Department of Family Services – Children, Youth and Families

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

Foster Family News – 2021 October

Foster Family Newsletter banner

Welcome to the 2021 October issue of Foster Family News, a monthly newsletter for current and potential Fairfax County foster parents.

Table of Contents
  • Kinship Caregiver Stories
  • Understanding Parental Postadoption Depression
  • Unit Success Stories: A Sibling Group Goes Home from Foster Care
  • Virtual Career Academy Prepares Youth in Foster Care to Move Ahead
  • Back-to-School and Diaper Drives Provide Supplies for Hundreds of Children Involved with Family Services
  • Foster the Family D.C. Offers Support for Foster Families
  • Events Central
  • Frequently Asked Question: What do I do if my child gets sick?
  • Story in Statistics: Services for Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care
  • Foster Care Myths: You can’t work full time.
  • Trainings and Conferences

 

Kinship Caregiver Stories

child hugging adult over shoulderKinship caregiving (raising the children of a relative or close friend) can be filled with joys and challenges. We appreciate the loving sacrifices that kinship families have made to ensure the safety and stability of the children. Check out these candid perspectives from some kinship caregivers, some whom are foster parents. Their experiences have been rewarding, stretching, life-altering, and fulfilling. Learn more about why kinship caregiving is an experience like no other.

Understanding Parental Postadoption Depression

leaf on sandy beachThis month’s issue of the National Council for Adoption’s magazine, the Adoption Advocate, features an article on postadoption depression (PAD), an often-overlooked issue in adoption. This shouldn’t be a taboo topic, but for many adoptive parents it can be difficult and uncomfortable to talk about. If the issue is not addressed, it can lead to long-term struggles for both parent and child. Thankfully there are practical steps for dealing with PAD. Check out this thoughtful and caring perspective from the foremost expert on PAD.

Unit Success Stories: A Sibling Group Goes Home from Foster Care

screenshot video call Reston Unit staffThis story is of how a single mother worked to regain her sobriety and custody of her children through accepting the support of foster care staff, substance use counselors, a therapist, and the foster parents caring for her children. Her family was restored because of the mother’s hard work and the relationship she built with the foster parents that continues even now.

 

Virtual Career Academy Prepares Youth in Foster Care to Move Ahead

person sitting at table writing in notebookIn 2020 when COVID cancelled in-person career training for youth in foster care, staff in the Fairfax County Departments of Family Services and Neighborhood and Community Services partnered to develop our own program to prepare students for the transition into the working world. Find out more about this program and its impact for the amazing youth who participated.

 

Back-to-School and Diaper Drives Provide Supplies for Hundreds of Children Involved with Family Services

two people standing next to vanVolunteer & Partner Services ran a successful Back-to-School Drive this year that helped to support children in foster care. VPS connected with different donors in the community to not only collect backpacks filled with supplies, but also gift cards for older students and additional supplies. Sponsors, Touching Heart and Camp Christmas in July, provided nearly 700 backpacks filled with school supplies. In addition, other community sponsors like Alice’s Kids provided more than 100 gift cards and additional school supplies. Learn more about their generosity for children involved with Children, Youth and Families.

Foster the Family D.C. Offers Support for Foster Families

red and blue duck toys, baby bottle, baby accessoriesFoster and kinship placements often happen with little notice, and it’s unlikely to have all the supplies children need right away. Finding the time to gather formula, diapers, or a winter coat in just the right size on such short notice can be a huge challenge. Foster the Family D.C. is a 501C3 non-profit that helps by delivering a foster care package to the doorstep of a foster or kinship family within 24 hours of a new placement including a family meal, new clothing, age-appropriate hygiene items, supplies and comfort items for the child(ren). Request a package online and learn about their other services including monthly support groups, special events, respite night and more.

Events Central

generic calendar graphicFormed Families Forward Support Groups for foster and adoptive parents and kinship caregivers meet monthly: an in-person group in Fairfax on third Wednesday evenings from 7-8:30 pm. and a virtual group on 1st Sunday evenings of the month 7:30-9 p.m. Register online

Formed Families Forward Stronger Together Peer Support Group for teens and young adults (ages 14-22) meets twice monthly in person on Tuesday nights from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in Fairfax City. Register online

Increasing Familiarity of Different Cultures in Multi-Racial Formed Families: A Family to Family Perspective hosted by Formed Families Forward
Virtually
Mon., Oct. 4, 2021 
7-8:30 p.m.
Formed Families Forward is hosting a virtual panel session on strategies for increasing familiarity of different cultures in multi-racial formed families and multi-racial family supports. Through the sharing of their experience, panelists will increase awareness of factors that contribute to healthy racial and cultural identity in children and youth. Register online.


Virtual Kinship Cafés hosted by the Department of Family Services’ Parenting Education Programs
Virtual Groups Meet via Zoom
Wednesday, Oct. 6, Thursdays, Oct. 14, and 28
Wednesday, Nov. 3; Thursday, Nov. 8
Wednesday, Dec. 1; Thursday, Dec. 16

Kinship caregivers can talk with others who understand how difficult and joyful it can be raising a child for a family member or friend. Join us to discuss topics such as discipline, self-care, and family rules. You can also find out about community resources that you may not have known existed. Sign up for a Kinship Café by sending an email or calling 703-324-7720 at least one business day before the Kinship Café. We look forward to you joining us!


