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TextPractitioner Profile - Department of Family Services
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Department of Family Services Domestic Violence Unit
In 2005, the Fairfax County Department of Family Services (DFS) established a dedicated Domestic Violence (DV) Unit to provide specialized consultative services in DFS cases where there is a potential co-occurrence of domestic violence and child maltreatment.
Secondary Case Management Services
The DV Unit is staffed by three full-time social workers,
two of whom are bilingual in English and Spanish. All three social
workers possess considerable expertise on domestic violence issues and
function as secondary case managers for families receiving services from
the DFS Children Youth and Families Division (CYF) through its Child
Abuse Prevention, Child Protective Services, Family Preservation, Foster
Care and Adoption programs. More specifically, once a case is
opened in CYF and identified as involving domestic violence, a social
worker from the DV Unit can be assigned to work with the primary DFS
social worker and the family. The DV social worker provides support and
guidance regarding domestic violence best practices to the DFS social
worker. The DV social worker also offers direct services to the
abused (nonoffending) parent and her/his children to help them identify
and recognize issues of power and control, the cycle of violence,
coercion, and how children can be affected when residing in a violent
home. The social worker also helps the abused parent understand the
characteristics of healthy relationships and provides individualized
assistance in connection with safety planning and options
counseling.
The DV Unit social workers meet regularly with survivors of abuse in environments that are comfortable and safe for them. Depending on the situation, this might involve scheduling a meeting at the family’s home or meeting in a more neutral location such as a coffee shop or restaurant. In partnership with the primary social worker, the DV social worker can offer flexible services that are customized to the needs of an individual family’s circumstances, such as helping an adult survivor and her/his children access emergency shelter, public assistance, medical care, legal services, and mental health support. The DV social worker can also coordinate with other public and private, nonprofit entities throughout the county to help the family access other critical resources and necessary supportive services.
Court Accompaniment and Case Coordination
If a survivor is involved in the court system, the DV social worker’s training and experience can help that survivor safely and effectively navigate the court process. For example, the social worker can walk the survivor through the legal process of obtaining a protective order, accompany her/him to court, and communicate with the primary social worker so that requested court orders do not conflict with each other.
Professional Development and Educational Outreach
The DV Unit social workers were hired with prior experience on domestic violence issues; nevertheless, they continue to enhance their skills and knowledge base by participating in best-practices workshops, trainings and conferences, and by conducting research on emerging trends in the field. The social workers also regularly host educational sessions on the complex dynamics of domestic violence for their DFS colleagues and other allied professionals. The DV unit provides domestic violence education to community based and professional organizations.
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