Welcome to the 2026 July 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 |
Youth in Foster Care Level Up their Future at Education Expo
The Fostering Futures Team in Fairfax County Foster Care is doing amazing things to support older youth and young adults in foster care! Recently they recognized a need and organized a first-of-its-kind college and career expo to help create pathways to the future for our youth. Learn more.
Youth in foster care face many invisible educational obstacles such as changing schools often, having fewer stable and supportive relationships, and experiencing mental health challenges at higher rates than their peers. That’s why we are proud of the 17 youth in Fairfax County foster care who have persevered to graduate from high school, professional certification programs, college and beyond this year. We will hold a celebration of their accomplishments later this summer. Join us in supporting their amazing accomplishments by donating items on their personal wish lists to help them as they move forward in life. Thank you for your support!
It became apparent just how much young Caiden had been impacted by the trauma he had faced in his short life, when it began to show up in behaviors that made it challenging to parent him. It took a familiar teacher with a tender heart to help begin to turn things around for him. Learn more about Caiden’s journey to a forever family.
Parenting around media can feel overwhelming. It can be challenging for adults to keep up with the changes in technology and ever-emerging social media and video platforms. The American Academy of Pediatrics has revamped their guidance on screen time to move beyond the 2-hour rule to better address the intrusive quality of online media and the need to balance that with children’s social emotional wellbeing. The 5 C's of media use are based on the child, the content, ways to calm down, what media is crowding out and ongoing communication. The 5 C's provide guidance for each age group from infants through older teens including developmental stages, how they influence media use, and healthy media habits to strive for at home. Families can use these to build upon how you're already connecting with your kids. Learn more.
Across Fairfax County, many grandparents, relatives, and close family friends are quietly stepping into an essential role: raising children when parents are unable to do so. If you are caring for a grandchild, niece, nephew, younger sibling, or the child of someone close to you, you are considered a kinship caregiver. These caregivers provide children with the comfort of familiar faces, routines, and cultural connections during times of uncertainty. But while this role can be deeply meaningful, it can also be challenging to navigate alone. Read more.
Monthly Foster Care Information Meeting
Tuesday, July 14
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 annual meeting schedule and additional information are available online. Check it out and share it with others who might be interested.
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.
Various dates, 6:30-8 p.m. – Foster the Family Support Groups for foster, kinship, and adoptive moms throughout the region. Support group attendance may count towards training and recertification hours. Child care registration is limited. Learn more about changes to their services in the DC area. Maryland Support Groups.
Thursday, July 2, 7-8:30 p.m. – C.A.S.E. Adult Adoptee Support Group fosters an environment where participants will be able to voice some of the challenges, triumphs, and identity work unique to adult adoptees. Register online.
Tuesday, July 7, 7:30-8:30 p.m. – C.A.S.E. Ask An Adoptee Support Group fosters meaningful dialogue and connection for individuals impacted by adoption, foster care, and kinship care. Certain months will focus on specific audiences — including adoptees, those with foster care or kinship care experience, adoptive parents, and partners of adoptees creating supportive spaces to connect, learn, and grow together. Meets monthly on the first Tuesday. Register online.
Monday, July 20, Noon-1 p.m.– Lunch Break Parent Support Group. Engage in thought provoking, honest conversations, receive support and guidance, and leave better equipped with expanded knowledge, skills, and confidence – knowing you are not alone. Meets monthly on the third Monday. Register online.
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 a child or youth have contact with their birth family via telephone, email, text, or social media?
Answer: Every family situation is different. Foster parents will likely be advised, by Child Protective Services during the initial placement, whether it is appropriate for a youth to have contact with birth family. Foster parents should feel empowered to ask about contact. They should also be able to ascertain whether the youth has such a device enabling contact, at the time of placement. For questions about contact after the child has been in your home for a period of time, please discuss with the foster care and adoption specialist as it will look different for each child.
Check out other frequently asked questions and answers from past issues.
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