Get to know staff in the Reston Foster Care Unit. Their goal is helping children in the foster care system achieve permanency through reunification with their birth parents. At the same time, the unit also works toward permanency through placements with relatives, if possible. The unit is always working with children and youth to ensure their safety and well-being in every environment they are in. Supervisor Jessica Johnson answers a few questions about the unit.
Foster Family News: What is your background as a manager?
Jessica Johnson: I have been the Foster Care Supervisor of the Reston Foster Care Unit since 2013. Prior to this position I was a Foster Care Specialist III and II in three different units between 2006 and 2013.
FFN: What is your philosophy of social work?
JJ: One of the overarching values that I have held throughout my social work and child welfare career is that everyone has the capacity to change. If you do not believe this, then child welfare is not the right field for you in any role that you play.
Most of children that we work with have experienced abuse and/or neglect by their birth parents, and despite this, these parents do have the capacity to make the changes needed to have their children returned to them. We as social workers have the skills to be able to assess, engage, and connect parents with the necessary supports and services so that they can actively make the changes they need to make.
FFN: How long have you worked in the field of social work?
JJ: I have been in the social work field (specifically in child welfare) since 2001. I worked in child welfare agencies in New York and D.C. before coming to Fairfax County in 2004 as an intern and then in 2006 as a full-time employee.
FFN: What is the structure of your unit?
JJ: The Reston Foster Care unit has two Foster Care Specialist III positions, three Foster Care Specialist II positions (one is currently vacant), and one administrative assistant position.
FFN: What does your unit do, and what is the main goal of your unit?
JJ: We work with children and youth who have been separated from their families and placed into the foster care system. Our main goal is helping them achieve permanency through reunification with their birth parents.
We are also concurrently planning for permanency through placements with relatives and actively working to have family members approved as foster care placements for their relatives. If neither of those goals can be achieved, we may recommend the goal of adoption. Just as important as permanency, we also work with children and youth to ensure their safety and well-being in every environment they are in.
FFN: Do you provide other supports to families?
JJ: We provide supports and services to birth parents and prior custodians to assist them in remedying the reasons why the children came into foster care so that reunification can occur. We also provide supports and services to extended families so that they can become placement options for their relatives.
While working with the birth parents and extended family members, we also work with the foster parents and other treatment providers to ensure that the placements are supported and successful for everyone involved. Throughout the process we make sure that foster parents are building a relationship with the birth parents and extended family members in order to bridge the gap and increase positive outcomes for the children and youth in foster care.
FFN: Who does the unit serve, and approximately how many people does that include?
JJ: We serve children and youth in foster care from birth to 21 years old, as well as their birth parents, extended family, and fictive kin. We also work with their entire treatment team, which includes foster parents. We follow the CWLA caseload standards for foster care cases of no more than 12 children/youth per specialist, but we are usually able to keep caseloads to 8-10 per specialist so that they can do more direct work with the families.
FFN: What is one thing you want people to know about your unit?
JJ: We are a dedicated group of social work and child welfare professionals that has well over 80 years of experience in the field between all of us. We all love this work and strive to provide high quality services to everyone we work with.
FFN: How can they reach the unit?
JJ: The best way to reach us is to call 703-324-7639 and ask to speak with the person on duty from the Reston Foster Care unit. I can also be reached at 703-481-4069.
FFN: When should they reach out to your unit?
JJ: Please reach out to us if you are caring for a foster child in the Reston Foster Care unit. We are happy to help you with any questions you may have or assistance you may need. I am also happy to hear any feedback, so please reach out any time!
FFN: What is your favorite thing about the work you do?
JJ: My favorite thing is all of the people that I work with. We are a good support to each other, and teamwork is key in this field. I also love the success stories and celebrate even the little steps to success.
FFN: Is there any other question that you wish I had asked about your unit? If so, please provide an answer.
JJ: Question: What do the unit members do to take care of themselves? Answer: Self-care is very important in this field, and you have to take care of yourself first if you are taking care of others. We have a variety of things we enjoy doing such as exercise, gardening, trying new recipes, spending time with friends and family members, reading, yoga, watching movies, and playing with pets. Self-care is just as important for foster parents, and we highly support positive self-care strategies!
This article posting is part of the Foster Family News monthly newsletter designed to keep foster parents informed about all the new and notable happenings in Fairfax County.
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