Welcome to the 2023 April 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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Through May 31, 2023, VDSS is piloting the use of Exceptional Circumstances Payments of $3000 per month (pro-rated) per household to foster parents. These payments utilize funding made available through budget amendments specifically to address the issue of children in foster care with high level behavioral concerns who are waiting for a placement. The foster parent(s) may use the payment for any items or service which enables them to provide near constant supervision of the child such as taking a period of leave from employment during an exceptional circumstance. Through this pilot VDSS will evaluate whether the exceptional circumstances payments reduce the number of children who become at-risk of or are displaced. Information gathered during the pilot will determine if and how title IV-E and Children's Services Act funding streams can be utilized to maintain these payments in the future. If you are interested in being a part of this pilot, contact Kamonya Omatete at 703-324-7652 for more information.
We know that sometimes it can be hard for our foster parents to find the time for training hours – even though you know it’s important, and more importantly, mandatory. When you’re struggling to get your annual 10 hours done, remember that continuing education will help you develop skills to face the unique challenges of foster parenting. These new skills and strategies can help prevent burnout along your journey. Check out these resources for training.
Did you know that the state of Virginia allows individuals over the age of 18 to request their adoption records as well as request a search for their birth family members? Check out this story of how staff in our Post-Permanency and Life Skills Unit successfully supported a family with a son who said “I wasn’t content with the amount of information I had and I wanted to find out more” about the birth family he had never known.
Visit our 2023 Child Abuse Prevention Month website. It’s full of community resources and services that help build strong families and keep children safe and healthy. This year’s theme for Child Abuse Prevention Month is Your Time Matters to Your Kids. We’re encouraging parents and caregivers to make regular time every day for quick activities that bring joy to them and their children. Learn how to raise awareness through planting pinwheel gardens, how to support families and promote an end to child abuse and neglect in our community.
Our intern Megan is a student at George Mason University working toward her Master of Social Work; however, her pathway to this career is not what you might expect. Learn about how she pivoted from teaching in higher education to pursuing a new career in child welfare.
Child Abuse Prevention Month Wear Blue Day
Friday, March 31
10 -11:30 a.m.
Show your support for children in our community by wearing blue and posting a #WearBlueDay photo on social media as part of this statewide initiative. If you email photos to us with the hashtag #WearBlueDay your pics may be displayed on our Facebook page.
CATCH My Breath hosted by Formed Families Forward and Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services
Tuesdays, April 11 to May 2
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center
3740 Blenheim Boulevard
Fairfax, VA 22030
This FREE class uses social skills activities to promote healthy choices in and out of school. The course for middle schoolers is facilitated by trained young adults. Pizza dinner is served every session and youth who participate regularly earn gift cards! 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.
Dad’s Gatherings hosted by Foster the Family D.C.
Saturday, April 22
8 a.m.
Foster, adoptive, and kinship dads are welcome to join our informal breakfast for dads that meets every other month on Saturday mornings in Merrifield, VA. At our next gathering on April 22nd, we will be joined by David Steele, an expert in attachment theory, internal family systems, trauma and much more. Learn more or register online.
FCPS 18th Annual Special Education Conference 2022
Unity Within our FCPS Community. Every Student. Every Educator. Every Family.
Saturday, April 29, 2022
Virtual
This Special Education Conference will be held with a combination of synchronous (live) and asynchronous (recorded) sessions. Open to parents, community members, FCPS educators, administrators, and preservice teachers. Guest speakers are well-known professionals in the community and will cover a variety of high interest topics for parents, FCPS educators, and administrators. Learn more about the conference and how to register.
5K and Family Fun Day hosted by Foster the Family D.C.
Saturday, May 6, 2023
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Lake Fairfax Park
(Large Shelter Area - Follow the signs)
1400 Lake Fairfax Drive
Reston, VA 20190
This event will benefit kids in foster care and their families. It’s open to all foster, adoptive, kinship families and members of the community. Activities include a fun run, pony rides, face painting, game, raffle prizes, snow cones, and more. Register online! Foster, adoptive, and kinship families will get 50% off general admission with this code: FTFDC5K2023
Mother’s Day Events hosted by Foster the Family D.C.
Saturday, May 13 Brunch in Manassas, VA
Monday, May 15 Dinner in Rockville, MD & Dinner at Matchbox in Merrifield
There are three mother’s day events planned for foster, adoptive, and kinship moms. Each mom who attends will get a free meal and gift in honor of Mother’s Day.
For more information.
Foster Parent Appreciation Dinner and Movie hosted by Foster the Family D.C. and Fairfax County Department of Family Services (For Fairfax County Foster and Adoptive Parents Only)
Saturday, June 10, 2023
Dinner and activities at 6 p.m.
Movie begins at sunset, around 7:30 p.m.
Fairfax Church of Christ
3901 Rugby Road
Fairfax, VA 22033
This is an outdoor event. Please, bring a blanket or some lawn chairs! Register online by Friday, June 2, 2023. For more information, please contact Rosario Phelps.
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 April 20 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 a virtual group meeting on the first Sunday of each month from 7:30-9 p.m. The in-person group is on hiatus. 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.
Who is permitted to babysit?
Answer: Anybody the foster parent deems is fit to take care of their child in the parent’s absence can babysit a foster child. The Department of Family Services does not need background checks for babysitters. The expectation is that the foster parent has vetted a potential babysitter and this is not ongoing childcare or daycare. A child’s special needs should be considered by the foster parent when choosing a babysitter. Note that we do need background checks on childcare providers for the children in care.
Check out other frequently asked questions and answers from past issues.
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