703-324-7500
TTY 711
Oriane Eriksen,
Director
If you are registered for (or interested in) an upcoming Parenting Education Class, please check the listing of available classes for more information (dates and times, reschedules, cancellations or other options) or directly contact staff at ParentingEducation@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-324-7720.
The Department of Family Services offers FREE parenting education classes, parent cafés, videos and articles.
Now offering a Virtual Parent Café on Mondays, 7:45-9:15 p.m. Connect with other parents to discuss parenting topics such as discipline, self-care, and family rules. Find a community of support among other parents handling similar situations during these stressful times. To sign up for our Monday evening Parent Café, please email or call us at 703-324-7720 at least one business day before the Parent Café. We look forward to you joining us!
The classes teach positive and effective ways parents can interact with their children at every age and stage of development. They help families to:
Virtual Classes
The Parenting Education Programs is offering assistance from a distance with online parenting classes. If you are interested in registering for a virtual class, please check out the schedule below and email us with the age range you are interested in, 0-4 years, 5-11 years or 12-18 years, and a staff person will invite you to the next available online class. You can also contact us by phone by calling 703-324-7720.
In-Person Classes
Families enrolled in the in-person programs can relax knowing that each class includes child care and an evening meal for all participants. All family members have age appropriate instruction to help with building strong, positive, respectful relationships within the family.
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.
We are now enrolling for classes that begin in summer 2020. This video provides an overview of the Parenting Education Programs, and the schedule below gives details about each class offered.
Learn more about upcoming parenting classes for:
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)
6/3/20-8/26/20 Wednesdays 6-8 p.m.
5-11 Age Range
This class will be offered virtually.
Natalie Bailey 703-324-3617; Lisa Payne-Chesley 703-324-7734
Interested and ready to participate in a class? Contact Parenting Education by email, phone at 703-324-7720 or contact the name listed in the class information.
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
8/3/20-11/23/20 Mondays 5:30-8:00 p.m. (Spanish)
ACCA Child Development Center, 4175 Daniels Ave., Annandale, VA 22003
Raiza Barraza 703-324-7745
Interested and ready to participate in a class? Contact Parenting Education by email, phone at 703-324-7720 or contact the name listed in the class information.
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
6/3/20-8/26/20 Wednesdays 6-8:30 p.m.
This class will be offered virtually.
Natalie Bailey 703-324-3617; Lisa Payne-Chesley 703-324-7734
6/16/20-9/29/20 Tuesdays 6-8 p.m.
This class will be offered virtually.
Natalie Bailey 703-324-3617
9/14/20- 12/21/20 Mondays 6-8 p.m.
Fairfax Church of Christ, 3901 Rugby Road, Fairfax, VA 22033
Lisa Payne-Chesley 703-324-7734; Debi Hackney 703-324-7790
Interested and ready to participate in a class? Contact Parenting Education by email, phone at 703-324-7720 or contact the name listed in the class information.
12-18 Age Range Parenting Classes Offered in English and Spanish
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 and Spanish.
12 sessions
6/15/20-8/17/20 Mondays 6-8 p.m.
This class will be offered virtually.
Marcus Garr 703-324-7737; Debi Hackney 703-324-7790
Interested and ready to participate in a class? Contact Parenting Education by email, phone at 703-324-7720 or contact the name listed in the class information.
Check out our new video series Parenting 101 for the answers to your most pressing parenting questions!
Meet Natalie Bailey of the Department of Family Services’ Parenting Education Programs. She'll be answering frequently asked questions (FAQs) from parents on topics like discipline, self-care, family routines and more.
Parenting 101: Discipline FAQ
In the midst of this outbreak of COVID-19, many families find themselves facing many of the risk factors for child abuse and neglect. With many of the normal child protective factors not in place during this crisis, the community must step in to keep eyes and ears on children in your neighborhood. If you have questions or concerns about a child’s safety, call the Child Protective Services’ 24-hour hotline at 703-324-7400. #ffxCOVID #FairfaxCountyFamilyServices
Right now, many local parents are planning how their children will spend their time while schools are closed for an extended period. For parents of school-age children and teens, the inevitable question comes up, “Is my child ready to be left alone?”
Fathers, like mothers, play a significant role in their children’s psychological and emotional development. Positive father involvement contributes directly to children’s well-being, safety and stability. Through each Pocket Dad Video, our Father Engagement team members talk about relevant and helpful topics.
“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.”
“I’m a new mom and I feel I’m doing a great job because of them (PEP).”
Volunteer with the Parenting Education Programs. Opportunities include:
