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TextCounty Offers Resources and a Day Off for Grandparents
Fairfax County Department of Family Services
12011 Government Center Parkway, Suite 500
Fairfax, VA 22035-1102
April 12, 2007
County offers resources and a day off for grandparents raising grandchildren
In an estimated 5,000 households in Fairfax County, grandparents are
responsible for raising their grandchildren. Many of these grandparents
have little opportunity for leisure.
Fairfax County is sponsoring a Kinship Respite Day on Saturday, April
28, to provide grandparents (and other relatives) who are raising a child
for another family member a rare day off while providing a fun day for
the children. Children ages 3 to 12 who are Fairfax County
residents can participate in the free program. Grandparents can
drop off their children, and children will have a day of fun and planned
activities.
The county's departments of Community and Recreation Services, Family
Services, Systems Management for Human Services, the Fairfax County
Public Schools, and the Kinship Care Committee of Fairfax County are
jointly sponsoring the event.
It will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at two
locations:
-
Gum Springs Community Center, 8100 Fordson Road, Alexandria, VA 22306
-
Mott Community Center, 12111 Braddock Road, Fairfax, VA 22030
There is no cost for the Kinship Respite Day, but pre-registration is
required. Children need to bring their own bag lunch; a snack will be
provided.
For more information or to register, call the Department of Family
Services — Fairfax Area Agency on Aging at 703-324-3517, TTY
703-222-449-1186. For reasonable ADA accommodations, contact Nancy Coffey
with the Department of Family Services — Children, Youth and Families
Division at 703-324-7723, TTY 703-222-9452.
The respite day is one of several ways that the Fairfax County government and schools are joining forces to provide support and resources to grandparents and other relatives who are raising a child for another family member.
Working with the schools and other county agencies, Fairfax County’s Department of Family Services has published a Kinship Care Resource Guide which is available on the Fairfax County Web site at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs or in hard copy by calling 703-324-5870, TTY 703-222-9452. It contains over 100 pages of helpful information – including child care services, financial and legal assistance, safety information, educational services, resources for children with special needs, services for older adults, community recreation resources and much more.
In addition, Family Services and Fairfax County Public Schools sponsor two ongoing support groups that meet biweekly and are open to any grandparents or other relatives raising children under age 18. The sessions are free and child care is provided. Pre-registration is required.
The North County Grandparents Support Group meets on Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Pennino Building, 12011 Government Center Parkway, in Fairfax, VA 22035.
The South County Grandparents Support Group meets on Thursdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Bryant Alternative High School, 2709 Popkins Lane, Alexandria, VA 22305.
To register for a support group, contact: Robin Hamby, Fairfax
County Public Schools, 703-277-2640; Colleen Turner, Fairfax County
Department of Family Services, at 703-324-5489; or Betsy Pugin, Fairfax
County Department of Family Services 703-324-5401; TTY
703-449-1186.
Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of
disability
in all county programs, services and activities.
Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request.
To request accommodations or to request this information in an alternate
format,
call 703-324-7723; TTY 703-222-9452.
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