Printer
TextStory Ideas in Fairfax County Government
Office of Public Affairs
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 551
Fairfax, VA 22035-0065
703-324-3187, TTY 703-324-2935, FAX 703-324-2010
April 15, 2003
Story Ideas in Fairfax County Government
The Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs provides a summary of news briefs designed to inform the media about great story ideas in Fairfax County government. The information provided gives the background on several newsworthy stories as well as the contact information for key personnel to provide more information, interviews, etc. For additional questions on the Future Features service, contact the Office of Public Affairs at 703-324-3187, TTY 703-324-2935.
Volunteers Make a Difference
Volunteer Fairfax will host the 11th annual Fairfax County Volunteer
Service Awards on Wednesday, April 23, at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner
hotel, 7920 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, from 8-9:30 a.m. This
community-wide event honors individuals, businesses and organizations
throughout Fairfax County who give time and service to the community. An
independent panel of judges selected those to be recognized from the more
than 170 nominations received. Honorees will be announced during the
ceremony. For more information, call Renee Atkinson, special events
coordinator at Volunteer Fairfax, at 703-246-3460, TTY 711 (Virginia
Relay Center).
Fairfax County Employee Art Show
The fifth annual Employee Advisory Council (EAC) Employee Art Show is
displayed on the first floor of the Government Center, 12000 Government
Center Parkway, Fairfax, through Thursday, May 22. All of the displayed
artwork was created by Fairfax County employees. For additional
information, contact Doug Guzman, Fairfax County Park Authority, at
703-324-8744, TTY 711.
Intensive Supervision Program Has High Success Rate
Fairfax County's Intensive Supervision Program was started as a way to
keep young people in the community and out of detention facilities using
early intervention strategies. Over the last four years, more than 300
juveniles have been served through the Intensive Supervision Program. On
average, 63.5 percent of the cases were closed successfully, meaning that
the youth were not readmitted due to parole violations or new violations.
These juveniles with criminal backgrounds, determined to be at high-risk
for re-offending, would have most likely been readmitted to a detention
facility prior to the implementation of this program. For more
information, contact James McCarron, Special Services, Juvenile &
Domestic Relations District Court, at 703-246-2037, TTY 711.
Blood Drive Comes to South County
Fairfax County will pilot blood drives this year at the South County
Government Center, 8350 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, in partnership with
the American Red Cross and Inova Blood Donor Services. The February snow
storms left the area blood supplies at the critical level around the
region. For more information, call Margaret Savage, Department of Human
Resources, at 704-324-3357, TTY 703-222-7314.
School Age Child Care (SACC) Program - Exciting Times and New
Experiences
Plans for the summer School Age Child Care (SACC) program are filled
with exciting and new experiences for children. Kindergarten through
fourth-grade children will have the opportunity to experience stage
productions, animal tracking, art explosion and power puck. Older fifth
and sixth-grade children will discover wall climbing, culinary classes,
one act plays and in-line hockey. For more information, contact Dan
Dildine in the Office of Children, at 703-324-8042, TTY 711.
New Nurturing Parenting Classes
The Nurturing Parenting program promotes self-reliance in families and
individuals by providing essential knowledge and resources tailored to
the needs of children, adolescents and adults. Nurturing Parenting
classes for different age groups and languages, sponsored by the
Department of Family Services, have been scheduled. One class in Spanish,
designed for parents with children in the birth to four year age range,
begins on Tuesday, April 22, and will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal
Church, 3439 Payne St., Falls Church. Another class, conducted in
English, for parents and their adolescents (age 12-18), will be held at
Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School, 4015 Fielding St., Alexandria, and
is scheduled to start on Tuesday, April 29. The programs are free.
Classes meet from 5:30-8 p.m. For more information, call Nancy Coffey in
the Department of Family Services, at 703-324-7723, TTY 703-222-9452.
Fairfax County Government Hosts Third Annual Bring Our Children to
Work Day
Employees with children ages 9-15 are encouraged to bring them to the
county's "Bring Our Children to Work Day" on Thursday, April 24,
from 9 a.m. until noon at the Government Center, 12000 Government Center
Parkway, Fairfax. In past years this exciting event has seen more than
300 registered participants. At 9 a.m. County Executive Tony Griffin and
Director of the Office of Public Affairs Merni Fitzgerald will welcome
the guests and the program will commence. Several county agencies will
have display booths on the first floor including Animal Control,
Electoral Board and Human Services. Outside there will be a display of
public safety vehicles, K-9 demonstrations and Vehicle Services will host
"Big Truck Day." The conference center will have interactive
exhibits from the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services,
the Park Authority, the Health Department and the Department of
Information Technology. In addition, the Police Department will be
holding two seminars: "Internet Safety" and "Police Forensic
Artist." For more information about this event, contact Cathy Maynard
in the Office of the County Executive, at 703-324-3239, TTY 703-222-5494.
Website Survey 