Health Department

Springfield residents encouraged to go to new Franconia-Springfield locationServices offered at the Fairfax County Health Department’s West Springfield Public Health Center (located in the Cary Building at 8136 Old Keene Mill Road in Springfield) are being transitioned to the Franconia-Springfield Public Health Center. The last day for client services at West Springfield is June 12, 2026.To prepare for the transition, all clients and patients are being actively referred to the Franconia-Springfield location. Residents who would like an appointment for services are encouraged to make one at the Franconia-Springfield Public Health Center, located at 6564 Loisdale Court in Springfield. This location is easily accessible to the Franconia-Springfield Metro station and several bus lines. Franconia Springfield Public Health Center The transition comes in advance of West Springfield’s lease for space ending later this year and following the opening of the Franconia-Springfield Public Health Center in October 2025, which is also accommodating staff and clients from the Joseph Willard Health Center following its closure for demolition and reconstruction.The Franconia Springfield Public Health Center is a state-of-the-art facility that provides a wide array of public health services including immunizations, pregnancy testing and maternity intake, tuberculosis (TB) testing and treatment, HIV and STI testing, Newcomer Health Screenings, and referral assistance. Other services include vital records (issuance of birth, death, and marriage certificates) and enrollment into the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) supplemental nutrition program.Appointments are encouraged and can be made by calling 703-246-7100, TTY 711. Walk-in hours are also available for select services.In addition to the Franconia-Springfield location, the Health Department provides services at three additional public health centers located in Annandale, Mt. Vernon, and Herndon-Reston.

Igniting curiosity, knowledge and action in behavioral health was the theme of the day recently, as the inaugural SPARK event was held at the Government Center. SPARK is a new event for high school students participating in Public Health Youth Ambassador Program (PHYAP) sponsored by the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD).  PHYAP students from Mount Vernon and Justice high schools took part in an interactive day focused on behavioral health and disability development programming and career exploration. The event is the culmination of a collaboration between the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) and the Health Department."The unique cross-agency partnership between FCHD and the CSB is designed to support PHYAP student development by providing them with direct access to behavioral health and developmental disability professionals, customized learning experiences, and internship/job opportunities," said Scott Folks, Program Manager for the Youth Ambassador program. " Each goal was personified through SPARK, where simulations and dialogues led by CSB subject-matter experts provided our PHYAP students with critical insights that will assist their secondary school and career aspirations."The day began in a general session, with some energy-raising activities, hosted by LaVurne Williams, the CSB's Youth and Family Director, and PHYAP's Instructor Supervisor, Blaythe Ayala. Fairfax County's Director of Health, Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu spoke to the group, encouraging the students to make the most of these opportunities to understand ways they may make a meaningful difference in their communities and their families. Jean Post, CSB's Deputy Director of Administrative Operations, spoke of the importance of their work in the community, and invited the students to ask deep questions of the staff and volunteers they would meet during the day. She urged them to take full advantage of this chance to explore these possible career options.

Every family deserves a strong start. In observance of National Home Visiting Week from April 20-24, the Fairfax County Health Department is recognizing the vital work of our Maternal Child Health Field program and Nurse-Family Partnership program. These initiatives reflect the Health Department’s commitment to building a healthier community, delivering essential support, education, and services directly to where families need them most.Home visitation programs pair expectant mothers and new parents with specially trained public health nurses who provide regular, ongoing visits starting early in pregnancy and continuing through the child’s first years of life. The benefits for both parents and children are profound. Parents receive hands-on guidance in prenatal care, newborn development, and infant nutrition. Children benefit from a close bond with their parent, fewer preventable injuries, better school readiness, and improved long-term health outcomes."The success of this program is rooted in the remarkable empathy and resilience our staff bring to their work every day," says Joanna Hemmat, Assistant Director of Health Services at the Fairfax County Health Department. "They possess a unique ability to build trust through genuine kindness and a deep respect for the families they serve. It is their unwavering dedication and the human connection they foster that truly makes the difference in our community.”While routine health care provider visits are essential for medical check-ups, home visiting programs offer unique advantages that traditional clinical settings simply cannot match. A clinic visit provides only a brief, 15-minute snapshot of a patient's life. By visiting a family at home over an extended period of time, public health nurses gain a better understanding of a client’s lived reality. They can assess the physical living environment, identify everyday stressors, and tailor their health education to the family's needs. Learning to properly baby-proof a living room, manage a new medication, or establish safe sleep habits for infants is far more effective when taught in the family's own home. Furthermore, being in a familiar environment naturally helps parents feel more comfortable and open, fostering a deeper, more trusting relationship with their nurse.Home visitation provided through the Nurse-Family Partnership and Maternal Child Health programs have consistently proven their value in our community. By emphasizing health promotion, disease prevention, and early intervention, these efforts build on family strengths while actively reducing long-term health care costs."We are incredibly proud of the progress we see every day in our community, one family at a time," says Sylvia Susana de la Torre, the Health Department's Nurse-Family Partnership Manager. "Mothers in our home visiting programs experience healthier pregnancies, parents find more emotional support after bringing their babies home, and their children are successfully reaching key developmental milestones. We also see that many family bonds are strengthened. By meeting families where they are, we accompany them as they take small yet important steps every day to help their children thrive.” As we observe National Home Visiting Week, the Health Department extends our deepest gratitude to the nurses and support staff who make this mission a reality. They are not simply delivering public health services; they are delivering hope, confidence, and connection directly to the front doors of our community.To learn more about the Nurse-Family Partnership and Maternal Child Health services, or to find out if you qualify, please visit the Fairfax County Health Department website.