News and Information
May 19, 2025
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has proclaimed May 2025 as National Older Americans Month.
Established in 1963 and led by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), OAM is a time to acknowledge the contributions and achievements of older Americans, highlight important trends and strengthen the commitment to honoring our older citizens. This year’s theme, “Flip the Script on Aging,” is part of Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services mission year-round.
Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) is proud of its longstanding commitment to the well-being of older Americans. In conjunction with the county’s SHAPE the Future of Aging Plan, county agencies are transforming the programs, resources and services offered to meet the needs of a far more active, engaged and mobile older adult population. NCS programs for older adults offer opportunities for older adults of all ages and abilities to remain active – physically, intellectually, creatively and socially – within their community.
Some of NCS' most vital resources for older adults:
NCS Senior Centers
Senior Centers serve ages 50 and older. Hundreds of active older adults from around the county are registered members of the county’s network of senior centers to pursue hobbies, fitness, special interests (such as art, music and technology), friendships and enjoy a wide variety of activities with their peers. Center programs and activities are as diverse as the needs and interests of the communities they serve.
Meals and transportation options are available (eligibility and fees apply – please contact the Senior Center near you for details).
VCAA
The goal of the Virtual Center for Active Adults is to enrich the lives of older adults and adults with disabilities in Northern Virginia while combatting isolation. Participants can connect with peers, engage in a variety of activities and discover useful resources.
VCAA offers a variety of live, interactive programs that include engaging with other adults. There are also prerecorded programs on demand for participants to watch on their own schedule.
Adult Day Health Care
We believe that everyone has the opportunity to live a great life, despite their cognitive or physical limitations. That’s why our Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) program is focused on engaging participants mentally, physically and socially. The results include better sleep, increased engagement, and an overall better mood — for both participants and their caregivers. Learn more about our daily programs and activities and our highly skilled and experienced staff.
In its 35+ year history, ADHC has brought thousands of older adults daytime care and support. A sliding fee scale, scholarship program and transportation are available. Learn more about the Adult Day Health Care program.
Volunteering
NCS is a wonderful place for senior volunteers. Read more about volunteer opportunities, including the GrandInvolve program that places older adults in Title I schools to engage with young students and support learning.
Recent highlights and news
NCS recently opened Arbor Row Center, a new senior center located in The Mather residential building in Tysons. NCS will provide programming and staffing for the new center, which offers a variety of programs for learning, fitness, technology, discussion and more.
NCS will soon open Burke-Springfield Center for Active Adults (BSCAA) at Huntsman Square in Springfield. NCS held a series of community engagement sessions to obtain feedback on programs adults ages 50 and older would like at BSCAA. This location will replace the Burke-Springfield Center Without Walls.
See Fairfax County Department of Family Services’ resources for older adults.
See the Board of Supervisors’ 2025 proclamation.
For more information on all NCS programs and services for older adults, please visit Programs and Services for Older Adults.
May 14, 2025
NCS is pleased to offer Value In Prevention (VIP) Camp, a safe and engaging summer camp experience for middle schoolers, in July 2025.
VIP Registration will open Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 6 p.m.
VIP is a five-week camp for rising seventh- and eighth-graders in Fairfax County (rising sixth graders are eligible from Glasgow MS, Holmes MS and Poe MS). VIP is designed to encourage teens to develop health and positive recreation interests and will feature a wide variety of sports, games, fitness, art and STEM activities in a safe environment. The program is led by FCPS After School and NCS Teen/Community Center staff.
Dates: July 1-31, 2025 (no camp Friday, July 4).
Cost: $100 for five weeks of camp. Scholarships are available for families who qualify.
Hours: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Locations and Registration: Registration begins Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 6 p.m. Please click the school name below to register for the program in your school area, or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ncs - search: VIP.
Carson Middle School (Serving Carson, Cooper Herndon, Hughes, Longfellow)
Frost Middle School (Serving Frost, Irving, Lake Braddock, Robinson, South County)
Poe Middle School (Serving Glasgow, Holmes, Jackson, Kilmer, Thoreau, Poe)
Rocky Run Middle School (Serving Franklin, Katherine Johnson, Liberty, Rocky Run, Stone)
Whitman Middle School (Serving Hayfield, Key, Sandburg, Twin, Whitman)
Transportation: Available from feeder middle schools and other selected stops.
Questions? Contact your middle school’s After School Program Specialist.
May 12, 2025
The Commonwealth of Virginia has proclaimed May 2025 as Early Intervention Awareness Month. Fairfax County Neighborhood Community Services is proud to recognize the month and to highlight the variety of resources available to young children.
Early intervention is one the most effective strategies to ensure that children up to age 3 who experience developmental delays, or have conditions that may lead to such delays, receive the necessary support and services.
The Infant and Toddler Connection of Fairfax-Falls Church (ITC) provides early intervention services to more than 4,400 infants and toddlers annually. ITC also works with the Infant Toddler Connection of Virginia to share resources, best practices and training, says Adriana Gallego Gomez, Director of ITC of Fairfax-Falls Church.
ITC’s Primary Service Provider Model ensures that families have a consistent point of contact while benefiting from the expertise of a multidisciplinary team. Teams work collaboratively to create Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) that help children learn and develop through everyday activities and routines so they can participate fully in family and community activities.
In addition to individualized planning, ITC offers a comprehensive range of early intervention services designed to support a child's development across multiple domains. The team and the family work together, usually in the family's home and in the context of a family’s daily activities. Some early intervention services are provided at no cost to the family.
These services are provided in the child’s natural learning environment and may include:
Service coordination
Speech-language therapy
Occupational therapy
Physical therapy
Developmental services
Family Counseling and Support
Assistive technology
Vision services
Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Nutrition services
Through these services, Early Intervention can help children ages 0-3 progress in the following areas:
Cognitive development: Supporting the development of thinking, learning, and problem-solving skills.
Physical development: Addressing motor skills, physical growth, and health conditions.
Communication development: Fostering speech, language and communication abilities.
Social-emotional development: Nurturing social skills, emotional regulation and mental health.
Adaptive development: Building self-help skills and independence appropriate for age.
Gallego Gomez says she finds it incredibly gratifying to witness the progress toddlers make in partnership with ITC. Each year, ITC hosts a graduation ceremony as the 3-year-olds transition into the FCPS system or other community settings, marking the conclusion of their Early Intervention journey with ITC.
To learn more, please visit Fairfax County ITC’s website.
To see a developmental milestones checklist, see this Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website.