Family 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.

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.
• Family Group Conferencing – Provides an opportunity for family members to make plans to ensure the well-being of the children in their family, with the goal of preventing placement of children in foster care or helping them move from foster care into a permanent home.
• 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).

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.

For more information about Family Preservation Services, call or visit one of the following offices: