Kinship Care Family Cookout

Department of Family Services
12011 Government Center Parkway, Suite 500
Fairfax, VA 22035-1102
Contact: Belinda Buescher, Public Information Officer
703-324-7758, TTY 703-222-9452
DFSPIO@fairfaxcounty.gov


April 25, 2008

Kinship Care Family Cookout - May 17
Free food, fun and resources for grandparents and other relatives
raising a child for another family member

Fairfax County is sponsoring a Kinship Care Family Cookout on Saturday, May 17, to give kinship care families – families in which grandparents, aunts, uncles or other relatives are raising a child for another family member – an opportunity to get together, find out about resources available for kinship care families, and enjoy delicious food and fun family activities.

Fairfax County kinship care families with children ages 3 to 12 are welcome to participate in this free event. Children attending must be accompanied by an adult caregiver.

The Kinship Care Family Cookout will be held on Saturday, May 17, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at two locations:

• Gum Springs Community Center, 8100 Fordson Road, Alexandria, VA 22306
• Southgate Community Center, 12125 Pinecrest Road, Reston, VA 20191

Pre-registration is required and should be received by May 9.

For more information or to register, call the Fairfax County 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 county's departments of Community and Recreation Services, Family Services, Systems Management for Human Services, Fairfax County Public Schools, and the Kinship Care Committee of Fairfax County are jointly sponsoring the event.

Fairfax County offers other types of support and resources for grandparents and other relatives who are raising a child for another family member.

Kinship Care Resource Guide
Working with the schools and other Fairfax County agencies, the Department of Family Services has published a Kinship Care Resource Guide, which is available on the 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 – about child-care services, financial and legal assistance, safety, community recreation, educational services, resources for children with special needs, services for older adults and much more.

Support Groups Two ongoing support groups meet twice a month and are open to Fairfax County 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 twice a month 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 twice a month 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.

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