Department of Family Services – Children, Youth and Families

Fairfax County, Virginia

CONTACT INFORMATION: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

703-324-7500
TTY 711

12011 Government Center Parkway, Pennino Building
Fairfax, VA 22035

Oriane Eriksen,
Director

May is Foster Care Month - Community Engagement Toolkit

 

foster care month 2022 banner

 

In Fairfax County, we believe that strengthening and preserving families and focusing on their wellbeing is vital to building strong communities.

We recognize the vital role of foster parents in supporting children and their biological families. Foster parents provide children with opportunities to be part of safe, caring families, and help them connect to permanent homes through reunification, permanent placement with relatives, or preparation for adoption. 

We are grateful for all foster parents and everything they do to provide loving, stable and nurturing homes for children and youth.

message clouds graphic

Check out these easy-to-use tools for FacebookTwitter and Instagram postings.

Social Media Tip: It's more effective to post a message with a graphic.

Talking Points

May is National Foster Care Month. There are more than 400,000 youth in foster care across the nation. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, there are nearly 5,000 children and youth in foster care, and 200 children and youth are in foster care locally. 

When a child’s home environment is unsafe due to abuse, neglect, or other circumstances, foster care provides a temporary home for the child with foster parents, relatives, or in some cases, therapeutic residential care.

In Fairfax County, approximately 130 families are certified by the Department of Family Services and provide caring, safe, and nurturing homes for youth in foster care. 

Foster parents play an important role in supporting biological parents and helping them enhance their relationship with their children to achieve family stability and maintain family connections in support of the primary goal of family reunification or permanent placement with relatives.

We recognize foster parents for their dedication to supporting and contributing to each child’s positive sense of self, and helping youth heal from trauma and transition to permanent homes. Learn more about how to become a foster parent or support them.

Facebook and Instagram Graphics and Messages

Graphics for Facebook and Instagram

Follow these quick and easy steps to download a file to your computer:

  1. Click on the graphic.
  2. After it opens, right-click on the graphic and select to save the file.

May is Foster Care Month Facebook Instagram graphic Foster Care Support the Child and the Family Facebook Instagram graphics Love Support Security and a Place to Call Home Facebook Instagram graphic

 

Messages for Facebook and Instagram

Follow these quick and easy steps to copy a message and post it along with one of the graphics from your computer.

  1. Highlight the text.
  2. Right-click and select copy.
  3. Paste the text into your post.

May is Foster Care Month. Did you know that no matter your marital status, you can be a foster parent to a child in need? Single, divorced and married (including LGBTQ couples) folks are all welcome, as long as you are at least 18 years old. Fairfax County’s greatest need is for loving homes for children in sibling groups of 3 or more, children with special needs, and children ages 11-17. Learn more about how to become a foster parent https://bit.ly/DFS-FCA or email BeAFosterParent@fairfaxcounty.gov.

We can all agree that every child should live in a loving, stable and nurturing home. Foster Care Month is a special time to thank foster parents for taking the extraordinary step to open their hearts and homes to children in need of a safe place to call home. Learn how you can provide short-term respite care so foster parents can take a break for a day, a weekend, or a week https://bit.ly/DFS-FCA or email BeAFosterParent@fairfaxcounty.gov.

May is Foster Care Month when we recognize foster parents for helping to make sure that kids can be kids. They nurture children who have experienced abuse and neglect, and help children overcome past traumatic experiences so that they can reach their full potential. Meet some families firsthand who are committed to helping https://bit.ly/DFS-FCA.

May is Foster Care Month. As a community, we each can play a part in enhancing the lives of children and youth in foster care. Find resources and information https://bit.ly/DFS-FCA and volunteer opportunities to help ensure that their future is bright http://bit.ly/DFS-VPS.

During Foster Care Month, if you are considering becoming a foster parent, check out the monthly Foster Family Newsletter to learn about training opportunities, foster care stories, and ways to support foster children and parents. https://bit.ly/3b92Xag. 

During Foster Care Month and throughout the year, we are grateful to foster parents as they play a vital role in supporting biological parents and helping them enhance their relationship with their children to achieve family stability and maintain family connections in support of the goal of family reunification or permanent placement with relatives. Learn more https://bit.ly/DFS-FCA or email BeAFosterParent@fairfaxcounty.gov.

In Virginia there are nearly 5,000 children and youth in foster care, and more than 400 youth are in congregate care such as group homes and residential treatment facilities who need a foster home. Learn more https://bit.ly/DFS-FCA or email BeAFosterParent@fairfaxcounty.gov.

In Fairfax County, approximately 200 children are in foster care. Check out our data dashboard for some statistics to help you learn more about the local scope of foster care. Considering becoming a foster parent? Learn more https://bit.ly/DFS-CYF-FCA-AS or email BeAFosterParent@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Twitter Graphics and Messages

Graphics for Twitter

Follow these quick and easy steps to download a file to your computer:

  1. Click on the graphic.
  2. After it opens, right-click on the graphic and select to save the file.

May is Foster Care Month Twitter graphic

Support the Child and the Family Twitter graphic

Foster Care Love Support Security and a Place to Call Home Twitter graphic

Messages for Twitter

Follow these quick and easy steps to copy a message and post it along with one of the graphics from your computer.

  1. Highlight the text.
  2. Right-click and select copy.
  3. Paste the text into your post.

 

Did you know that no matter your marital status, you can be a foster parent to a child in need? Single, divorced and married (including LGBTQ couples) folks are all welcome! Learn more https://bit.ly/DFS-FCA or email BeAFosterParent@fairfaxcounty.gov.

During Foster Care Month, we recognize the role of foster care in providing children with safe, caring families. Help provide short-term respite care so foster parents can take a break https://bit.ly/DFS-FCA or email BeAFosterparent@fairfaxcounty.gov.

During Foster Care and Foster Family Recognition Month, we thank foster parents for helping kids be kids and have the normal experiences that children need as they grow up. Meet some families firsthand who are committed to helping https://bit.ly/DFS-FCA. 

As a community, we each can play a part in enhancing the lives of children and youth in foster care. During Foster Care Month, find resources https://bit.ly/DFS-FCA & opportunities to help https://bit.ly/2WuCYo6.

During Foster Care Month, if you are considering becoming a foster parent, check out the monthly Foster Family Newsletter to learn about foster care stories and ways to support foster parents and youth. https://bit.ly/3b92Xag.

In Virginia there are nearly 5,000 children and youth in foster care, and more than 400 youth are in congregate care such as group homes and residential treatment facilities who need a foster home. During Foster Care Month, learn more https://bit.ly/DFS-FCA or email BeAFosterparent@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Resources

Video

Thinking about becoming a foster parent? It’s better than you can imagine! Meet some Fairfax County foster parents and learn how foster parenting has shaped their lives for the better, and the positive impact they are making every day in children’s lives. Learn more about Foster Care and Adoption: https://bit.ly/DFS-FCA.

Facebook

YouTube

Data Dashboard

In Fairfax County, approximately 200 children are in foster care. Check out our data dashboard for some statistics to help you learn more about the local scope of foster care. https://bit.ly/DFS-CYF-FCA-AS

Fairfax Virtual Assistant