Neighborhood and Community Services

Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services is proud to support October’s National Head Start Awareness Month and the important role that Head Start serves in school readiness. Head Start is a national child development program that serves families with children from birth to age 5 and expectant parents. The program is designed to prepare children for success in school by enhancing their intellectual, social, emotional and physical development. This service is provided at no cost to eligible families. In Fairfax County, Head Start and Early Head Start are under the administration of NCS in partnership with Fairfax County Public Schools, Family Child Care homes and Center Based programs. Providing this free educational program aligns with NCS’ mission to provide opportunities to access a continuum of resources that promote equity and create positive outcomes for people of all ages and abilities. Families participating in Head Start are supported in a variety of areas: Early childhood education and disability services. Social services. Connections to community resources. Health services (medical, dental, nutrition, mental health and prenatal care). Parenting curriculum. Family literacy and resources for English language learners. “Head Start helps shape brighter futures by giving every child a strong foundation to learn, grow, and thrive,” said Fairfax County Head Start Director Janet Stewart. “For decades, Head Start and Early Head Start programs have been essential in supporting the health, well-being and education of entire families. Research shows that children who participate in Head Start enter kindergarten equipped with the social, emotional and learning skills they need to succeed.”  There are Head Start and Early Head Start locations throughout the county. Please visit the NCS Head Start page to view the 2025 Annual Report and to learn more information. Head Start is celebrating 60 years in 2025, Since 1965, Head Start programs have reached more than 40 million children and their families. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, children enrolled in Head Start are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college, achieve economic stability, and are better prepared to be parents themselves than similar children who do not attend the program.  Head Start currently serves nearly 750,000 children annually nationwide and 700 children in Fairfax County. Head Start Awareness Month was first recognized in October 1982.

The community is invited to upcoming information sessions to learn about the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood & Community Services’ new Beyond the Bell pilot program. Beyond the Bell is a before- and after-school pilot program at 20 Fairfax County elementary schools that previously offered School Age Child Care (SACC). The pilot program is designed to expand access to affordable, high-quality child care in Fairfax County.   NCS will host two virtual sessions to share information on the Beyond the Bell pilot. The community is invited to learn more and ask questions. Both sessions are via the Zoom platform and will present the same information.  Session 1 (Morning)  Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Zoom Link: Https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83220536688   Session 2 (Evening)  Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, 7-8 p.m. Zoom Link: Https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81519627995  Meeting details and additional resources/information may be found at Beyond the Bell Pilot Program - PublicInput. Meeting slides will be posted after the meetings.   The Beyond the Bell pilot began October 1, 2025, transitioning 20 School Age Child Care (SACC) programs to a license-exempt model for the 2025–2026 school year while maintaining NCS’ commitment to best practices, safety and enriching programming. Operating under a local government Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) licensure exemption, Beyond the Bell expands access to high-quality, school-based child care by increasing enrollment capacity and strengthening staffing flexibility to better meet community needs. The goal of the pilot is to demonstrate that NCS can deliver the same high-quality care offered through SACC while reaching more families across Fairfax County. Implemented on a smaller scale, the pilot allows NCS to evaluate effectiveness, identify improvements and gather feedback to guide conversations about potential future expansion.  “We are immensely proud of our SACC program and the trusted child care it provides to thousands of families across Fairfax County,” said Chris Scales, Division Director of Neighborhood & Community Services. “However, the long SACC waitlists highlight an ongoing need for affordable, safe and high-quality child care. Beyond the Bell will help meet that need by serving more children while still maintaining the standards families expect from NCS."  The Beyond the Bell pilot will feature:  Expanded access: Increased enrollment in high-quality, school-based child care to better meet community needs.  High standards: NCS continues to implement robust safety protocols and facilitate age-appropriate, engaging activities under supervision of highly trained staff. Affordability: The sliding fee scale remains available; eligible federal/military subsidies and Child Care Assistance referrals continue to be honored or matched during the pilot. Ongoing evaluation: NCS will monitor outcomes and gather community feedback throughout the pilot. Additional information is available at Beyond the Bell webpage and at Beyond the Bell Pilot Program - PublicInput.