The Youth must meet the following criteria to be eligible:
- Fairfax County Resident
- No older than 22 years old
- Commit to a gang free life and association
- Drug and alcohol free
- Enrolled in school or working
- Completed 40 hours of documented community service
- Tattoo removal is in recognition of and incentive for positive internal change over a significant period (six months) by Fairfax-Falls Church youths (inc. Cities of Fairfax and Falls Church) through age 22.
- Tattoo removal is a voluntary commitment by the youth.
- Each youth must have an adult sponsor such as a Social Worker, teacher, Police Officer, or Probation/Parole Officer.
Qualifying Requirements:
- Complete 40 hours of community service prior to tattoo removal.
- Participate in and cooperate with an educational program.
- Must be employed, actively seeking employment, or in job training if educational requirement has been satisfied.
- Drug and alcohol free.
- Parental, guardian, caregiver, or judicial approval must be secured prior to medical screening if under age 18.
- Failure to comply with Youth Participation Agreement, Rules of Probation, or Program Requirements could result in suspension.
- Reinstatement may be achieved by demonstration of compliance with program expectations.
- Availability for follow-up survey six months after tattoo removal.
Referral Process:
- The youth’s case manager or mentor submits a completed Program Application Form (Part A&B), Youth Participation Agreement, Exchange/Release Form, and Rosenberg Self-esteem (RSE) Scale as well as the youth’s most recent social history and service plan to the appropriate agency representative.
- The required social history and case/service plan should document goals and objectives including parental/guardian or caregiver support, education, employment, substance abuse, and delinquent history.
- All Application materials are submitted to the Fairfax Skindeep Tattoo Removal Interagency Committee where they are screened, reviewed and prioritized.
- After the youth has been accepted into the program, he or she is scheduled for an initial medical assessment. Parents, guardians, or caregivers, AND case managers MUST attend this initial session and are encouraged to, and may attend, all subsequent program activities. All clients under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian for all clinic visits.
- At the initial medical assessment, the youth must complete the Laser Treatment Consent Form and the Request for Treatment/Anesthetics Form (required documents will be provided in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Khmer).
- The case manager is responsible for youth and parent translation, transportation, and attendance. The case managers are encouraged to attend all program activities (Fairfax County employees are eligible for Compensatory Time as approved by their supervisors).
- Medical appropriateness of the youth and which tattoo(s) to be removed will be determined by the surgeon.
- Participating medical personnel will be provided with pro bono liability insurance through the Fairfax County Health Department.
- Fees shall not be assessed youths nor any participating public or private human service agency.
- Timely cancellation within at least 24 hours is the sole responsibility of the case manager. Call the on-duty contact person listed on page 15.
- Applications will also be accepted from young adults ages 18-22 actively supervised by Fairfax County human services agencies or Community-Based Organizations.