Department of Family Services – Children, Youth and Families

CONTACT INFORMATION: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
703-324-7500 TTY 711
12011 Government Center Parkway, Pennino Building
Fairfax, VA 22035
Oriane Eriksen
Director

Department Resources

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The Volunteer Post Newsletter – Archive

2025 March

  • Join Us for our 2025 Volunteer & Partner Appreciation Event 
  • Volunteer & Partner Services Engages Community at MLK Jr. Day of Service 
  • New Event Uplifts BeFriend-A-Child Mentors
  • Spread Kindness with Handmade Donations 
  • Donate Meals to the Parenting Education Programs 
  • Pinwheels for Prevention 

2025 January

  • Adopt-A-Family Program the Heart of the Holidays
  • BeFriend-A-Child Program Makes Holiday Memories
  • Celebrating Our Unsung Heroes: A Tribute to the BeFriend-A-Child Mentors
  • Volunteer and Make Baby Boxes
  • Resolve to Volunteer in the New Year

2024 November

  • Adopt-A-Family Celebrates the Spirit of Giving
  • BeFriend-A-Child Partner Gives Family A Boost 
  • Supporting the Healthy Families Fairfax Baby Extravaganza
  • Collaborating with Fairfax County Public Schools for Child Safety 
  • Meet the 2024-2025 Volunteer and Partner Services’ Interns

2024 September

  • Adopt-A-Family for the 2024 Holiday Season
  • A New Way to Give Back to Local Families
  • 4-H Summer Camp Offers Outdoor Adventure for BeFriend A-Child Mentees
  • Annual VPS Back to School Drive Supports Academic Success 
  • BeFriend-A-Child Field Trip is in a League of its Own 
  • Sponsor Spotlight – Foster Youth Innovation
  • George Mason Alumni Magazine Profiles VPS Supervisor, Samantha Carrico

2024 July

  • Body Safety Classes Teach Kids to Recognize Harmful Situations – Volunteers Needed to Support Program’s Growth 
  • Foster Parents Enjoy Connecting at Annual Appreciation Event!
  • Summer Training Dates – Volunteers Needed, Spread the Word!
  • Celebrate the Class of 2024!!
  • Support the Ongoing VPS Donation Drive 

2024 May

  • 2024 Volunteer and Partner Appreciation Event Celebrates Our Supporters
  • Donation Drive to Restock the VPS Baby Supply Closet
  • Spotlight on Georgia Hubert, Body Safety Program Volunteer 
  • BeFriend-A-Child Mentoring Program Hosts 2024 Spring Gathering for Families
  • Mentoring Fathers to Be the Best Dads They Can Be 
  • Get Involved During Foster Care Month!

2024 March

  • ‘Mark Your Calendars for the 2024 Volunteer & Partner Appreciation Event 
  • Welcoming our Newest Body Safety Instructors and Befriend-A-Child Mentors
  • Spotlight on Tim Barber, Long-Term VPS Community Partner 
  • BeFriend-A-Child Mentors and Mentees Connect Through Food 
  • Volunteer with Dads Parenting Groups 
  • Celebrating a Fantastic Year of Partnership with Tickets for Kids
  • Planting Pinwheel Gardens for Child Abuse Prevention 
  • Appreciating and Empowering DFS Social Workers

2024 January

  • ‘Twas the Season for Giving! 2023 Adopt-A-Family Program has Exceeded Expectations 
  • Family and Friends Bring Fun to BeFriend-A-Child Holiday Party 
  • Mentoring Makes a Difference for Youth 
  • Volunteer and Partner Services Program Says Farewell to Long-Term Volunteer, Mary Lou Withem 
  • Puppy Party Fosters Youth
  • DFS Canine Ambassador and Handler Visit University of Lynchburg Students
  • Making the Most of the MLK Day of Service to Help Area Families

2023 November

  • Body Safety Program Partners with SafeSpot Children’s Advocacy Center  
  • Make the Holiday Season Bright! Adopt-A-Family 
  • See What’s Cookin’ with our BeFriend A-Child Mentors and Mentees 
  • Volunteer & Partner Services Presents at 14th Annual Crimes Against Children Conference 
  • Sign Up to Help Families in Need
  • Bilingual Volunteer Classroom Instructors Needed for the Body Safety Program 
  • November is Adoption Awareness Month

