Welcome to the 2025 October 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. 

Kinship caregivers are everyday heroes. They step up when family is needed most, ensuring that children stay connected to their roots and loved ones. During Kinship Care Awareness Month in September, Department of Family Services Foster Care and Adoption partnered with Project Belong to honor these incredible families who have opened their hearts and homes to the children of relatives. Read more about this generous outpouring.

 

The 10th Annual Kinship Symposium took place on Friday, September 26 in Crystal City. It can only be described as heartwarming and inspiring for everyone in attendance. Participants were captivated by the keynote Speaker Terry Harrak. The youth panel shared their blessing and struggles. It was a meaningful day filled with powerful stories, and it lived up to the conference theme of “Promoting kinship bonds for youth; foster care and beyond.” Learn more.

When a baby girl was born showing signs of withdrawal and testing positive for substances, she was placed in foster care at just seven days old. With her mother homeless and unable to provide stability, the specialists in the Annandale Unit began searching for her father. Once he got over the shock, his fierce response surprised everyone. Learn more.

Effective October 1, 2025, the Virginia Department of Social Services transitioned away from PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information, Development, and Education) and TOCC (Traditions of Caring and Collaborating Model of Practice). The new state endorsed foster parent curriculum is the National Training and Development Curriculum for Foster and Adoptive Parents (NTDC). Learn more about this highly effective curriculum that is based on research and input from experts, families who have experience with fostering or adopting children, and former foster and adoptive youth.
 

Young people in our community continue to report lower rates of mental health concerns in more recent years, according to the 2024-2025 Fairfax County Youth Survey. Overall, youth in Fairfax County report prevalence rates near historic lows for risky behaviors, including substance use and sexual activity. However, there remain some challenges. In addition to shedding light on students’ behaviors and experiences, the survey also identifies ways that parents, caregivers, educators and adults in the community can actively help teens succeed and avoid or reduce risky behaviors.
 

Ah, fall—that season where you have permission to slow down and indulge yourself. The shorter, cooler days give way to cozy rituals that focus on pampering you. And fall invites opportunity for realignment and growth. This can include setting new intentions for the season, preparing for the upcoming holidays, reconnecting with your daily routine, and building different daily habits. Check out these 10 activities to prioritize emotional well-being as the seasons change.

Back to top

Monthly Foster Care Information Meeting
Tuesday, October 14
6:45-8:30 p.m.
Are you curious about becoming a foster parent? Are you or someone close to you ready for the next step to help children that need a temporary home? We need more foster parents, and information meetings are one of the ways we get to know prospective parents. Information meetings for prospective parents are by invitation only. To attend the meeting first complete a short interest form to help us get to know you better, and you will be contacted promptly by one of our specialists. The full 2025 meeting schedule and additional information are available online. Check it out and share it with others who might be interested.

Family Fall Festival hosted by Foster the Family
Saturday, October 18
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Canal Park
2nd Street SE
Washington, D.C. 20003 
Open to all fully licensed resource parents and kinship parents (includes guardianship and adoptive families whose homes are still open).

Kids Day Out (Previously known as Respite Nights) hosted by Foster the Family D.C.
Occasional Kids Day Out events offered on Saturday evenings in three counties in the DMV area. During a Kids Day Out, we provide 3 hours of free child care in a safe, fun, trauma informed space. These events are for any children, ages up to 12 years old in the home of local foster, adoptive, and kinship families. Spots are limited and first come, first serve. Registration will close the Monday before the Kids Day Out. 

• October 11 in Washington D.C.: Register Here
• October 25 in Fairfax, VA: Register Here

Save the Date - Winter Wonderland 2025, hosted by Foster the Family D.C.
Saturday, December 6
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
3901 Rugby Rd
Fairfax, VA 22033
The annual holiday celebration is coming back! Save the Date for a festive holiday event for the whole family. Registration will open in early November!

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. 

Sunday, Oct. 5, 7:30-9 p.m. – Formed Families Forward Virtual Peer Support Groups for foster, adoptive, and kinship families.

Monday, Oct. 13, 6:30-8 p.m. – Foster the Family D.C. Support Groups for foster, kinship, and adoptive moms throughout the region. Support group attendance may count towards training and recertification hours. Childcare registration is limited and will close by Friday, Sept. 5.

• Prince William County, Register Here
• Fairfax County, Register Here
• Montgomery County, Register Here
• Virtual Support Group, Email to be added to the list
• Alexandria, VA on Tuesday, Oct. 21: Register Here (*No childcare available!)   

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 7-8:30 p.m. – Formed Families Forward in-Person Peer Support Groups for foster, adoptive, and kinship families.

Tuesday, Oct. 21 & 28; Nov. 4 & 11, 6-7:30 p.m. – Stronger Together Youth and Young Adult Peer Support Groups (in-person) for teens and young adults age 14-22 who have lived experience. Group meetings are facilitated by a mental health professional and a young adult peer co-facilitator. A light dinner is served.

Back to top

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.

How do we engage relatives in the foster care process?

Answer: Searching for and engaging relatives is an ongoing process throughout the child’s involvement with the child welfare system. It should begin as soon as the child is at risk of being placed outside of the home and continue with a sense of urgency until the child has achieved permanency.

Even when placed in safe and loving foster homes, children often want a connection to their biological family. Relatives and other individuals can provide important connections and support for the child at risk of or in foster care. They can help the child in preventing foster care, during the foster care experience, in transitioning to permanency, and throughout adulthood. Strong connections with family members provide the child with stability, long-term safety nets, and the necessary foundations for success in adulthood.

Within 30 calendar days (5 days when feasible) after the separation of a child from the custody of the parent(s) (Social Security Act, Title IV, § 471 (a) (29) [42 USC 671]), the Department shall notify in writing all grandparents and other adult relatives, both maternal and paternal. The purpose of the written notice is to explain to the relative options they have to participate in the care and placement of the child, in an effort to establish permanency for the child.

The goal of reunifying the child with birth parents or prior custodians is, in most cases, the best plan for a child.  However, ongoing engagement of relatives allows for the concurrent goal of adoption by a relative or placement with a relative.  Engaging relatives can reduce the number of children aging out of foster care without a permanent family and increases the number of children leaving foster care to a permanent, safe, and loving home.

The process of engaging relatives should be guided by the desires and needs of the child, consistent with the child’s developmental level. The child should be involved as soon as possible in the process, taking into account the child’s circumstances and best interests.

As family members are identified, opportunities for reconnecting and re-engaging them in the child’s life should be explored.
When family members indicate interest in connecting with the child, the Department will engage these individuals to gather information, build relationships, and explore relative placement options for the child.

Relationships with family members and other adults should be reconsidered throughout the child’s involvement with the child welfare system. The child’s needs and desires, and the individual’s circumstances may change over time. Someone who initially was not able to assist the child may be a valuable resource at another time.

(Information adapted from Virginia DSS Foster Care Policy Manual.)

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