Welcome to the 2024 May 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 & Myths |
| Trainings and Conferences |
National Foster Care Month is an important time to raise awareness of issues related to foster care and to celebrate those, like our foster parents, who are dedicated to serving our children, youth, and families. This year, the Children’s Bureau’s theme, Engaging Youth. Building Supports. Strengthening Opportunities, raises awareness about the important role that members from all parts of child welfare including foster parents have in supporting young people and helping them transition successfully to adulthood. It also emphasizes the importance of involving young people early and throughout their time in foster care to help improve their experience while in care and improve their long-term outcomes. We encourage everyone to check out the resources at National Foster Care Month - Child Welfare Information Gateway, and visit our local Community Engagement Toolkit if you are looking for local facts and messages to raise awareness in our community.
Our foster parents are the best! So, during Foster Care Month each year, we like to take the time to say “THANK YOU!” We also recognize the foster parents who have reached important milestones in partnership with our program. Serving five, ten, or more years as a foster parent takes amazing dedication and passion, and a selfless, giving spirit. Thank you for your endless support, flexible nature, accepting attitudes, and nurturing actions. Check out the folks who have reached significant milestones in their foster parenting journey! Out of respect for their privacy, full identification is not provided for everyone, but you can learn more about a couple of these families by clicking the links below.
Thank you for fostering over the past five years Venessa & Robert B.; LaToya B. & Lakesha B.; Emily & Don B.; George F. & Jaclyn S.; Kelly & Curtis S.; Emily & Gary G.; Tanja H.; Patricia & Stuart J.; Laura K.; Adam L. & Sarah F.; Jacqueline &. Ben N.; Heather R. & Graham F.; Bryant S. & Tremayne B.; Jennifer and Patrick V. We would also like to give special thanks to Angelique & Christopher B. and Marla E. & Tim M. for continuing to be foster parents with us for the last 10 years.
Karen Roberts, the supervisor for our Foster Care and Adoption Placement and Resource Unit has had a long rewarding career as a social worker, and most of that has been in roles with Fairfax County Government. Soon it’ll be time to say goodbye to Karen as she heads off into retirement. She will be greatly missed by everyone in the Foster Care and Adoption program for her steady hand in day-to-day situations. Please check out these five things to know about Karen and be sure to reach out to wish her well in her future adventures. Learn more.
Join us in celebrating the Fairfax County foster parents who completed the training and certification process between May 2023 and May 2024. Becoming a foster parent is one-of-a-kind rewarding adventure, and we applaud the success of certifying 36 new resource families in the last year. Learn more.
A new report released by the Anne E. Casey Foundation, Family Ties: Analysis From a State-By-State Survey of Kinship Care Policies, identifies efforts by states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to promote kinship care and support kinship caregivers. The report highlights progress made at reducing barriers to foster care licensing, long-standing inequities in financial assistance for kinship caregivers and new opportunities to address their needs. Learn more.
Foster Parent Night Out! for Fairfax County Licensed Foster and Adoptive Parents
Saturday, May 4, 2024
4-7 p.m.
We’re looking forward to seeing those families who’ve registered at this event! We have a great time planned with dinner, child care, and a presentation on strategies to improve health and well-being after childhood trauma. For more information, contact Rosario Phelps.
Spring Farm Day
Saturday, May 4
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Frying Pan Farm Park, 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon
Family fun on the farm! See what life is like on the farm with real sheep shearing and antique farm equipment demonstrations. Get hands-on and try milking cows and goats. Enjoy crafts, games, and get an up-close introduction to the baby farm animals. Register online.
Wetlands Awareness Day
Sunday, May 5
Noon to 4 p.m.
Huntley Meadows Park
3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria
Discover the beauty and importance of wetlands at this free event. Bring the family and stroll through the forested paths and immersive boardwalk trail. Learn about plants and animals that live in the park. See live raptors, reptiles and amphibians up close and enjoy interactive displays and activities. Shuttle rides are available at Groveton Elementary to Huntley Meadows Park. Register online.
Foster Care Coffee Chat (virtual interest meeting)
Saturday, May 11, 2024
9:30 -10:30 a.m.
If you love coffee, care about children, and are curious about foster care, then this is an event just for you! Whether fostering has been on your mind for a while, or you are just starting to ask questions, then grab your morning cup of coffee & join us! Wherever you are in your journey, we would love to chat with you in this virtual space! Email BeAFosterParent@fairfaxcounty.gov for more information or register online today!
Mother's Day Events hosted by Foster the Family D.C.
Saturday, May 11, 10 a.m.-noon Prince William County Brunch
Monday, May 13, 6:30-8 p.m. Fairfax County Dinner
Monday, May 13, 6:30-8 p.m. Montgomery County Dinner
These free events are celebrating foster, adoptive, and kinship moms from the DMV area. Limited spots and GIFTS for everyone that attends. Registration is required.
Respite Nights hosted by Foster the Future D.C.
Saturdays – Dates vary
4-7 p.m.
Foster the Future D.C. offers local foster, adoptive, and kinship families regular Respite Nights in several localities in the DMV area. During a Respite Night, they provide three hours of free child care with fun activities, including outside time (weather permitting), dinner, and a movie in a safe, fun, trauma-informed space. Respite Nights are for ANY & ALL CHILDREN (ages 0-12) in the home of local foster, adoptive, and kinship families. Find upcoming events near you and register online.
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.
Thursdays, May 2 and June 6, 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, May 5, 7:30-9 p.m. – Formed Families Forward Virtual Peer Support Groups for foster, adoptive, and kinship families to support and encourage each other.
Wednesday, May 15, 7-8:30 p.m. – Formed Families Forward in-Person Peer Support Groups for foster, adoptive, and kinship families.
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.
Can the youth in my home have a cell phone? If they already have a cell phone, what are the parameters around allowing them to use it? Who pays for the cell phone?
Answer: Cell phone privileges are dependent on the youth’s age and development. This is an arrangement that should be discussed and planned with the youth’s specialist and foster family. Every situation is different regarding who is responsible for payment. A birth parent, youth, foster family or the Department may pay for a cell phone. As with any youth, foster families should be engaged with the youth placed in their home, and get to know their friends and acquaintances, and monitor relationships.
Check out other frequently asked questions and answers from past issues.
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