Department of Family Services

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
Michael A. Becketts
Director

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Community Corner

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Welcome to the Department of Family Services' Community Corner. Our weekly newsletter, updated each Wednesday, provides information about upcoming events, parenting and wellness tips, programs and services, and more! Share these helpful posts with your family and friends.

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Join this virtual training to “see through the eyes” of an older adult. Exploring the Dimensions of Aging simulates what it is like to be an older adult encountering challenges in everyday situations. Embody Dima as begins experiencing visual disturbances and changes in motor functions due to the progression of her Lewy Body Dementia. Find out how she and her family navigate coping with her symptoms. Learn about the early signs and progression of Lewy Body Dementia and important considerations for promoting independence, preserving dignity, and offering culturally competent care. Register online. Discover more programs and services from ElderLink. 

Enjoy good food and good company while Domestic and Sexual Violence Services celebrate all their volunteers have accomplished through hard work and dedication. At the Sully Community Center (13800 Wall Rd SACC Room (Multipurpose Room 2) Herndon, VA 20170) from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. For more information, contact DSVS Volunteer Manager Caroline Croghan.

Join Michael Kenny, president of Creative Arts for Social Action, for a drum circle workshop that nurtures connection, wellness, and joy through rhythm. Family caregivers and their loved ones are invited to explore the healing power of sound and community. Whether you're caring for a parent, child, partner, or friend, this experience offers a meaningful space to recharge together with gentle rhythm-based activities accessible to all ages and abilities. No musical experience or instruments required. Grab some spoons and a pot, use body percussion, whatever you have that can make sound! (household items welcome!) This virtual intergenerational workshop hosted by the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging. The workshop is scheduled from 12-1 p.m. Register online.

If you are available on weekdays during school hours and enjoy working with kids, this opportunity is for you! The Department of Family Services’ Body Safety Program needs volunteer classroom instructors to help empower elementary students with the tools they need to prevent or interrupt child abuse. Apply online or contact the Body Safety staff by email or phone at 703-324-7459 to attend this training and begin supporting the program at the start of the school year.

If you want to help parents and their children learn new ways to build healthy family relationships, please apply online with us to support our parenting classes. Our next volunteer co-facilitator training will be Tuesday, August 16 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more information about this vital role, contact the Parenting Education Programs by email or call 703-324-7720.

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CHECK OUT OLDER POSTS!

Summer is here, school is out, and it’s time for family fun! Having a fun and healthy summer begins with small steps. Set clear expectations with your kids, talk openly with them, and teach them ways to handle challenges. Check out these resources to help you prepare your kids to be ready for anything from sunburn– to –peer pressure– to– minor emergencies. Learn more.

The SHAPE the Future of Aging Plan is Fairfax County’s strategic plan designed to guide efforts in building programs to support older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers in the Fairfax area. The plan acts as a North Star for Adult and Aging, helping us to understand the needs of older adults and their caregivers. It also helps community-based organizations that serve and support these groups. Learn more about the progress that was made during year two of the plan in the July issue of the Golden Gazette.

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newsletter graphicFoster Family News for Current and Potential Fairfax County Foster Parents – July 2025

Our monthly Foster Family Newsletter shares resources and experiences relevant to foster and adoptive parents, children in care, and the resource workers who support them. Check out the June 2025 newsletter. This month we focus on summer safety, changes to in-service training, pre-natal drug exposure, and a way to help foster care graduates.

newsletter graphicGolden Gazette Newsletter Covers a Variety of Topics Concerning Older Adults and Caregivers in Fairfax County

Check out the July 2025 Golden Gazette, featuring Diana Artemis, who overcame a difficult childhood to live a life of accomplishment and service to others. You’ll also get a progress update on year two of the SHAPE the Future of Aging Plan, learn about nutrients that are good for bone health and more. 

newsletter graphicThe Volunteer Post Newsletter

We have many wonderful volunteers and donors helping children and families in Fairfax County. Our Volunteer Post Newsletter provides a glimpse into the many ways to get involved in making a difference and supporting families in our community. Check out the July 2025 issue for fun BeFriend-A-Child Spring events, Body Safety’s impact, a volunteer spotlight, and a way to help foster care graduates.

newsletter graphicVolunteer Voices Newsletter

What’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Services volunteer corps up to now? Find out in the July 2025 Volunteer Voices, where you’ll hear from volunteer liaisons how volunteers make DSVS run, spend a day with Clinical Services Program Manager Melody Vielbig, learn about regular donor Zonta Club, and mark your calendars for a special volunteer celebration. Also, check out our review of Survivor Made; get the lowdown on the Prevention, Education and Coordination team; tease your brain with movie facts; see who’s blowing out candles this month; get an ADAPT history lesson; and more.

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Department of Family Services logoThe Department of Family Services (DFS) promotes the well-being of the County's diverse community by protecting and improving the lives of children, adults and families through supportive services, education and advocacy.

Fairfax County Health and Human Services LogoThis Department of Family Services agency is a part of the Fairfax County Health & Human Services System (HHS). The HHS System is a network of county agencies and community partners that support the well-being of all who live, work and play in Fairfax County.

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