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TextFamily Preservation Services
The Department of Family Services offers intensive services to support
and stabilize families. Family Preservation social workers work with
families in their homes and communities to provide and coordinate
intensive services needed to help families stay strong and healthy.
These services are designed to enhance parents’ ability to create a
safe, stable and nurturing home environment for their children.
Core Values
- The family is the focus of service.
- Children deserve to remain safely with their family, whenever possible.
- Services are culturally respectful and designed to build on family strengths.
- Families are partners in this work and their values and beliefs are respected.
- Services are timely and flexible, based on the family’s changing needs.
- Families can benefit from being introduced to community resources; communities benefit from supporting their children and families.
- Substance abuse
- Mental health issues
- Domestic violence
- Major physical illness or disability
- Social isolation
- Parent-child conflicts
We Provide
- Comprehensive assessment to identify family strengths, resources and needs.
- A mutually developed service plan between social worker and family which identifies goals and strategies for achieving them.
- Coordination (case management) of services.
- Referrals to parent training and education resources that address appropriate discipline, parenting skills and child development.
- Links to other services offered by the county and community.
- Advocacy, if necessary, to help the family obtain the services they need.
- Education and training focusing on communication, household management, budgeting, finding and keeping a job, consumer awareness, personal care and other practical skills.
Other Specialized Services
- Domestic Violence Team – Provides specialized services (safety planning, court accompaniment, and education about the dynamics of domestic violence and its impact on children) for families who are already involved with the Department of Family Services and are experiencing domestic violence. Provides training, consultation and resources to DFS staff. Participates in community domestic violence activities to improve services to victims and their families.
- Medicaid Waiver Services – In collaboration with the Health Department and Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, screens children with medical nursing needs for the Medicaid Waiver Program (elderly and disabled).
- Family Intervention Resource and Engagement - Provides short-term intensive home based services for families at high risk of having a child removed from the home.
Referrals for Family Preservation Services are made by Child Protective Services and other Department of Family Services programs; by schools and other county agencies, including the courts; and by community organizations. Families can also self-refer.
For housing issues, call Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880; TTY 703-803-7914, where trained social workers will assess the family's housing needs and refer them to the appropriate resources. Through partnership with the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness, homeless families have access to emergency shelter, Housing Locator assistance, case management, and other housing resources and support to establish permanent housing.
For more information about Family Preservation Services, call or visit one of the following offices:
Fairfax
Pennino Building – Human Services Center
12011 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035
703-324-7500; TTY 703-222-9452
Falls Church
6245 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22044
703-533-5300; TTY 703-533-5316
South County
South County Center
8350 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA 22309
703-704-6353; TTY 703-799-6685
North County
1850 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston, VA 20190
703-481-4025; TTY 703-742-0350
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