Parenting Education Programs

The Department of Family Services offers FREE parenting education classes.

The classes teach positive and effective ways parents can interact with their children at every age and stage of development. They help families to:

Understand what to expect from children at different developmental stages and ages (0-18 years).
Build strong, positive, respectful relationships between all family members.
Take charge of their own feelings and behaviors, and communicate in non-threatening ways.
Handle stress and anger better, and find alternatives for yelling and spanking.

Families enrolled in the programs can relax knowing that each class includes child care and an evening meal for all participants.

Our classes meet the parent education guidelines developed by the Supreme Court of Virginia. If class requirements are completed, a certificate of completion is awarded during the last class.

Video - Free Parenting Education Classes

We are now enrolling for classes that begin in fall 2019. This video provides an overview of the Parenting Education Programs, and the schedule below gives details about each class offered.

Parenting Classes

Learn more about upcoming parenting classes for:

African-American Cultural Focus
0-4 Age Range
5-11 Age Range
12-18 Age Range

African-American Parenting Classes Offered in English

The core curriculum is the same as the basic Parenting Education Programs but it also emphasizes how African-American history has affected the parenting style for African-Americans. This curriculum delves into African-American history, culture, and traditions.

These African-American culturally-focused classes are offered in English.

12-13 sessions (depending on the curriculum used)

Classes

There are no sessions scheduled at this time.

0-4 Age Range Parenting Classes Offered in English and Spanish

Parents learn to recognize and understand feelings; nurturing parenting routines; infant massage; child development; and ways to foster positive self esteem in themselves and their children. Uses the Active Parenting Curriculum.

These classes are offered in English and Spanish.

14 sessions

Classes

10/10/19-2/6/20 Thursdays 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Providence Community Center
3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031
Lisa Payne-Chesley 703-324-7734
Natalie Bailey 703-324-3617

2/3/20-5/11/20 Mondays 5:30-8:00 p.m. (Spanish)
Main Street Development Center
4401 Sideburn Road, Fairfax, VA 22030
Raiza Barraza 703-324-7745

2/5/20-5/13/20 Wednesdays 5:30-8:00 p.m.
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
8009 Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria, VA, 22308
Marcus Garr 703-324-7737

2/13/20-6/18/20 Thursdays 5:30-8:00 p.m. (Spanish)
Christ Presbyterian Church
12410 Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy, Fairfax, VA 22033
Raiza Barraza 703-324-7745

5-11 Age Range Parenting Classes Offered in English and Spanish

Parents and children learn to increase their empathy, discover new ways to encourage appropriate behaviors, build positive self-concept and self-esteem, and learn how to have fun as a family. Uses the Nurturing Parenting Curriculum. View the schedule of classes.

These classes are offered in English and Spanish.

13 sessions

Classes

9/9/19-12/16/19 Mondays 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Church
2001 Sherwood Hall Lane, Alexandria, VA 22309
Marcus Garr 703-324-7737
Janet Little 703-324-7501

9/16/19-12/16/19 Mondays 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Fairfax Church of Christ
3901 Rugby Road, Fairfax, VA 22033
Debi Hackney 703-324-7790
Lisa Payne-Chesley 703-324-7734

9/18/19-12/18/19 Wednesdays 5:30-8:00 p.m. (Spanish)
Messiah United Methodist Church
6215 Rolling Road, Springfield, VA 22152
Mario Prada 703-324-7405
Alba Quinones 703-324-7310

9/24/19-12/17/19 Tuesdays 5:30-8:00 p.m. (Spanish)
Willston Community Center
6131 Willston Drive, Falls Church, VA 22044
Mario Prada 703-324-7405

10/15/19-1/21/20 Tuesdays 5:30-8:00 p.m.
St. Andrew Lutheran Church
14640 Soucy Place, Centreville, VA 20120
Debi Hackney 703-324-7790

11/7/19-2/20/20 Thursdays 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Grace Presbyterian Church
7434 Bath St., Springfield, VA 22150
Janet Little 703-324-7501

1/27/19-5/4/20 Mondays 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Fairfax Church of Christ
3901 Rugby Road, Fairfax, VA 22033
Debi Hackney 703-324-7790

2/12/19-5/1320/20 Wednesdays 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Messiah United Methodist Church
6215 Rolling Road, Springfield, VA 22152
Mario Prada 703-324-7405
Alba Quinones 703-324-7310

6/2/19-8/25/20 Tuesdays 5:30-8:00 p.m.
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
5800 Backlick Road, Springfield, VA 22150
Alba Quinones 703-324-7310

12-18 Age Range Parenting Classes Offered in English

Family members learn nurturing communication strategies, how to recognize each other’s needs, how to understand the developmental stages of adolescence, and ways to build their own personal power, self-concept and self-esteem. Uses the Active Parenting Curriculum for Spanish classes. Uses the Nurturing Parent Curriculum for English classes. View the schedule of classes.

