Welcome to the 2024 February 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.
Meet Fairfax County foster parents, Christina and Anthony Perez. This couple was motivated to get their foster care license more than 10 years ago, when they offered to take in a friend’s child in an informal kinship care arrangement. Helping that family to overcome difficult circumstances and be reunified, set them on a course to foster and adopt children of all ages. Check out their story.
As foster parents, you know that raising teenagers can present lots of new challenges even for seasoned parents and caregivers. It’s important to remember that trust is the foundation of any strong relationship. Check out these suggestions from the Parenting Education Programs to build a trusting relationship with your teen. Read more.
Learn about the way a community of support formed around a brother and sister who were separated from their parents due to domestic violence and substance use. Foster Care and Adoption staff worked diligently to place them in a home where they could experience a deep well of love to sustain them through tough times. This heartwarming success story is a testament to the caring and selfless support of all those involved. Read more.
With topics like “Supporting Sexually Assaulted Children,” “Parenting After Domestic Violence,” and “How do You Showing Up for Work when the Work is Difficult?” this is a podcast that resonates with many individuals involved with child welfare and interpersonal violence, personally or professionally. This Department of Family Services podcast featuring host, Kendra Lee, along with employees and subject matter experts from Domestic and Sexual Violence Services and partner organizations covers all aspects of interpersonal violence, plus solutions and resources for support for residents of Fairfax County. Tune in and you won’t be disappointed.
Our online foster care recruitment portal, Faster Families Highway recently got a new look. The FFF portal helps families determine their readiness to become foster parents. It also helps our staff to identify families who value family reunification, safety, and permanency for children in foster care. We have also added a Faster Families Highway FAQ to the website to help families understand the Faster Families Highway application process. When you are talking to others about getting started with Fairfax County Foster Care and Adoption, please point them to our website to access the Faster Families Highway Portal to complete an online form. Only once this is completed, will families be invited to an information session with our staff.
Spring Forward Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Family Fun Day
Saturday, April 13, 2024
8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
George Mason University’s Science and Technology Campus
Manassas, VA
National trauma and resiliency expert and author Jessica Sinarski, LPCMH, will kick off the day for parents, caregivers and professionals. Following the keynote, adults can visit exhibitors and then choose from a variety of great breakout sessions led by education, mental health and other experts. Designed just for formed families and professionals who work with them. Learn more.
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.
A variety of organizations offer support to adoptive, foster, and kinship care families in our region. Register online for a preferred support group.
Thursdays, Feb. 1 and Mar 7, 6:30-8 p.m. – Formed Families Forward Virtual Fairfax Kinship Support Group for caregivers to safely share their experiences, concerns, and frustrations with their peers. In partnership with Fairfax County Government.
Sundays, Feb. 4 and Mar. 3, 7:30-9 p.m. – Formed Families Forward Virtual Peer Support Groups for foster, adoptive, and kinship families to support and encourage each other.
Saturday, Feb. 10, 8-9:30 a.m. and Feb. 24, 9-10:30 a.m. – Foster the Family D.C. Dad’s Breakfast for foster, kinship, and adoptive dads throughout the region.
Mondays, Feb. 12 and March 11, 6:30-8 p.m. – Foster the Family D.C. Support Groups for foster, kinship, and adoptive moms throughout the region.
Thursday, Feb. 15 and Mar. 21, 6:15-8 p.m. – Formed Families Forward In-Person Fairfax Kinship Support Group for caregivers to safely share their experiences, concerns, and frustrations with their peers. Dinner and child care provided. In partnership with Fairfax County Government.
Wednesday, Feb. 21, 7-8:30 p.m. – Formed Families Forward in-Person Peer Support Groups for foster, adoptive, and kinship families.
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 about transportation?
Answer: DFS foster parents’ primary responsibilities include: transportation of the child to and from community activities, school/college; recreation/leisure time activities; therapy; medical appointments; and Family Partnership Meetings (FPMs). It is important for foster parents to accompany the child for medical and psychological appointments.
Dependent on the foster parent’s employment and family commitments, DFS will support foster parents by sharing responsibilities on transportation related to court hearings, birth parent/child visitations, FAPT meetings, and training events related to independent living programs. Read more about these responsibilities and services to support foster parents such as mileage reimbursement in the full answer on our FAQ page.
Check out other frequently asked questions and answers from past issues.
What do you want to see in Foster Family News?