2023 September

  • Adopt-A-Family for the 2023 Holiday Season
  • Volunteer & Partner Services Welcomes Three New Interns Starting Fall 2023
  • BeFriend A-Child Mentors and Mentees Enjoy Summer Adventures 
  • Clifton Preschool Students Learn about Body Safety 
  • The Department of Family Services Holds Successful 2023 Backpack and School Supply Drive 
  • Help Youth in Foster Care to Have a Warm Winter
  • Fairfax County Foster Care ConGRADulates Our 2023 Graduates

2023 July

  • Annual BeFriend-A-Child Family Gathering was a Day Full of Fun
  • Volunteer & Partner Services’ Coordinators Return from Serving Families on the Front Line of Child Welfare
  • Tickets for Kids Provides a World of Opportunities for Children
  • Seeking Spanish Speakers to Volunteer with Children in Our Community!
  • VPS Holds "Black Friday" Surplus Events
  • Open Your Heart; Become a Foster Parent

2023 May

  • Thank You, Sponsors, for Supporting Our First Return to in-Person Volunteer Celebration 
  • Community Embraces Child Abuse Prevention Efforts
  • Prevention Programs Complete First Student Grief Groups in Partnership with FCPS 
  • Introducing New Body Safety and BeFriend-A-Child Program Staff, Paula Severiche and Elizabeth Aguilar Martinez 
  • Body Safety Coordinator Recognized with County Outstanding Performance Award
  • National Foster Care Month Highlights an Opportunity to Support the Vulnerable

2023 March

  • Join Us for our Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event, Tuesday, April 11
  • Planting Pinwheel Gardens for Child Abuse Prevention
  • Foster the Family D.C. Offers Support and Encouragement
  • Introducing Volunteer & Partner Services Intern, Megan Fedor
  • Celebrating Rylynn’s 4th Birthday
  • DFS Celebrates Social Work Month

2023 January

  • Volunteer & Partner Services Welcomes New Supervisor
  • Adopt-A-Family Program Spreads Holiday Joy throughout Community
  • A Different Path Starts with You – Thank You to Our Mentors
  • Make Baby Boxes to Help Families in Need

2022 September

  • Looking for Ways to Give During the Holiday Season?
  • Volunteer & Partner Services Director Krissa Slone Announces Retirement
  • September is Child Welfare Workforce Development Month
  • Going Back to School Can Trigger Ambient Stress
  • Volunteer & Partner Services Celebrates Successful 2022-2023 Back-to-School Drive
  • Congrats to our Homework Helpers’ Graduating Student Volunteers!
  • VPS Volunteer Restores Furniture for Fairfax Families

2022 June

  • Annual VPS Volunteer Appreciation Event Celebrates Community Partners 
  • Pinwheels for Prevention Sprout Countywide Through Volunteer & Partner Services' Efforts
  • BeFriend-A-Child Mentors and Mentees have a Hoppin’ Good Time at Earth Day Egg Hunt
  • Coming Soon! 2022-2023 School Supply Drive 
  • Volunteer & Partner Services Ramping Up Volunteer Recruitment Efforts

2022 March

  • SAVE THE DATE: VPS 2022 Volunteer Appreciation Event Scheduled for Tuesday, April 26
  • Planting Pinwheel Gardens for Prevention
  • Our “Behind the Scenes” Stars – Recognizing Volunteer & Partner Services’ Administrative Professionals
  • Announcing Some Exciting Staffing Changes in Volunteer & Partner Services
  • Recognizing National Child Abuse Prevention & Sexual Assault Awareness Months

2022 January

  • Adopt-A-Family Holiday Program Brings Joy to Hundreds of Fairfax County Families
  • Winter Coats Provide a Warm Hug!
  • Do You Know Why Mentoring Matters?
  • New Video: Impact a Child's Life for the Better – Join Volunteer & Partner Services

2021 Fall

  • What's New
  • Program Highlights
  • Volunteer & Partner Recognition
  • Partners and Donors
  • Community Comments
  • About Volunteer & Partner Services

2021 Summer

  • What's New
  • Program Highlights
  • Volunteer & Partner Recognition
  • Partners and Donors
  • Community Comments
  • About Volunteer & Partner Services