These classes are offered in English.

12 sessions

Classes

9/16/19-12/16/19 Mondays 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Heritage Fellowship Church
2501 Fox Mill Road, Reston, VA 20191
Natalie Bailey 703-324-3617

1/27/20-5/4/20 Mondays 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Church
2001 Sherwood Hall Lane, Alexandria, VA 22309
Marcus Garr 703-324-7737
Natalie Bailey 703-324-3617

2/11/20-5/5/20 Tuesdays 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Willston Multicultural Center
6131 Willston Drive, Falls Church, VA 22044
Alba Quinones 703-324-7310

Routines for Back to School Success

The hustle and bustle of getting kids back into a healthy routine can be a challenge. With the start of school, comes the start of sports, clubs, lessons and other great activities that stretch the demands on family time. The Parenting Education Programs' staff has some tips for improving communication in families and establishing expectations to get the school year off to a good start.

Learn More

Routines for Dinner Time: Do's and Don'ts

How do you picture your ideal family dinner? Think about it for a second… Did you imagine your entire family together at the table, enjoying a delicious home-cooked meal, all the while chatting with each other about how everybody’s day went? Way too often modern dinner time is totally different from that picture! The experts in DFS’ Parenting Education Programs recommend ways to establish a routine for dinner time.

Learn More

Routines for Bedtime: Six Tips for Sleep Success

Is bedtime a struggle in your home? Do your children try to stay up late? Do they worry about nightmares or being left alone? You are not alone! DFS Parenting Education Programs’ staff say these are common struggles for many parents. Good news - a regular bedtime routine can create a sense of security that makes it easier for children to sleep. It will absolutely be worth it for you AND them to get more quality rest.

Learn More

Podcast - County Conversation - Dads and Parenting

DFS staff, Marcus Garr of the Parenting Education Programs and Bennie Herron of the Father Engagement Program made a joint appearance on the June 5, County Conversation podcast with host Jim Person to talk about dads! Listen to their conversation to learn how each program’s classes and other services help dads to embrace their role in the family and parent with confidence! Tune in to the interview through the SoundCloud podcast.

Testimonials

“The program surpassed expectations, and I applied several methods and techniques that directly and positively impacted my relationships with my children and our overall home environment.”

“Great class and awesome facilitators. (The class) has helped my son and his behaviors have noticeably improved as a result of implementing the things we learned here into our lives.”

“This class was great! Everything that I learned and put into practice has worked. I have a better system with rules and consequences at home. All the techniques (negation, privileges, compliments) have helped me to have a better understanding and relationship with my kids. The classes have also helped my kids open up to me and understand our new routine of parenting with love.”

“The program surpassed expectations and I applied several methods and techniques that directly and positively impacted my relationships with my children and our overall home environment.”

“I’m a new mom and I feel I’m doing a great job because of them (PEP)”

Department Resources

Related Resources

Parenting Education Programs

Video - Free Parenting Education Classes

African-American Parenting Classes Offered in English

0-4 Age Range Parenting Classes Offered in English and Spanish

5-11 Age Range Parenting Classes Offered in English and Spanish

12-18 Age Range Parenting Classes Offered in English

Routines for Back to School Success

Routines for Dinner Time: Do's and Don'ts

Routines for Bedtime: Six Tips for Sleep Success

Podcast - County Conversation - Dads and Parenting

Spanish-Language Radio Program - WUST “La Voz del Condado de Fairfax”

Podcast - County Conversation - Free Parenting Classes

Testimonials

Volunteer with the Parenting Education Programs

Related Resources

Awards
Site Feedback

Main Address

Site Tools

Support

Additional Resources

Department Resources

Related Resources

Parenting Education Programs

Video - Free Parenting Education Classes

African-American Parenting Classes Offered in English

0-4 Age Range Parenting Classes Offered in English and Spanish

5-11 Age Range Parenting Classes Offered in English and Spanish

12-18 Age Range Parenting Classes Offered in English

Routines for Back to School Success

Routines for Dinner Time: Do's and Don'ts

Routines for Bedtime: Six Tips for Sleep Success

Podcast - County Conversation - Dads and Parenting

Spanish-Language Radio Program - WUST “La Voz del Condado de Fairfax”

Podcast - County Conversation - Free Parenting Classes

Testimonials

Volunteer with the Parenting Education Programs

Related Resources

Awards Site Feedback

Main Address

Site Tools

Support

Additional Resources

Awards
Site Feedback