Welcome to the 2025 December issue of Foster Family News, a monthly newsletter for current and potential Fairfax County foster parents. Our monthly newsletter shares resources, news, tips, events, and trainings relevant to foster and adoptive parents, children in care, and the resource workers who support them.
| Table of Contents |
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| Feature Articles |
| Events Central |
| Support Groups |
| FAQs, Story in Stats & Foster Care Facts |
| Trainings and Conferences |
Meet the Johnsons! In July 2025, Aamir and Tovoia Johnson, with their biological children Aamir Jr. and Taliyah, adopted four young brothers who entered foster care in November 2022. When they were contacted by DFS, the Johnsons felt compelled to step in and care for their family member's children, two of whom have special needs. Aamir and Tovoia have taken everything in stride and helped the children progress and develop through exposure to healthy situations and experiences. They show true unconditional love and have formed secure, loving, and healthy bonds and attachments with the boys. Check out this heartwarming video!
During National Adoption Awareness Month in November, the theme was “Love Grows Through Adoption!” Fairfax County Department of Family Services recognized families who have worked with our agency recently to open up their homes and welcome children permanently. Thanks to all the families who attended. You truly made the event special. Learn more.
When a toddler entered foster care due to his parents’ domestic violence and substance abuse, he received the therapeutic interventions he needed to address his developmental delays. Meanwhile, his mother began making the changes she needed to set them on a path to reunification. Learn more.
Check out this webinar recording of “Rekindling Bonds: Exploring Kinship and the Power of Reconnection” that features a panel discussion sharing a powerful kinship adoption story. It celebrates the importance of family in all its forms. It emphasizes how adoption and kinship care provide opportunities to reconnect children with love, stability, and belonging. It highlights the resilience of families and the enduring power of relationships to create a foundation where youth can thrive.
There has been a lot of discussion about the struggles faced by youth exiting foster care without permanent homes. Young adulthood is a crucial time to lay the foundation in one’s education, work experience, and financial resources. Too often young adults aging out of foster care struggle to make that transition successfully because of a lack of social supports. Check out this Annie E. Casey Foundation article that explains the issue more in-depth.
Monthly Foster Care Information Meeting
Thursday, December 9
6:45-8:30 p.m.
Are you curious about becoming a foster parent? Are you or someone close to you ready for the next step to help children that need a temporary home? We need more foster parents, and information meetings are one of the ways we get to know prospective parents. Information meetings for prospective parents are by invitation only. To attend the meeting first complete a short interest form to help us get to know you better, and you will be contacted promptly by one of our specialists. The full 2025 meeting schedule and additional information are available online. Check it out and share it with others who might be interested.
Save the Date - Winter Wonderland 2025, hosted by Foster the Family D.C.
Saturday, December 6
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
3901 Rugby Rd
Fairfax, VA 22033
The annual holiday celebration is coming back! Save the Date for a festive holiday event for the whole family.
Arlington-Fairfax Chapter, Inc., IWLA Annual Children’s Holiday Party hosted with Fairfax County Foster Care and Adoption
Saturday, December 13
11 a.m.–3 p.m.
14708 Mount Olive Road
Centreville, VA 20121
Join us for a magical afternoon of joy and laughter as we celebrate the holiday season with fun activities, delicious treats, and special surprises! Activities will include games and prizes, gifts with Santa, and a buffet style meal. For children ages 4–14 years old and their resource parents (Fairfax County). Registration has closed.
The Department of Family Services supports families and county residents of all ages and stages of life – and that definitely includes foster parents and families! Like and Follow @FairfaxCountyFamilyServices for news, events, tips, stories, training opportunities and more.
A variety of organizations offer support to adoptive, foster, and kinship care families in our region. Register online for a preferred support group.
Thursday, Dec. 4, 6:30-8 p.m. – Formed Families Forward Virtual Fairfax Kinship Support Group for caregivers to safely share their experiences, concerns, and frustrations with their peers. In partnership with Fairfax County Government.
Sunday, Dec. 7, 7:30-9 p.m. – Formed Families Forward Virtual Peer Support Groups for foster, adoptive, and kinship families.
Wednesday, Dec. 17, 7-8:30 p.m. – Formed Families Forward in-Person Peer Support Groups for foster, adoptive, and kinship families.
Thursday, Dec. 18, 6:30-8 p.m. – Formed Families Forward In-Person Fairfax Kinship Support Group for caregivers to safely share their experiences, concerns, and frustrations with their peers. In partnership with Fairfax County Government.
Each newsletter will include this section to help answer questions, spotlight the people who support foster families, highlight the donors and sponsors who generously give to foster care programs and activities and friendly reminders for foster families to sign-up for trainings.
Why am I not getting a placement?
Answer: If a family is very specific about the type of child they are willing to parent, and children necessitating placement do not meet their criteria, it will take longer for a child to join their family. There may be a delay in placing a child with a family if the family has had recent or significant changes in the status of their home, such as a new household member, marriage, death or divorce. Families sometimes take a break following a very difficult fostering experience, either by their choice or based upon a recommendation from the Department.
Check out other frequently asked questions and answers from past issues.