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 December

Foster Family Newsletter banner

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

Table of Contents
  • The Hardin Family’s Foster Care and Adoption Story
  • Pilot Program Connects Kids in Foster Care to Relatives in 30 Days
  • Keep it Confidential – It’s the Law!
  • Celebrating Adoption Month – A Message from our DFS Directors
  • Foster Care and Adoption Specialist, Kendall McFarland Joins the County Conversation Podcast
  • Childhood Experiences Matter More than Gifts
  • Events Central
  • Frequently Asked Question: How do I identify a medical provider for a child placed in my home?
  • Story in Statistics: FY 2020 Foster Care Stats
  • Foster Care Myths: Foster parents are responsible for providing medical Insurance for children in foster care.
  • Trainings and Conferences

 

The Hardin Family’s Foster Care and Adoption Story

screenshot Danita Hardin and seven childrenMeet Danita, a retired teacher turned full-time mom who devotes herself to caring for her growing family of eight children. Over time, as it became clear that the children would not be able to return to their birth families, Danita adopted two sets of siblings and one teenager from foster care. She is caring for another child in foster care. In a home overflowing with such love and laughter, there is never a dull moment. Danita Hardin is licensed and supported by our partner organization, For Children’s Sake of Virginia, which offers therapeutic foster care and services for families. We appreciate their partnership in the creation of this video. Check it out the to learn more about their story and how we help connect children with forever families through adoption.

Pilot Program Connects Kids in Foster Care to Relatives in 30 Days

adult and child sitting closely and smiling, black and white photoStaff in Fairfax County Foster Care and Adoption’s Permanency and Life Skills Unit recently piloted a new initiative to connect children in foster care with safe and appropriate relatives within 30 days of entering foster care.

Learn more about the Family Engagement Model and how it could impact foster care. 

 

Keep it Confidential – It’s the Law!

two hands holding sign that says the word privateBecoming a part of the team caring for children in the Fairfax County Foster Care and Adoption Program is a great responsibility. The children in care have experienced the trauma of abuse and neglect, and the adults who come into their lives must extend love and compassion for those children to help them move forward successfully. Check out this reminder of the lists of rules foster parents need to follow to keep the confidentiality of those children in their care.

Celebrating Adoption Month – A Message from our DFS Directors

screenshot Michael Becketts speakingFairfax County Foster Care and Adoption recently hosted Fairfax adoptive families for a virtual celebration of families Woven Together by Love.

This event featured a Nailed It: Adoption Edition Baking Challenge, as well as interactive games and prizes. There was a short presentation by Jennifer Surratt, LCSW the Director of Programs for C2Adopt, a Virginia-licensed child placing agency offering training, placement services, clinical counseling and post adoption support to anyone whose life has been touched by adoption.

In case you missed the event, check out this affirming welcome message from our agency directors thanking all the adoptive families in our community.  

Foster Care and Adoption Specialist, Kendall McFarland Joins the County Conversation Podcast

Kendall McFarlandDuring Adoption Month in November, Kendall McFarland, Foster Care and Adoption specialist with the Department of Family Services was a guest on the County Conversation podcast.

Check out her conversation with host, Bob Demarco, about the ways the department supports families in their foster to adopt journey.

McFarland also shares about the increased need for family members and friends who are willing to foster and even adopt children when parents are unable to care for them.

Childhood Experiences Matter More than Gifts

adult outside looking at holiday decorated treeDid you know that research shows giving children experiences is better than giving them toys or gadgets? Instead of fighting the crowds in the mall or shopping endlessly online for the perfect gift, take that time to plan and experience a family activity. It could even be an activity that incorporates giving and cultivates gratitude. Check out a variety of helpful tips.

Events Central

generic calendar graphicSeasonal Events in the Parks
Fairfax County Park Authority is offering a variety of festive fun events this season! Enjoy a magical ride through a park, take in a holiday show or take a trip back in time to see how previous Fairfax County residents celebrated the holidays. Get more information and register for the seasonal events.


Formed 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


Virtual Kinship Cafés hosted by the Department of Family Services’ Parenting Education Programs
Virtual Groups Meet via Zoom on the first Wednesday and third Thursday of each month from 6:30-8 p.m.

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!


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: How do I identify a medical provider for a child placed in my home?

Answer: First, speak with their foster care specialist about previous medical providers the child has had. When possible, try to maintain the relationship your child has had with previous medical providers. If, however, your child does not have a primary doctor or maintaining that provider is not realistic, medical providers should be located through the Medicaid directory. Please speak with your foster care specialist when exploring new providers, because they may already have knowledge of medical/dental providers that accept new patients and Medicaid. They may also want you to choose a provider close to the birth family or relative home, if reunification is the plan. This helps ensure continuity of medical care for a child when they leave foster care. For youth who are undocumented, foster parents in conjunction with the child’s specialist can select a provider and the Department is responsible for medical costs.

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

STORY IN STATISTICS

FY 2020 Foster Care Stats

  • 76 children entered Fairfax County foster care in FY 2020. 
  • Of the children in foster care in Fairfax, 51% are girls and 49% are boys.
  • 62% of children in Foster Care in Fairfax County are in foster homes, 9% are in congregate care, and 12% are in relative foster homes. (Remaining children are in trial home visit or Independent Living.)
  • There are approximately 120 active foster families certified through Fairfax County.
  • The average stay in Fairfax County foster care is 18 months.

Get more information like this from our annual statistics.

graphic with number of children who entered foster care in FY 2020

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: Foster parents are responsible for providing medical insurance for children in foster care.

Fact: Foster parents do not have to provide medical insurance. Children in foster care receive coverage through the state for all medical, dental, and mental health care needs. 

Check out other myths from past issues.

TRAININGS AND CONFERENCES (For Fairfax County Foster Parents Only)

orange mechanical gearsThe Four A's Approach to Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Thursdays, Jan. 27, Feb. 3, 10, and 17, 2022
6-7:30pm
Virtual via Zoom
Fairfax County foster and adoptive parents are invited to join the Fairfax County Foster Care and Adoption in partnership with The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) for a four-session workshop series about promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. The training will be presented by Marcus Stallworth, LMSW, CWLA Director, Training and Implementation. 
RSVP by sending an email to Zachary Landau by Thursday, Jan. 21, 2022.


Supporting Youth in Foster Care, Teen Years and Beyond
Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022 

Virtual
Join the Fairfax County Department of Family Services’ (DFS) Permanency and Life Skills Unit to learn about how DFS can support foster families and the youth in their home through an annual life skills assessment and the development of a transitional living plan. Families will also learn about strategies and services that aid teens in developing independent living skills to prepare them for healthy, productive lives.
RSVP by sending an email to Zachary Landau by Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022.


Foster Parent College Training Highlight (December)
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.

Noncompliance and Defiance
A family does best when there is a good deal of cooperation from all its members.  However, cooperation is not the same as blindly going along with every request.  Parents have the challenging job of helping a child balance his or her own needs and safety with the need to be a cooperative member of the family.  This course examines the spectrum of cooperation and noncompliance, from fearful cooperation to defiance, including the zone in the middle of the spectrum called self-assertion.

*The training will take approximately 2.0 hours 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 – Noncompliance and Defiance (under the Behavior Management 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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