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 – 2022 May

Foster Family News banner graphic

Welcome to the 2022 May issue of Foster Family News, a monthly newsletter for current and potential Fairfax County foster parents.

Table of Contents
  • May is Foster Care Month
  • New Video: African American Hair Care for Transracial Foster and Adoptive Families
  • Unit Success Stories: Life Skills Services Help Foster Youth Transition to a Bright Future  
  • Milestones: Foster Parent Length of Service Recognition
  • Appreciating Our New Foster Parents 2021-2022
  • Events Central
  • Kinship Corner
  • Support Groups
  • Frequently Asked Question: How do we register youth for free classes at rec centers?  
  • Story in Statistics: Children entering foster care 
  • Foster Care Myths: Parenting a foster child could hurt your children. 
  • Trainings and Conferences

 

May is Foster Care Month

colorful Thank You graphic During Foster Care Month, in Fairfax we recognize the role of foster families in providing children with opportunities to be part of safe, caring families, and helping them connect to permanent homes through reunification, permanent placement with relatives, or preparation for adoption. Thank you to all Fairfax County foster parents for your commitment to providing homes for the approximately 200 children in foster care while helping their biological families enhance their relationship with their children in support of family stability. 

Fairfax County resource families, be on the lookout for a mailing from the department this month and an email video message for a training.

We encourage everyone to visit our Community Engagement Toolkit for ways to spread the message, and check out the resources at National Foster Care Month - Child Welfare Information Gateway.

New Video: African American Hair Care for Transracial Foster and Adoptive Families

African American Hair Care Basics graphic with child​We developed this new video help foster and adoptive parents who have made the decision to embrace an intimate part of Black culture . . . hair care. Hair in Black communities can be an intense source of pride and beauty.

To some, learning about Black hair care may not seem important compared to the loss and grief many adopted and fostered children must come to terms with as they discover who they are. Nevertheless, for Black children, their hair is an identity they may not fully understand, but it offers a unique connection to culture, and lineage rooted in them from birth.

If you are thinking that looks aren’t everything, you’re right! But having confidence in who you are IS!! and with that, learn natural haircare basics that will help you and your children have confidence in caring for and wearing natural hair.

Unit Success Stories: Life Skills Services Help Foster Youth Transition to a Bright Future 

Post-Permanency and Life Skills UnitWe’re shining a spotlight on the work of our Post-Permanency and Life Skills Unit. One of the things that drives their work is knowing that foster youth are less likely to graduate from high school. Check out how our Life Skills services helped one youth to get plugged into a professional training program after graduation. Check out the story.  

Milestones: Foster Parent Length of Service Recognition 2022

trophy with star glitterWe love our foster parents, or resource parents as we like to call them! So, this is the time we say THANK YOU! to the resource parents who have reached important milestones with our program. Each year we recognize those who have served as been fostering children for a notable length of time in five-year increments. Here is our Shoutout to the longtimers! We hope each of our resource parents will be honored in coming years. 

Appreciating Our New Foster Parents 2021-2022

potential foster parents reviewing paperworkWe would like to acknowledge the foster parents who completed the training and certification process between May 2021 and April 2022.

We celebrate the success of certifying 35 new resource families in the last year. Learn More!

 

EVENTS CENTRAL

generic calendar graphicLocal Theater Productions

It’s spring musical season! Check out the MANY theatre productions happening across FCPS schools this month and get your tickets today! It’s an affordable way to increase a child’s cultural awareness, and it’s just fun!  See the FCPS Performing Arts calendar for a list of productions. 


2022 Latinx Outreach Summit hosted by Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC)
Saturday, May 14

9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Virginia Crossings Hotel & Conference Center
1000 Virginia Center Parkway
Glen Allen, VA 23059

This Summit provides a safe space for discussion and action to create better conditions for the Latinx community in Virginia. This ONE DAY Summit brings together families and professionals to better understand diversity, culture, special education, and learn more about the needs of our community. Learn more Spanish / English.


Special Education Workshop Series hosted by Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC)
Join this virtual workshop series for parents and professionals who want to learn more about special education in Virginia. You can attend one, some, or all of these informative workshops! Each session begins at 6:30 p.m. Register online.
May 4: From Referral to Eligibility: A Deeper Dive 
May 25: Anatomy of an IEP
June 8: Measurable IEP Goals
June 22: How To Talk So Schools Will Listen (And Listen So Schools Will Talk)
July 6: Dispute Resolution Options in Virginia


Summer 2022 Camps
Check out this helpful guide compiled by Formed Families Forward of summer 2022 camps, therapeutic recreation and other programs for children and youth with special needs in the Northern Virginia region. 


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.

KINSHIP CORNER

Virtual Kinship Cafés hosted by the Department of Family Services’ Parenting Education Programs
First Wednesday and Third Thursday Monthly
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 communication, self-care, and family dynamics. Register by email or call 703-324-7720.

  • May 4, we’ll discuss Building Children and Teens’ Self-Esteem Through Praise.
  • June 1, we’ll share tips on Relative Caregiving – Lessons Learned
SUPPORT GROUPS

Formed Families Forward Support Groups for foster and adoptive parents and kinship caregivers meet monthly. There is an in-person group in Fairfax on third Wednesday evenings from 7-8:30 p.m. and a virtual group on first 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


Foster the Family Support Groups for foster and adoptive moms – In-person support groups are available in Fairfax County, Eastern Prince William County, Western Prince William County, and Montgomery County. Each group meets one evening a month from 6:30-8 p.m. Visit Foster the Family D.C. for a complete schedule, to learn more about the group nearest to you, or to register online.



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 we register youth for free classes at rec centers?

Answer: The Fairfax County Park Authority offers a variety of activities, classes, programing, and recreation centers for county residents. Fairfax County youth in foster care often meet the criteria for scholarships or reduced fees for Park Authority classes. Find out more information about qualification criteria and steps to apply for fee waivers and scholarships.

In addition, Fairfax County Park Authority offers Rec-PAC Summer programs, and therapeutic recreational camp programs are available through Neighborhood Community Services.



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

STORY IN STATISTICS

83 children entered foster care in Fairfax County in FY 2021.

graphic for 83 children entering foster care in FY2021

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: Parenting a foster child could hurt your children.

Fact: Whether you’re fostering, adopting, having a new biological child or blending families together through marriage, adding a child(ren) to your home will change your family’s dynamics. That is to be expected. Sibling rivalries could emerge from feelings of being “replaced” or their unfamiliarity with having to share a parent's attention. 

In the beginning it may seem like these adjustments are overwhelming. But children are adaptable, and though it might take some time, hang in there. Over time, most parents find that the lessons learned from these experiences ultimately have positive effects on their children.

Children often become less selfish, more flexible, caring, and empathetic, and more willing to share as a result of growing up in a home with children in foster care. 

Being part of a foster family helps kids learn valuable life lessons and it encourages them to hone lifelong skills in hospitality and acceptance.



Check out other myths from past issues.

TRAININGS AND CONFERENCES (For Fairfax County Foster Parents Only)

orange mechanical gearsFoster Parent College Training Highlight (May 2022)
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.

Grief and Loss in the Foster Care System
Grieving is a natural reaction to a major loss. Grief progresses through stages, is manifested in a variety of ways, and can become stuck in what is termed “Complex Grief.” This course examines the stages of grief as experienced by children, birth families and foster families.

*The training will take approximately 1.0 hour to complete and fulfills 2.0 hours of online 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 –  Grief and Loss in the Foster Care System (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.

Sign-up for Foster Care and Adoption Information

We’d love to keep in touch with you. Receive notifications about news and events, topics of interest, upcoming meetings, services for foster/adoptive families, and our free monthly newsletter the Foster Family News.

 

Fairfax Virtual Assistant