Department of Family Services – Children, Youth and Families

CONTACT INFORMATION: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
703-324-7500 TTY 711
12011 Government Center Parkway, Pennino Building
Fairfax, VA 22035
Oriane Eriksen
Director

STAY CONNECTED

To sign up for updates or to access your subscriber preferences, please enter your contact information below.

May is Foster Care Month - Community Engagement Toolkit

May is Foster Care Month

In Fairfax County, we believe that strengthening and preserving families while focusing on their wellbeing is vital to building strong communities.

During National Foster Care Month in May, we recognize the important role that members from all parts of child welfare play in supporting children, youth, and their biological families. 

We are especially grateful to foster parents for providing a safe, stable, and caring home for children, and helping them connect to permanent families through reunification, permanent placement with relatives, or preparation for adoption. 

This year, the federal Children’s Bureau’s theme, “Engaging Youth. Building Supports. Strengthening Opportunities,” recognizes the important role that people from all parts of child welfare play in supporting children, youth, and families. This year's theme highlights the impact that strong supportive relationships have on improving long-term well-being for children and youth in foster care and the importance of providing concrete supports, appropriate interventions, and opportunities for youth. Learn more

Learn about the Department of Family Services' Foster Care & Adoption Program.


2024 Fairfax County Foster Parent of the Year

Congratulations to Calvin Dyson! He has been recognized as the 2024 Fairfax County Foster Parent of the Year by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Calvin’s desire to make the world a better place led him to adopt two sons and foster additional children. Calvin is focused on making each child feel comfortable in his home by honoring their language and culture. He has worked hard to communicate across language barriers. Calvin has taken the boys to grocery stores that carry familiar foods from their home countries. In addition, Calvin has worked tirelessly with school personnel, social workers, therapists, and medical professionals to help his foster children. When Calvin receives calls about children in need of foster placement, he believes the children are not the sum of their behaviors and histories on file. He believes that with the right support any youth can be successful. Be inspired by this family’s story.


message clouds graphic

Check out these easy-to-use tools for FacebookTwitter and Instagram postings.

Social Media Tip: It's more effective to post a message with a graphic.

May is National Foster Care Month. There are nearly 400,000 youth in foster care across the nation. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, there are more than 5,000 children and youth in foster care, and more than 200 children and youth are in foster care locally.

When a child’s home environment is unsafe due to abuse, neglect, or other circumstances, foster care provides a temporary home for the child with foster parents, relatives, or in some cases, therapeutic residential care.

In Fairfax County, approximately 120 families are certified by the Department of Family Services and provide caring, safe, and nurturing homes for youth in foster care.

Foster parents play an important role in supporting biological parents and helping them enhance their relationship with their children to achieve family stability and maintain family connections in support of the primary goal of family reunification or permanent placement with relatives.

The transition to adulthood is a time of great potential for all young people, but youth who exit foster care without permanence face increased barriers to a successful transition. It’s important to encourage youth to build supportive, caring relationships with family and community members that nurture their development, well-being, and future goals.

We recognize foster parents for their dedication to supporting and contributing to each child’s positive sense of self, and helping youth heal from trauma and transition to permanent homes. Learn more about how to become a foster parent or support them.

Graphics for Facebook and Instagram

Follow these quick and easy steps to download a file to your computer:

  1. Click on the graphic.
  2. After it opens, right-click on the graphic and select to save the file.

May is Foster Care Month May is Foster Care Month: Connecting Youth

 May is Foster Care Month: Authentic Relationships May is Foster Care Month: Engage People

May is Foster Care Month Foster Care Month: Support Child Foster Care Month: Love, Support

 

Messages for Facebook and Instagram

Follow these quick and easy steps to copy a message and post it along with one of the graphics from your computer.

  1. Highlight the text.
  2. Right-click and select copy.
  3. Paste the text into your post.
Nurturing and stable foster homes are an essential component in providing trauma-informed care for the mental wellbeing of children in foster care. Learn more about becoming a foster parent at https://bit.ly/DFS-FCA, start your profile at https://bit.ly/FCA-FFH, or email BeAFosterParent@fairfaxcounty.gov.

May is Foster Care Month. Did you know that no matter your marital status, you can be a foster parent to a child in need? Single, divorced and married (including LGBTQ couples) folks are all welcome, as long as you are at least 18 years old. Fairfax County’s greatest need is for loving homes for children in sibling groups of 3 or more, children with special needs, and children ages 11-17. Learn more about how to become a foster parent https://bit.ly/DFS-FCA, start your profile at https://bit.ly/FCA-FFH, or email BeAFosterParent@fairfaxcounty.gov.

