(Posted 2025 July)
Caleb Faber originally reached out to the Department of Family Services in January 2024 to gather more information about the Parenting Education Programs for an assignment in his graduate program. As he learned more about the program and what it does, he grew more interested in getting involved.
Caleb called back the next day asking if there was any way he could volunteer, and the rest is history! Caleb has been a dedicated PEP volunteer since then.
Helping Parents Build Healthy Relationships
The Parenting Education Programs offers free classes to teach positive and effective ways parents can interact with their children at every age and stage of development. Volunteer facilitators like Caleb use a curriculum that offers caring, comprehensive classes to help parents and their children learn new ways to build healthy family relationships.
An Interest Shaped by Personal Events
Caleb first developed an interest in supporting youth through a Military Auxiliary Program for 11–21-year-olds that he describes as similar to the Boy Scouts. But his real passion for working professionally with families and children ignited when his plans for a military career were cut short by a traumatic brain injury. This defining incident created a lightning focus on the importance of a strong supportive family and a desire to help others prioritize that as well.
Caleb has applied this interest in a variety of volunteer organizations including PEP, the Civil Air Patrol, Special Olympics, and more recently, as a superintendent of Children and Youth Programs for his local faith community.
Caleb has spent the last two years with PEP playing a pivotal role in various parenting classes geared for school age children and teens. Caleb said, “I love my time with PEP. It is so wonderful seeing the families transform over the course of each program. The skills that families can receive from PEP classes cannot be overvalued. Not to mention the amount of knowledge I’ve gained over my time here.”
As Caleb now prepares to graduate from his graduate program, he hopes to move into similar full-time work. “Coming to the end of my graduate studies in Family Life Education, I look forward to continuing to apply my degree and provisional certification as a Family Life educator,” he expressed, “and continue with PEP of course!”
Volunteer with Us
If you want to help families relate to each other better, please apply online. Volunteers are trained to co-facilitate classes working with parents and children. The next volunteer training is Tuesday, August 16 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more information, contact Parenting Education Programs by email or call 703-324-7720.
This article posting is part of The Volunteer Post Newsletter for current and potential volunteers, sponsors and donors interested in supporting children and families in crisis. Learn more about Fairfax County Department of Family Services' Volunteer & Partner Services Program (VPS).