Welcome to the 2023 March issue of Foster Family News, a monthly newsletter for current and potential Fairfax County foster parents. Our monthly newsletter shares resources, news, tips, events, and trainings relevant to foster and adoptive parents, children in care, and the resource workers who support them.
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Have you ever heard of the “emotional bank account”? Everyone has things that make them feel positive, safe, close, and connected to another person; as well as things that annoy us, hurt our feelings, or make us feel distant or disconnected. Check out this article from the staff at our Parenting Education Programs to learn to keep your child’s account balanced.
Check out this DFS Spotlight on Karen Chaudhry, LCSW, a Resource and Support Specialist for Foster Care and Adoption. Karen is embracing a second career path in the field of social work. She shares what makes working for our child welfare team unique and how much she enjoys working with our resource families as they strive to meet the child’s needs. During National Social Work Month, it’s a great time to get to know Karen and find out why she values working for DFS Children, Youth, and Families.
Check out this story of how staff in our South County Foster Care Unit collaborated across agency programs to create permanency and lifelong connections for a newborn baby who came into care due to substance use by his mother. In the process, staff raised up a village to care for baby Joseph, and helped to support his ethnic, familial, and cultural ties.
Our partners at Foster the Family D.C. recently hosted a site visit with a team from Children, Youth, and Families including Rylynn, our facility dog. It was a great opportunity to learn more about this organization and the work they do to make life less stressful for foster, adoptive, and kinship families in our region. Learn more.
When Annemarie Rainwater moved into her eighth foster home at age 15, she was scared and wondered how long she would be welcome at her new home. She had been let down before and had a hard time trusting anyone to really be there for her. Check out this story of how in spite of some bumps along the way, she began to not only trust, but adore the family who would eventually become her biggest supporters.
The social work profession is so diverse. Social workers work in many different places, including schools, hospitals, mental health practices, veteran centers, and local child welfare agencies like ours — to name a few. Despite that diversity, social work professionals share a common dedication to helping people achieve their own potential. Each day social workers help break down barriers that prevent people from living more fulfilling, enriched lives. They work on the individual level, helping people overcome personal crises like food insecurity, lack of affordable housing, or limited access to good health care. They also advocate on a systems level to ensure laws and policies are adopted so everyone can access such services. In child welfare, they help protect children, prevent child abuse and neglect, and support families by helping them remain together safely. Learn more about the work being done by social workers in DFS.
Resource parents, please complete Virginia's 2023 Resource Parent Survey to provide the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) with valuable information related to your experience as foster parents so that we may better understand how to utilize and support Virginia’s foster families. The survey will take no more 12 minutes to complete and each family should respond only once. The deadline for completion of the survey is March 20, 2023. Participation in the survey is voluntary and the identity of respondents will remain confidential.
Neurodiversity at Middle School: How Can Families Partner with Schools? Presented by the FCPS Parent Resource Center
Friday, March 10
10-11:30 a.m.
Virtual
Join Kristen Haynor, FCPS Neurodiversity Specialist, for this webinar including strategies to set your child up for success, how to advocate for your child, tools for collaborating with your child's school. Register online.
2023 Greater Manassas St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Sunday, March 12
11 a.m.
9201 Center Street, Manassas, VA
Head to Manassas for a community parade featuring Irish dance groups, the Northern Virginia Firefighters Emerald Society Pipe and Drum, Washington Scottish Pipe and Drum, Fairfax County Sheriff’s Coalition Pipe and Drum, the Marine Corps Color Guard, and other area groups and organizations.
You Are Not Alone 5k Fun Run
Saturday, March 25
7:30 a.m.
5870 Kingstowne Blvd.
Alexandria, VA
ConnerStrong Foundation, in partnership with Supervisor Rodney Lusk’s office (Franconia District Supervisor) and Celebrate Fairfax, is starting the spring season with this community event. On hand will also be local community-based resources and organizations who provide various wellness, mental health and suicide prevention goods and services. Learn more.
10th Annual Spring Forward Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Family Fun Day, hosted by Formed Families Forward
Saturday, April 22
8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
10900 University Boulevard
Manassas, VA 20110
While parents, caregivers and professionals are enjoying sessions presented by experts in education and support of foster, adoptive, and kinship families, children age 4 and older will have a blast at GMU's outdoor experiential learning program "The EDGE." Learn more or register online.
The 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.
Virtual Kinship Cafés hosted by the Department of Family Services’ Parenting Education Programs
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. The next Kinship Café will be held March 15 for a general discussion. Register by email or call 703-324-7720.
National Kinship Caregiver Support Group hosted by A Second Chance Kinship Care
Monthly on the Second Tuesday
6-8 p.m.
Groups will alternate between in person and virtual meetings through July 2023. RSVP to Jasmine Dukes by email or call 703-228-1556.
Formed Families Forward Peer Support Groups for foster and adoptive parents and kinship caregivers. Each month, there's an in-person group in Fairfax meeting the third Wednesday from 7-8:30 p.m. and a virtual group meeting on the first Sunday from 7:30-9 p.m. Register online.
Formed Families Forward Stronger Together Youth Support Groups for teens and young adults (ages 14-22) meets weekly in person on Thursdays, February 9 through March 30 from 6:30-8 p.m. in Fairfax City. Professional clinicians facilitate this peer support group which introduces skills youth can use to navigate everyday challenges and personal growth. A light dinner will be served each evening. FREE of charge but regular weekly attendance is expected. Register online.
Foster the Family D.C. Support Groups for foster and adoptive parents – 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. 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.
What is Fostering Futures?
Answer: In Virginia, the 2016 Appropriations Act (item 346 #3c) authorized the extension of foster care to up to age 21, in a program known as Fostering Futures, for youth who reach age 18 on or after July 1, 2016 and:
- Were in foster care at the time they turned 18 years old but have not yet turned 21.
- Were released from Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) between ages 18 and 21 and who were in foster care in custody of a Virginia LDSS immediately prior to the commitment to DJJ.
Youth must meet at least one of these five criteria to continue to be eligible for the program:
- Completing secondary education or in a GED program
- Enrolled in college or a vocational program
- Attending classes to promote employment or remove barriers to employment
- Working at least 80 hours per month, or
- Unable to meet one of the four conditions above due to a documented medical reason.
Check out other frequently asked questions and answers from past issues.
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