We can all agree that every child should live in a loving, stable and nurturing home. Foster Care Month is a special time to thank foster parents for taking the extraordinary step to open their hearts and homes to children in need of a safe place to call home. Learn how you can provide short-term respite care so foster parents can take a break for a day, a weekend, or a week at https://bit.ly/DFS-FCA, start your profile at https://bit.ly/FCA-FFH, or email BeAFosterParent@fairfaxcounty.gov.

May is Foster Care Month when we recognize foster parents for helping to make sure that kids can be kids. They nurture children who have experienced abuse and neglect, and help children overcome past traumatic experiences so that they can reach their full potential. Meet some families firsthand who are committed to helping https://bit.ly/DFS-FCA.

May is Foster Care Month. As a community, we each can play a part in enhancing the lives of children and youth in foster care. Find resources and information https://bit.ly/DFS-FCA and volunteer and sponsorship opportunities to help ensure that their future is bright http://bit.ly/DFS-VPS.

During Foster Care Month, if you are considering becoming a foster parent, check out the monthly Foster Family Newsletter to learn about training opportunities, foster care stories, and ways to support foster children and parents. https://bit.ly/3b92Xag

During Foster Care Month and throughout the year, we are grateful to foster parents as they play a vital role in supporting biological parents and helping them enhance their relationship with their children to achieve family stability and maintain family connections in support of the goal of family reunification or permanent placement with relatives. Learn more https://bit.ly/DFS-FCA, start your profile at https://bit.ly/FCA-FFH, or email BeAFosterParent@fairfaxcounty.gov.

According to VDSS Foster Care (FC) Related Reports, in Virginia as of February 2024 there were approximately 5,000 children and youth in foster care, and more than 700 youth in congregate care such as group homes and residential treatment facilities who need a foster home. In Fairfax County, out of approximately 220 children in foster care, 32 were in congregate care. Check out more state and local foster care data  https://bit.ly/4dbMAuD or learn about Fairfax Foster Care at https://bit.ly/DFS-FCA, start your profile at https://bit.ly/FCA-FFH, or email BeAFosterParent@fairfaxcounty.gov.

In Fairfax County, more than 200 children are in foster care. Check out our annual statistics to help you learn more about the local scope of foster care. Considering becoming a foster parent? Learn more https://bit.ly/DFS-CYF-FCA-AS, start your profile at https://bit.ly/FCA-FFH, or email BeAFosterParent@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Graphics for X (formerly Twitter)

Follow these quick and easy steps to download a file to your computer:

  1. Click on the graphic.
  2. After it opens, right-click on the graphic and select to save the file.

May is Foster Care Month (Twitter)

Foster Care Month: Support Child

Foster Care Month: Love, Support

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Messages for X (formerly Twitter) 

Follow these quick and easy steps to copy a message and post it along with one of the graphics from your computer.

  1. Highlight the text.
  2. Right-click and select copy.
  3. Paste the text into your post.

Nurturing and stable foster homes are an essential component in providing trauma-informed care for the mental wellbeing of children in foster care. Learn more about becoming a foster parent at https://bit.ly/DFS-FCA, start your profile at https://bit.ly/FCA-FFH, or email BeAFosterParent@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Did you know that no matter your marital status, you can be a foster parent to a child in need? Single, divorced and married (including LGBTQ couples) folks are all welcome! Learn more https://bit.ly/DFS-FCA, start your profile at https://bit.ly/FCA-FFH, or email BeAFosterParent@fairfaxcounty.gov.

During Foster Care Month, we recognize the role of foster care in providing children with safe, caring families. Help provide short-term respite care so foster parents can take a break https://bit.ly/DFS-FCA , start your profile at https://bit.ly/FCA-FFH, or email BeAFosterparent@fairfaxcounty.gov.

During Foster Care Month, we thank foster parents for helping kids be kids and have the normal experiences that children need as they grow up. Meet some families firsthand who are committed to helping https://bit.ly/DFS-FCA. 

As a community, we each can play a part in enhancing the lives of children and youth in foster care. During Foster Care Month, find resources https://bit.ly/DFS-FCA & opportunities to help https://bit.ly/2WuCYo6.

During Foster Care Month, if you are considering becoming a foster parent, check out the monthly Foster Family Newsletter to learn about foster care stories and ways to support foster parents and youth. https://bit.ly/3b92Xag.

Video

Thinking about becoming a foster parent? It’s better than you can imagine! Meet some Fairfax County foster parents and learn how foster parenting has shaped their lives for the better, and the positive impact they are making every day in children’s lives. Learn more about Foster Care and Adoption: https://bit.ly/DFS-FCA.

Facebook

YouTube

2024 Fairfax County Foster Parent of the Year

2023 Fairfax County Foster Parents of the Year

Data Dashboard

In Fairfax County, approximately 200 children are in foster care. Check out our data dashboard for some statistics to help you learn more about the local scope of foster care. https://bit.ly/DFS-CYF-FCA-AS

Fairfax Virtual Assistant