(Posted 2024 February)

Meet Lauren! 

Position: Social services specialist III in the Nutrition Unit in the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging.

I have been with Fairfax County, in the same unit, for almost 9 years. I was promoted to my current position a year ago and feel extremely grateful for the team I am on. I’m a proud worker in the Nutrition Unit which assesses older adults and people with disabilities for the county’s Home Delivered Meals program along with other services the county offers. Our comprehensive assessment provides a holistic understanding of a client’s history, situations, and current needs. I provide on-going case management services to clients who are eligible for our program along with providing interdisciplinary support to ensure clients can safely live in their homes. Fairfax County is rich in resources, which enhances our service delivery to clients that have multiple needs.

It is rewarding when clients and their families are overwhelmed by the amount of support the county offers and they are often surprised to learn what they are eligible for. While there are appropriate times when individuals may need a higher level of care outside their home, I enjoy being a source of support, a resource, and an educator by encouraging client independence and maintaining dignity while they age in place. I enjoy the aging population as everyone has a story and I feel so honored when they share theirs with me. Hearing about their life journey makes it special to serve this population and be able to play a part in supporting their quality of life in their older age. 

I have my BSW, MSW and I am an LCSW here in Virginia. Before joining the county, I worked mainly with children and adolescents as a social worker at a state psychiatric facility. I also worked in treatment foster care, which included case management and a lot of crisis care, along with in-home counseling, individual and group counseling. These were all very intense but rewarding jobs, but the burnout was real, and I felt I needed a change in population. I often crossed paths with Fairfax County workers at my previous job and always heard it was a great place to work. When I learned of a job opening with the Nutrition Unit I applied and have been here ever since! While there are so many interesting programs in the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging and Adult Services, I have the best team of co-workers, supervisors, and mentors that it is not a position I would want to give up! While the county has great benefits, there is a lot of understanding, flexibility and support that comes with my employment here. I have found my work family which I am so proud and grateful to be a part of.  

Fairfax County has not only supported me as an individual, but it has allowed me to be curious and pursue new projects when identifying gaps in services or unmet needs of our clients. I have been on numerous pilot projects and workgroups which was sometimes challenging, but it allowed me to utilize my other strengths outside of case management. When a pilot project or workgroup came to fruition, I took pride in knowing I was an integral part of something bigger than myself. When there are community emergencies, I am always supported when I want to be on the frontlines. Again, knowing that the county encourages me to take action when new ideas, projects or even community crises occur, makes a difference in how I show up in my daily work.

While my social work lens is always in focus, I try to unwind with trips to the beach or visiting extended family, who also live near a beach. I love spending time outside and exploring new things with my two young children and husband. As a family we love to cook and host our friends and family. I’m a big movie goer though that is less frequent with my two youngsters, but I don’t shy away from a good Pixar movie. I am excited to see my children grow up and see where their passions take them. Due to personal experiences, my initial career passion was nursing but I quickly realized I wanted more interaction on the patient side, which led me to social work. I am so grateful my path took me into the field of social work because it is so diverse and there is always more to learn. 

I would have never guessed as a teenager at my first job that I would have such a rewarding career as a social worker. Something most people don’t know about me is that I was an Airplane Dispatcher at the AERO Club at the Quantico Marine Corp Base. I had to read the windsock and know weather conditions to provide runway advisories to pilots making their landing. Why they trusted a teenager to do this, I have no idea, but talk about a great resume starter!