County Offers Resources and a Day Off for Grandparents

Fairfax County Department of Family Services
12011 Government Center Parkway, Suite 500
Fairfax, VA 22035-1102
Contact: Belinda Buescher, Public Information Officer
703-324-7758, TTY 703-222-9452
DFSPIO@fairfaxcounty.gov

November 21, 2006

County offers resources and a day off for grandparents raising grandchildren

In an estimated 5,000 households in Fairfax County, grandparents are responsible for raising their grandchildren. Many of these grandparents have little opportunity for leisure.

Fairfax County is sponsoring a Kinship Respite Day on Saturday, December 2, to provide grandparents (and other relatives) raising children a rare day off while providing a fun day for the children. Children ages 3 and up can participate in the free program. Grandparents can drop off their children, and children will have a day of fun and planned activities.

The county's departments of Community and Recreation Services, Family Services, Systems Management for Human Services, and the Fairfax County Public Schools are jointly sponsoring the event which will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Gum Springs Community Center, 8100 Fordson Road, Alexandria. There is no cost for the day, but preregistration is required.

For more information or to register, call the Department of Family Services -- Fairfax Area Agency on Aging at 703-324-3517, TTY 703-222-9693. For reasonable ADA accommodations, contact Nancy Coffey with the Department of Family Services -- Children, Youth and Families Division at 703-324-7723, TTY 703-222-9452.

The respite day is one of several ways that the Fairfax County government and schools are joining forces to provide support and resources to grandparents who have assumed responsibility for raising their grandchildren in what are often difficult circumstances.

Working with the schools and other county agencies, Fairfax County’s Department of Family Services recently published a Kinship Care Resource Guide which is now available on the Fairfax County Web site at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/factsheets/kinship_care_guide.htm

The resource guide contains over 100 pages of helpful information – including child care services, financial and legal assistance, safety information, educational services, resources for children with special needs, services for older adults, community recreation resources and much more.

In addition, the Department of Family Services and Fairfax County Public Schools sponsor two ongoing support groups that meet twice a month and are open to any grandparents or other relatives raising children under age 18. The sessions are free and child care is provided. Pre-registration is required.

The North County Grandparents Support Group meets on Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Pennino Building, 12011 Government Center Parkway, in Fairfax, VA 22035. Upcoming meetings are November 28 and December 12.

The South County Grandparents Support Group meets on Thursdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Bryant Alternative High School, 2709 Popkins Lane, Alexandria, VA 22305. Upcoming meetings are November 30 and December 14.

To register for a support group, contact: Robin Hamby, Fairfax County Public Schools, 703-277-2640; Colleen Turner, Fairfax County Department of Family Services, at 703-324-5489; or Betsy Pugin, Fairfax County Department of Family Services 703-324-5401; TTY 703-449-1186.