Annual National Adoption Awareness Month Celebration hosted by Fairfax County Foster Care and Adoption
Virtual
Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021
1-2:30 p.m.

Featuring fun interactive experiences for the whole family that you won’t want to miss! Contact Anne Goldberg by email or call 703-324-7153 for more information or to RSVP.


The county is offering some in-person events at county facilities. In addition, our partners at Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services, Fairfax County Public Library, and the Fairfax County Park Authority continue providing exploration and fun through online resources. 

Department of Family Services graphic logoThe Department of Family Services supports families and county residents of all ages and stages of life – and that definitely includes foster parents and families! Like and Follow @FairfaxCountyFamilyServices for news, events, tips, stories, training opportunities and more.



Each newsletter will include this section to help answer questions, spotlight the people who support foster families, highlight the donors and sponsors who generously give to foster care programs and activities and friendly reminders for foster families to sign-up for trainings.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

question marksQuestion: What do I do if my child gets sick?

Answer: The Medical Authorization form, which is given to foster parents at the time of the child’s arrival, explains explicitly what to do in a medical emergency. If a child has a fever or illness afterhours, foster parents can take them to the emergency room or any medical facility that accepts that child’s insurance. Foster parents are asked to call the Foster Parent Support Line at 703-257-3974 to inform the on-call person that the child will be taken to the emergency room. Foster parents should take the Medical Authorization form and Provider Agreement with them in case the facility asks for it.

Check out other frequently asked questions and answers from past issues.

STORY IN STATISTICS

Services for Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care

Youth ages 14 and older transitioning out of foster are eligible to participate in services and programs paid for or provided by the state agency through the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Programs. Nationally, the percentage of youth who received these services decreased between 2015 and 2018. Percentages are based on the total number of young people ages 14 and older who received any services through CFCIP in FY2015 and FY2018.

Percentage of Youth Who Receive John H. Chafee
Foster Care Independence Services Decreases Nationally*

Types of Services 2015 2018
Career preparation services. 39%

31%

Employment program or vocational training services. 23% 17%
Post-secondary education support services. 28% 20%
Health education and risk prevention services. 37%

33%

Budget and financial management assistance. 36% 33%

*Source: KidsCount.org

Story in Statistics - Percentage of Eligible Youth Who Receive John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Services Decrease Nationally graphic

FOSTER CARE MYTHS

There are a lot of misconceptions about foster care, foster parents, and the children and families involved. This section aims to dispel some of those notions and provide clarity for those interested in supporting foster care.

Myth: You can’t work full time.

Fact: Many foster parents work outside the home. There is Child Care assistance available to help defray the costs.

Check out other myths from past issues.

TRAININGS AND CONFERENCES (For Fairfax County Foster Parents Only)

orange mechanical gearsFoster to Adopt
Thursday, Oct. 14 and 21, 2021
6:30-8:30pm
Virtual

Come learn about the transition from fostering to adopting and meet other families considering the same process. The training will cover issues such as transracial adoption and cultural sensitivity; the impact of adoption on child development; ongoing birth family and sibling contact; Adoption Assistance and resources. RSVP to Zachary Landau by Friday, Oct. 8, 2021.


Foster Parent College Training Highlight
Foster Parent College (FPC) is a great way to obtain training on key topics from the safety and comfort of your home. FPC provides newly approved and seasoned foster parents with a curriculum designed to build new skills and reinforce information acquired from New Generation PRIDE (formerly PRIDE). As approved foster parents with Fairfax County, all classes are free and available to you 24/7. You may choose to take any class you believe will be helpful for your own personal growth and development.

Working with Birth Parents: Visitation
Charley Joyce, LICSW explores problems and solutions relating to birth parent visits. Mr. Joyce discusses the three phases of the visitation process and identifies strategies foster parents can use to make visits positive and productive. The role of the foster parent during visits and the benefits for foster children of birth parent visits are covered.

*The training will take approximately 1.0 hour to complete and fulfills 2.0 hours of on-line in-service training. You may take the class at your own pace.

Register Online

  • Log In with your log in credentials.
  • Scroll and select the course titled – Working with Birth Parents: Visitation (under the Parenting Strategies tab).
  • Select Enroll to begin the course.

If you have questions or need additional support, please reach out to one of the in-service trainers; Terri Williams-Henderson or Palinda Gaines. You may also contact FPC at (541) 343-6636 or toll free at 1-800-777-6636, (PT) for technical difficulties.  As always, once a class is completed, please email the certificate to either Palinda Gaines (if your last name begins with A-J) or Terri Williams-Henderson (if your last name begins with K-Z).


Orientation
Inservice (For certified Fairfax County foster parents. Registration required.)
Learn more and save the dates for upcoming trainings and conferences.

SUGGESTIONS

envelopeWhat do you want to see in Foster Family News?

Submit your suggestions to Angela Morlu.

 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Check out past issues of Foster Family News.

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