2021 Winter

  • What's New
  • Program Highlights
  • Volunteer & Partner Recognition
  • Partners and Donors
  • Community Comments
  • About Volunteer & Partner Services

2020 Summer

  • What's New - VPS Has Gone Virtual!
  • Program Highlights - Volunteer & Partner Services - Meet Our Team
  • Volunteer & Partner Recognition - Volunteer Service Awards 2020
  • Partners and Donors - Thanks for the Amazing Community Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic!
  • New DFS Facebook Page
  • Community Comments

2019 Spring

  • Volunteers Make the Difference!
  • Baby Boxes
  • Helping Children Achieve Academic Success
  • Potomac Field Hockey Partners with DFS Foster Kids
  • Screening Mentors
  • Soccer Scholarships!
  • The Body Safety Program Receives Community Partner Award
  • Did you Know…
  • Take Care of Yourself
  • The Importance of Building Circles of Support

2019 Winter

  • Adopt-A-Family Program
  • Welcome Brianna
  • The Body Safety Program Serves One of Our Most Vulnerable Populations
  • Holiday Party and Adopt-A-Family
  • Fitness with Friends
  • A VISTA Veteran
  • A Treasured Family Moment
  • BAC Hike 2018
  • Welcome Aboard the VPS Express!
  • Sisters Come Together
  • Mentors Make the Difference
  • Extra H20 Makes Life Better
  • Looking for an Opportunity to make a DIFFERENCE in your Community?
  • Forming Authentic Attachment

2018 Fall

  • Welcome Morgan Cochran
  • Did You Know...
  • Back to School
  • DFS - Volunteer & Partner Services Program Partners with County LiveWell Program
  • Helping Families Move
  • MITRE McLean Bike Donations
  • New Partner for the Kids
  • Spotlight on the Volunteer Administrative Assistants
  • Farewell to a Shining Star
  • Not Your Average Day at Work
  • AmeriCorps Year of Service Completed

2018 Spring

  • Volunteer & Partner Services Partners with NOVA
  • Body Safety Program Solidifies Partnership with Fairfax County Public Schools
  • A Year of Service Through Americorps VISTA
  • New Volunteers
  • MENTOR of the Year: Beth Leonard
  • What Does “Mentor” Mean to YOU?
  • At the Peak
  • The Mighty Movers are Here to Save Your Day!
  • Volunteer Administrative Assistants: Always Providing Service with a Smile
  • Virtual Reality in Volunteering
  • Making a Difference in the Lives of Children One Child at a Time

2018 Winter

  • Adopt-A-Family Program
  • Welcome to the Team!
  • The Study Buddy Tutoring Program
  • Starbucks: A Great Supporter!
  • A Special Little Girl with a Very Big Heart
  • More Love in Your Heart
  • Body Safety Program Annual Training
  • BeFriend-A-Child Holiday Party
  • What’s Hot in Volunteering?
  • Fond Farewell to our first VISTA, Lexy

banner the volunteer post; image is collage of people

Our volunteers and partners are the invaluable backbone of Volunteer & Partner Services Program (VPS). This newsletter is published three times a year and shares about events, volunteer data, volunteer opportunities or other general information. We hope this newsletter will keep us all connected!

Whether you’re a seasoned or new volunteer, partner or sponsor, knowing the history of the organization you’re supporting is very important.

  • VPS was developed in September 2013 with the purpose of recruiting top-level volunteers to provide direct or indirect services to prevent child abuse and neglect.
  • VPS is part of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Services within the Department of Family Services Children, Youth and Families division.
  • VPS started with four programs and after gaining momentum began recruiting volunteers for two additional programs.
VPS manages the Administrative Assistant Program, BeFriend-A-Child Program and Body Safety Program - Speak Up Be Safe and also recruits volunteers for the Adopt-A-Family Program, Father Engagement Program for Volunteers - Dads Parenting Groups and Parenting Education Program for Volunteers.

Each program has individual needs and functions that require volunteers with an array of skill sets. Volunteers continue to apply to help with hopes of making a difference in the community. VPS is honored to recruit, train and provide opportunities to those interested in the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

We continue to provide top-level volunteers for the community as we fight to prevent and end child abuse and neglect.

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