Family Services Volunteer Opportunities

Our volunteer programs offer you a chance to make a difference in your community.

We are an organization where our diversity is our strength. We welcome volunteers from all cultural backgrounds to help us meet the needs of the diverse community we serve in Fairfax County. We look forward to discussing opportunities with you!

Last year, our volunteers contributed more than 123,000 hours in programs that reach out to children at risk, teens in foster care, low-income families, adults with disabilities, and older adults.

Some of our volunteers work directly with those we serve. They may spend a Saturday afternoon with a child in need; mentor a teen who is "aging out" of foster care; or deliver meals to homebound older adults.

Others like to work "behind the scenes," helping with special mailings or providing clerical assistance at one of our busy offices.

Regardless of how you choose to share your talents, as a Department of Family Services volunteer, you will ...

• Meet new people and gain new skills.
• Have your choice of short- or long-term projects - whatever fits your schedule.
• Receive training, ongoing support and guidance.
• Meet other volunteers at monthly social activities (for some programs).
• Learn more about your community.
  

Read our newsletter, Volunteer Connections, to learn more about volunteering for Children, Youth and Families in Fairfax County.

• BeFriend-A-Child – Volunteers provide companionship and friendship to children between the ages of 5 and 12 who have been (or are at risk of being) abused or neglected or have other significant needs. Mentors must be willing to commit for one year to the program and spend at least eight hours a month with the child on a regular basis.



• BeFriend-A-Parent – Volunteers befriend a Family Services client to listen, learn and work together on parenting and personal needs and skills, and to build a trusting mentor relationship. Volunteers must be willing to commit to at least six months to the program and spend 4 - 6 hours a month with the parent.



• Family Resource Centers – Volunteers perform a variety of duties that serve families and children in neighborhood centers. Examples of volunteer positions include program assistants, tutors, small group facilitators and child care providers. One-time and ongoing volunteer opportunities may exist.



• Nurturing Parenting Program® – Volunteers serve as facilitators in this child abuse prevention parent-child program. The program offers caring, comprehensive classes to parents and their children to help them learn new ways to work together as a family. Volunteers are assigned to work with parents or children and commit to facilitate at least one series of classes.

Community Partners

• CASA – Volunteers help represent children in court who have been abused or neglected. They work closely with social workers, attorneys, treatment providers, and others involved in helping the child.



• Volunteer Emergency Families for Children (VEFC) – This program works with volunteer families willing to provide short-term emergency and respite care and provide a temporary home and shelter for children in crisis.

• Fairfax Families4Kids - Help a child find a family. Fairfax Families4Kids volunteers help with recruiting, community presentations, publicity, weekend activities, transportation and more. Fairfax Families4Kids gives children ages 9 to 18, living in foster care, the opportunity to visit a host family who partners with the child to find the child a permanent family. Fairfax Families4Kids works to engage the community to support the children by creating partnerships with civic, social, fraternal and faith organizations. To find out more, call 703-324-7656; TTY 703-222-9452



• Foster Care Program - Foster parents are needed to provide support and care for children in foster care. Support, training and a monthly stipend for the child's expenses are provided. To find out more, call 703-324-7639 TTY 703-222-9452.

• Head Start: Uses volunteers to read to children age 0 to 5; assist teachers with administrative preparations; go on field trips; and other activities. Volunteers must successfully pass a background screening and provide proof of a negative TB test. To apply, call 703-324-8290; TTY 711.



• Provider Services: The Office for Children issues the Family Home Child Care permit to Fairfax County residents who want to care for children in their homes. Volunteers work alongside employees in making phone calls and completing surveys; stuffing envelopes; labeling mail; making copies, compiling training and informational packets; updating databases; and scanning documents into a storage system. Volunteers may also be invited to help staff information tables at community events. To apply, call 703-324-8100; TTY 711.