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Volunteer Voices – Current Issue

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Welcome to the 2026 October issue of Volunteer Voices, a monthly newsletter for current and potential Domestic and Sexual Violence Services (DSVS) volunteers.

In this Issue:

Table of Contents
Notes from the Staff Self-Care Corner: Take a Walk! October Is Domestic Violence Awareness Month TED Talk: How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a Lifetime Quotables Join the Conversations!	A Day in the Life… Reviews: Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard Birthdays Test Your Brain Events and Educational Resources Make a Note! Parting Shot

Notes from Staff

Hello everyone,

My name is Daniel Gaona Lopez, and I began my journey with Fairfax County a little over two years ago as an administrative assistant II supporting one of the clinics of the Health Department. In that role, I assisted community members with consent forms; scheduled appointments; and supported essential services such as vaccinations, STI testing, and tuberculosis testing and treatment. During this time, I gained a strong appreciation for the importance of public health and the impact these services have on underserved communities. I also volunteered at various vaccination events, helping with registration and collecting student information for Fairfax County Public Schools, as well as at community outreach events where we shared information about our services and connected residents with available health resources. These experiences showed me firsthand how volunteer efforts strengthen our community by expanding access to vital resources and ensuring that no one is left behind.

As someone who loves learning new things, whether it’s picking up crocheting, practicing sewing, exploring new places, or trying dishes from different cultures, I’ve always been motivated by curiosity and connection. That same spirit is what inspires me in my work and in my volunteer efforts. I now serve as an administrative assistant III with the Department of Family Services in the Domestic and Sexual Violence Services division, where I support individuals and families during incredibly challenging times. My journey, both professionally and through volunteering, has reinforced how much we can accomplish when we show up for one another. Volunteering not only fills critical gaps in service but also builds unity, compassion, and a stronger, more supportive community. I encourage others to get involved and experience the meaningful impact that even small acts of service can have.

Daniel Gaona Lopez
Administrative Assistant

Self-Care Corner

Take a Walk

Research has long touted the physical benefits of walking—a healthier heart, weight control, boosted circulation, increased oxygen intake—but the practice can also help you lower stress, making it the perfect activity to add to your self-care repertoire. Learn more about how walking can help heal you—body and soul.

October Is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Domestic violence is a family, community, and public health issue with widespread ripple effects that impact all parts of our community. It will take all of us to build a peaceful and safe Fairfax County. Get more information about this form of interpersonal violence and the ways in which Domestic and Sexual Violence Services observes DVAM. And find out how you can help raise awareness about domestic violence through social media.

TED Talk

October is National Diabetes and Breast Cancer Awareness months! This month we raise funds and awareness for diabetes and cancer research, and we celebrate those strong people who have battled these diseases. October is also a good month to reflect on all our health and how we can support a healthy community. One thing to consider is the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study, which was published in the 1990s. This study drew the connection between trauma and chronic illness, showing that experiences of trauma in childhood, including abuse, neglect, and domestic violence in the home, can greatly increase the likelihood of health challenges later in life. To learn more about the ACE study and how Adverse Childhood Experiences affect health in adulthood, watch How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a Lifetime by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris.

Quotables

“Nothing in nature lives for itself. The rivers do not drink their own water; the trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself; and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is a rule of nature.” –Unknown

Join the Conversations!

Domestic and Sexual Violence Services’ podcast, Unscripted: Conversations about Sexual and Domestic Violence, is real talk on tough topics! Stay in the know with these biweekly discussions. If you have ideas for topics you’d like to hear addressed on Unscripted, email them to DSVS’ communications specialist Kendra Lee.

A Day in the Life …

Day in the Life: Angie Acosta, Crisis Response Services Supervisor
“I start my day with a hot cup of coffee! Before anything else, I make sure our crisis line specialists have enabled their queues on the Domestic and Sexual Violence 24-Hour Hotline and Lethality Assessment Protocol (LAP Line), so every call is answered, and every survivor has someone ready to listen,” says Angie Acosta, Crisis Response Services supervisor. “Once I know the hotlines are up and running, I check my calendar to get a picture of what my day will look like and scan my email for anything urgent. As the CRS supervisor, I always have to be watching my messages. If something critical comes up, if a staff member needs support, or if there’s a crisis, I need to be ready to pivot. Flexibility is essential in this role; my day can change in minutes.

“The workday doesn’t neatly end at 4:30 p.m. One of my staff works evening hours, so I keep an eye on my email and Teams messages after hours to support her if anything arises. My work phone is always close by. Whether it’s day or night, my focus is making sure our team is supported—and that every person reaching out to us in crisis has someone there to respond.”

Each newsletter will include this section to help share reviews, spotlight the people who support Domestic and Sexual Violence Services, recognize birthdays and list upcoming trainings and meetings.

Reviews

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard: “Dr. Elizabeth Letourneau and Luke Malone on Child Sexual Abuse Prevention”

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard is one of the country's top podcasts, where Dax and his co-host, Monica, interview celebrities, academics, and professionals in various fields. In this episode, Dax and Monica interview two child sexual abuse prevention researchers and specialists. The researchers discuss the dynamics of child sexual violence and how we can reduce the victimization of children across society.

