March is Social Work Month – a time to recognize, appreciate, and celebrate the important work of social workers. Department of Family Services' social workers are on the forefront of pressing issues facing our nation, including providing services to our aging population, treating people affected by an ongoing opioid addiction crisis, and helping people find affordable housing and adequate health care.
Here are a few examples of the work they do on behalf of children, families, people impacted by interpersonal violence, older adults, and adults with disabilities:
- Educate older adults, their caregivers and families about useful resources, preventative screenings, and assessments available to them.
- Investigate reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of to determine if protective services are needed.
- Provide support and resources to people impacted by interpersonal violence.
- Help protect children, prevent child abuse and neglect, and support families by helping them remain together safely.
- Staff the Aging, Disability & Caregiver Resources Line and connect callers to services and programs that will help improve their quality of life.
- Advocate on a systems level to ensure laws and policies are adopted so everyone can access such services.
Every day, social workers employed with the Department of Family Services provide invaluable services to the community.
Jeannine Purdy works in Volunteer Solutions as a regional volunteer coordinator, training, orienting, and processing new volunteers who help community member in many different settings. She says volunteers positively impact our community and Volunteer Solutions offers meaningful opportunities to help support older adults, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers.
Every day, social workers in Fairfax County help improve the lives of the most vulnerable members of our community. In the Adult and Aging Division of the Department of Family Services, social services specialists ensure that older adults and adults with disabilities are protected from abuse, exploitation, and neglect. They also work to assess the needs of older adults, work in partnership with adults and families to create care plans, and support adults and families to carry out those plans. Through compassion, collaboration and problem solving, these dedicated workers help to achieve favorable outcomes for the people they serve. 
We are so “doggone” excited about this recent opportunity for Volunteer and Partner Services Supervisor, Samantha Carrico, and the Department of Family Services’ facility dog, Rylynn, to be guest speakers at the University of Lynchburg. Sam shared her experience working in Child Protective Services conducting forensic investigations of child abuse allegations and the role that Rylynn has played in supporting children and families. 
Volunteer and Partner Services is grateful for the two motivated interns working with the program for the 2024-2025 school year. Both are students at George Mason University. John is a candidate for his bachelor of social work, while Sammi is working toward her masters.