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

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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The Fairfax Area Agency on Aging’s Home Delivered Meals Program is excited to be selected for the Giant Community Bag Program for the month of November!

The Home Delivered Meals program helps provide meals to adults over the age of 60, or adults with a disability, who are homebound and are unable to prepare their own meals. When you shop at Giant Food, 13043 Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy, Fairfax VA during November and buy a $2.75 Community Bag, Giant will donate $1 to the Home Delivered Meals program. Thanks for supporting our program! Learn more about the Home Delivered Meals Program.

Do you need to sign up for Medicare? Medicare 101 Workshops, led by the Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP), are for individuals and their care partners who will soon be eligible for Medicare or have Medicare and would like to learn more about it. Register for a Medicare 101 workshop, offered virtually or in-person. In-person workshops have limited seating. Registration is required. Learn more.

This webinar celebrates the importance of family in all its forms. Join a panel including our Social Services Specialist Natalie Sposato, Kerry Graeber with Shineforth, and Faith Spencer the adoptive mother as they share a powerful kinship adoption story. It emphasizes the importance of continuing to explore and re-explore kinship options until permanency is achieved and how adoption and kinship care provide opportunities to reconnect children with love, stability, and belonging. It highlights the resilience of families and the enduring power of relationships to create a foundation where youth can thrive. It begins at 1 p.m. Register here to reserve your spot!   

The Department of Family Services – Employment Services is partnering with Vitae Visual to host the Metro Area Career Fair. There will be 20 employers from different industries available to connect with jobseekers directly. Get free onsite career counseling, as well as workforce presentations! Register here.

Join facilitators from the Parenting Education Programs and the Father Engagement Unit Tuesday, November 18, 6:30 to 8 p.m. to discuss “Parenting in the Hispanic Culture.” The facilitators will lead an open discussion in Spanish about the cross-cultural challenges many parents face when raising their children in a diverse environment. The discussion will explore the common issue of trying to instill respect for Hispanic culture and values while balancing conflicting cultural influences that children encounter through media, peers, etc. Any Fairfax County parents or guardians with children ages 0-18 years old can join through MS Teams. For more information or to preregister, email or call 703-324-7720.

Calling all family caregivers, volunteers that work with older adults, and professionals in aging services! Join us at the largest ongoing dementia conference in the region focused on caregivers hosted by experts in care, the Northern Virginia Dementia Care Consortium. Attend workshops and hear from dementia caregiver professionals to be better prepared to provide care and support at home or in a facility. Visit exhibitors who offer supportive services and connect with other caregivers. The conference runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Register today to reserve your spot.

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CHECK OUT OLDER POSTS!

The holiday season is often a whirlwind of shopping, family gatherings, and celebrations. But for many, it is also a time to help others by donating to worthy causes. If this is part of your holiday tradition, consider supporting these programs and organizations whose work directly benefits your community. Learn more in the November issue of the Golden Gazette.

Sometimes you need a fresh start in the middle of your career journey, and that’s okay! Applying for jobs isn’t what it was five years ago, and we have the tools and strategies to support your success. We can help you find your next chapter with personalized career guidance, job search assistance, resume and interview help, and more. Visit one of our One-Stop Employment Resource Centers to find a job, grow your skills, and reach your career goals.

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newsletter graphicFoster Family News for Current and Potential Fairfax County Foster Parents – November 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 November 2025 newsletter. This month we focus on Adoption Awareness Month, children awaiting adoption, and community outreach.


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

Check out the November 2025 Golden Gazette, featuring Rubina Jawiad, who has been a caregiver to Catherine with the support of CARES, Fairfax County’s Adult Foster Care program. You’ll also learn about holiday giving opportunities, how to safeguard your lung 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 November 2025 issue to learn about some DFS holiday giving programs, a partnership with Neighborhood and Community Services, and recent program highlights.


newsletter graphicVolunteer Voices Newsletter

What’s the Domestic and Sexual Violence Services volunteer corps doing this month? Find out in the November 2025 Volunteer Voices, where you’ll discover how the division observes Native American Heritage and National Homeless Youth Awareness months, learn about the partnership with Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Language Access program, read a survivor story of loss and hope, familiarize yourself with the steps for holiday giving, and more.

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stock photo of employeesJoin Us! Learn about job opportunities in the Department of Family Services.
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