futures' work in the community and follow on Facebook.
May 9, 2024
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has proclaimed May 6 - 10, 2024 as Early Childhood Educators Week in Fairfax County. The proclamation reflects the invaluable ways in which early childhood educators provide positive learning experiences for children’s growth and development, and support families and the well-being of our community.
"Early Childhood Educators work tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of children, families and the community," said NCS Deputy Director Keisha Dotson. "They are an essential part of the community, and providing quality programs contributes directly to the economic prosperity of the county."
Early Childhood Educators work in nearly 2,000 programs in the county. Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services supports Early Childhood Educators through a variety of programs and resources. Among them:
Fairfax County Permitted Family Child Care Providers
Institute for Early Learning
USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
Earlier this year, NCS' Office for Children became Early Childhood Programs and Services. This rebranding effort, part of a recent agency realignment, reflects the full spectrum of services NCS offers and provides an opportunity to enhance services for the community including early childhood educators.
Visit this page for more information and early childhood resources.
View a copy of the proclamation here.