Welcome to the 2024 June issue of Foster Family News, a monthly newsletter for current and potential Fairfax County foster parents. Our monthly newsletter shares resources, news, tips, events, and trainings relevant to foster and adoptive parents, children in care, and the resource workers who support them.
| Table of Contents |
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| Feature Articles |
| Events Central |
| Support Groups |
| FAQs, Story in Stats & Myths |
| Trainings and Conferences |
Congratulations to Calvin Dyson! He has been recognized as the 2024 Fairfax County Foster Parent of the Year by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Calvin’s desire to make the world a better place led him to adopt two sons and foster additional children. Calvin is focused on making each child feel comfortable in his home by honoring their language and culture. He has worked hard to communicate across language barriers. Calvin has taken the boys shopping in grocery stores that carry familiar foods from their home countries. In addition, Calvin has worked tirelessly with school personnel, social workers, therapists, and medical professionals to help his foster children. When Calvin receives calls about children in need of foster placement, he believes the children are not the sum of their behaviors and histories on file. He believes that with the right support any youth can be successful. Check out the video and be inspired by this family’s story.
Our Annual Foster Parent Appreciation Event was a smash hit with our families! We were so pleased to have 28 foster parents and 15 children join us on Saturday, May 4 for a fun and relaxing respite night. The foster parents had a chance to connect, and the kids had so much fun. We want to thank all the sponsors, donors and volunteers that made this event such a success. Thanks to Fairfax Church for providing the space, and Ace Hardware, PF Chang’s, Crafthouse Fairfax, Cooper’s Hawk, The Enchanted Florist, Aura Spa, Fairfax Racquet Club and Starbucks (Centreville) who provided gift cards in appreciation for our foster parents. Check out more about this event.
Get to know two recently promoted Foster Care and Adoption staff members. You may have interacted with one or both of them in their new roles over the past few months. If not, welcome Nakejah Allen, the assistant program manager for Foster Care and Adoption, and Colleen Regan, the supervisor for the Foster Care Case Carrying Unit for the Central Region of Fairfax County. Learn more.
Reunification is the most common goal for children in foster care. When children are separated from their families, the first goal is to reunify them when it is safe enough to do so. To support the reunification process, Fairfax County has implemented our Safe and Connected Practice Model to normalize trauma-informed, family-centered approaches that build on family strengths and actively engage parents, youth, and relatives as experts on their own lives. Each year during June, we observe Reunification Month. Fairfax County Foster Care and Adoption will hold our Third Annual Reunification Celebration this month to recognize families reunified after children were placed in foster care. Find out more about family-centered reunification.
Our Foster Care Recruitment Team is busy making connections and spreading the word in the community about foster care and the need for more foster parents. Foster the Family 5K, Earth Day, and a Foster Care Coffee Chat are just a few recent outreach events. We are always in need of Foster Parent Ambassadors to help reach even more potential foster parents. Reach out to Maya Mohindroo if you are interested.
Mayor Catherine Read presented a proclamation recognizing May 2024 as Foster Care Awareness Month in the city of Fairfax stating that, “Every community member has a responsibility to aid in this journey and is encouraged to volunteer their time and talents on behalf of children in foster care and to support the commitment of foster families and professional staff who work with these children and youth.” Calvin Dyson, a foster parent with his family, and a foster care resource worker accepted the proclamation. This was a reminder that ”foster families and their allies come in all shapes and sizes, speak many languages, live in various housing types, and follow different traditions,” but they all share the same goal of strengthening and preserving families.
Annual NOVA Fathers Matter Cookout
Saturday, June 22, 2024
All dads, their families and professionals are invited to join us for a free cookout from 11:30 a.m.– 2 p.m. in Burke Lake Park to help us celebrate fathers! Families will get to spend time together and enjoy nature hikes, a tot lot, frisbee toss, arts and crafts, and giveaways. Let us do the grilling for you! Enjoy hot dogs, hamburgers, assorted treats, and beverages on us. Non-Fairfax County residents: Show the event flyer at the front gate for free admission. Register online by June 16, 2024.
The Department of Family Services supports families and county residents of all ages and stages of life – and that definitely includes foster parents and families! Like and Follow @FairfaxCountyFamilyServices for news, events, tips, stories, training opportunities and more.
A variety of organizations offer support to adoptive, foster, and kinship care families in our region. Register online for a preferred support group.
Sunday, June 2, 7:30-9 p.m. – Formed Families Forward Virtual Peer Support Groups for foster, adoptive, and kinship families to support and encourage each other.
Thursday, June 6, 6:30-8 p.m. – Formed Families Forward Virtual Fairfax Kinship Support Group for caregivers to safely share their experiences, concerns, and frustrations with their peers. In partnership with Fairfax County Government.
Monday, June 10, 6:30-8 p.m. – Foster the Family D.C. Support Groups for foster, kinship, and adoptive moms throughout the region. As of Jan. 2024, support group attendance may count towards training and recertification hours. Pre-register by June 7.
Wednesday, June 19, 7-8:30 p.m. – Formed Families Forward in-Person Peer Support Groups for foster, adoptive, and kinship families.
Thursday, June 20, 6:15-8 p.m. – Formed Families Forward In-Person Fairfax Kinship Support Group for caregivers to safely share their experiences, concerns, and frustrations with their peers. Dinner and child care provided. In partnership with Fairfax County Government.
Each newsletter will include this section to help answer questions, spotlight the people who support foster families, highlight the donors and sponsors who generously give to foster care programs and activities and friendly reminders for foster families to sign-up for trainings.
Can a child or youth have contact with their birth family via telephone, email, text, or social media?
Answer: Every family situation is different. Foster parents will likely be advised, by Child Protective Services during the initial placement, whether it is appropriate for a youth to have contact with birth family. Foster parents should feel empowered to ask about contact. They should also be able to ascertain whether the youth has such a device enabling contact, at the time of placement. For questions about contact after the child has been in your home for a period of time, please discuss with the foster care and adoption specialist as it will look different for each child.
Check out other frequently asked questions and answers from past issues.
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