The biggest thing that stuck out to me in this podcast was its focus on prevention, as opposed to being reactive to the issue. The experts pointed out that when we focus our approach on the criminal justice system, we are only addressing the issue once a child has already experienced violence. This is important work, but it only supports those who have reported--and often does not fix the future issue.

They focused on two key areas: education and rehabilitative support. In terms of education, they pointed to statistics that showed that 70 percent of child sexual violence is caused by another minor. This is related to early education about sexual health, consent, and appropriate behavior as children move through puberty and into adulthood. This reminded me of the work my colleagues do in DSVS. We have a robust Teen Advocacy program. The Prevention, Education, and Coordination Team regularly runs trainings with teachers and educators to prepare them with information and tools for discussing these topics with young students. The team also provides feedback on Family, Life, and Education curriculum for Fairfax County.

When it came to rehabilitative support, Dr. Letourneau and Mr. Malone discussed several areas of support, including support for individuals who have caused harm and support for individuals who have sexual thoughts about children but have never caused harm. They pointed out that support for both is important, as some people struggle with pedophilic thoughts but recognize the issue and they never want to harm a child. These individuals need a non-judgmental space to heal and practice healthy coping mechanisms. Additionally, some people are “situational offenders” who do not necessarily have attraction to children, but they cause harm because of larger situational influences and personal risk factors. These individuals do need intervention from the criminal justice system, but they also need specialized support to interrupt their unhealthy and harmful patterns of behavior.

This conversation pointed to the benefits of the ADAPT program in DSVS. Though ADAPT is not specifically focused on harm against children, it does recognize that purely punitive forms of accountability are not enough to stop harm in our communities. The DSVS ADAPT team does amazing work to help people build tools so they can move forward in society without causing additional harm.

I found the podcast very interesting and nuanced. Because of the subject matter, it is at times difficult to listen to. However, Dax and Monica do a great job at pointing out how this discomfort and bias against those who have caused harm can often inhibit our ability to provide meaningful support, and in the long run, create safe communities for children.

This review was written by Volunteer Manager Caroline Croghan.

Birthdays

Jennifer Hong - 10/8
Shawn Desai - 10/09
Molly McMahon - 10/9
Ashley Weston - 10/10
Corrine Braxton - 10/24
Dipti Maniar - 10/25
Sophie Traux - 10/27
Amy Talley - 10/31

Test Your Brain

Can you find the ghost?

Answer Key

Events and Educational Resources

Love, Power, and Homicide: When Intimate Partner Violence Turns Fatal
Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026
9–10:30 a.m.

This course examines the deadly progression of intimate partner violence (IPV), highlighting how coercion, control, and escalation can lead to intimate partner homicide (IPH). Using case studies and experiential investigative analysis, students will identify warning signs, assess risk factors, and explore best practices for investigating potential IPH. The course emphasizes the role of power and control in abusive relationships and evaluates systemic responses that may either prevent or contribute to fatal outcomes. Students will also learn to communicate with surviving family members and next of kin using trauma-informed, compassionate approaches. This training series is free, but registration is required. advance for the training. Questions? Contact Tricia Everetts, DCJS Victims Services Training and Communication Coordinator.

Stalking Training
Wednesdays, Oct. 14, 21, & 28, 2026
1-3 p.m.
Virtual

Registration for this three-part webinar series on stalking is open. Participants will learn how to identify stalking behaviors and dynamics, assess danger in stalking cases, and apply strategies for enhancing victim safety. Questions? Contact Abby Picard.

Domestic and Sexual Violence Community Annual Meeting
Friday, Oct. 16, 2026
Fairfax County Government Center
Atrium and Board Auditorium
12000 Government Center Parkway
Fairfax, VA 22035
8:30-11:30 a.m.

Join the Council to End Domestic Violence, the Domestic Violence Network, the Sexual Assault Response Team, and the Fairfax County interpersonal violence community as they celebrate the milestones met over the past year and recommit to continuing the work until everyone is safe. Featured events include a networking breakfast, an art project, and the domestic and sexual violence Community Awards.

Domestic Violence Tier 1
Wednesdays & Thursdays Oct. 21-Nov. 18, 2026
6-8 p.m.
Virtual
Note: There will be no session on November 11 due to Veterans Day

Registration for the fall session of Domestic Violence Tier 1, a 16-hour training on the dynamics of domestic violence, systems responding to domestic violence in Fairfax County, and resources available in our community, is now open. Questions? Contact Abby Picard.

Purple Thursday!
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026

Turn Fairfax County purple to support survivors of domestic violence. Wear purple, take selfies, and tag the Department of Family Services on Facebook. Send photos to Abby Picard.

Make a Note!

Please take a moment to log on to your Volunteer Management System (VMS) account and log your hours for the month of September. Please also log any time you spent on training under “volunteer training.” If you do not see this selection under your opportunities, please email Caroline Croghan, and she will log on to add it to your account.

Please enter your hours for each day you volunteered and not as a lump sum. If you need to log hours for a previous month, please email Caroline Croghan to let her know so she can be aware of the entry and expedite the approval process.

Parting Shot

Lynne Shapiro, Volunteer Manager Caroline Croghan, Dorothy Li, and Karen Bilak set up shop at VolunteerFest.

DSVS Wants You!

Interested in becoming a volunteer? Contact Caroline Croghan.

Check out past issues of Volunteer Voices.

Department of Family Services – Domestic and Sexual Violence Services

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