Welcome to the 2023 May issue of The Volunteer Post Newsletter, for current and potential volunteers, sponsors and donors interested in supporting children and families in crisis.
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Thank You, Sponsors, for Supporting Our First Return to in-Person Volunteer Celebration
Our amazing volunteers are the backbone of Volunteer & Partner Services’ programs. We could never have made such an impact in the community this past year without each of you! Learn about the way that sponsors and donors in the community came together to help us celebrate our dedicated volunteers during National Volunteer Month. Thank you to all the sponsors and donors who helped make our Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event a success including:
- Fairfax Church
- Harmony Road String Ensemble
- Fairfax Wegmans
- Fair Lakes Chick-Fil-A
- Fair Lakes TGI Friday’s
- Fair Lakes Olive Garden
- Fair Lakes Nothing Bundt Cakes
- Janet Little
Community Embraces Child Abuse Prevention Efforts
Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, nurturing, and stable environment, but child abuse and neglect cuts across all demographic areas and impacts our entire community. Volunteer & Partner Services exists to engage volunteers and build partnerships to support families with children who are at risk of abuse, neglect, or being placed in foster care or with other relatives. During Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, we partnered with others in the community to raise awareness that the trauma of child abuse and neglect is preventable. Learn more.
Prevention Programs Complete First Student Grief Groups in Partnership with FCPS
Nicole Wilson and Leah Frazier, mental health specialists with the Department of Family Services’ Neighborhood Networks program, recently co-led weekly sessions of a grief group. The participants were London Towne Elementary School students who have suffered unimaginable losses. Children, Youth, and Families’ facility dog, Rylynn, and her handler Sam Carrico, were there to support students. Learn more about this community partnership.
Introducing New Body Safety and BeFriend-A-Child Program Staff, Paula Severiche and Elizabeth Aguilar Martinez
The VPS family is growing! We are excited to introduce two new staff members, Paula Severiche and Elizabeth Aguilar Martinez. Please extend them a warm handshake and a smile when you meet them at upcoming events. Learn about their backgrounds and new responsibilities here.
Body Safety Coordinator Recognized with County Outstanding Performance Award
Francesca Lovitt, the VPS Body Safety Coordinator, is incredibly knowledgeable about all aspects of VPS programs. She has been especially valuable as VPS has gone through a series of staffing transitions since November 2022. We are proud to announce that Francesca was recently recognized with an Outstanding Performance Award (OPA) “for a distinguished achievement that benefited our department and Fairfax County Government.” Learn more.
National Foster Care Month Highlights an Opportunity to Support the Vulnerable
May is National Foster Care Month. There are approximately 400,000 youth in foster care across the nation. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, there are nearly 5,000 children and youth in foster care, and 200 children and youth are in foster care locally. When a child’s home environment is unsafe due to abuse, neglect, or other circumstances, foster care provides a temporary home for the child with foster parents, relatives, or in some cases, therapeutic residential care. Mental and behavioral health is the largest unmet health need for these children and teens. Relational permanency is fundamental to the well-being of children and youth in foster care. Having stable, nurturing placements has positive impacts on children and youth’s resilience and long-term wellbeing. We recognize foster parents for their role, and recognize that as a community, we each can play a part in enhancing the lives of children and youth in foster care. Find resources and information and volunteer opportunities to help ensure that their future is bright.
ABOUT VOLUNTEER & PARTNER SERVICES (VPS)
The Volunteer Post Newsletter is part of the Department of Family Services Volunteer & Partner Services Program (VPS) - managing volunteer programs (Administrative Assistant Program, BeFriend-A-Child Mentoring Program, Body Safety Program - Speak Up Be Safe, recruiting and training volunteers for programs (Father Engagement Program and Parenting Education Programs); and working with partners, sponsors and donors to help in special efforts (Adopt-A-Family Program, Baby box initiative, back-to-school backpacks). Learn more about VPS and how volunteers are making a positive difference.
Browse through past newsletters in the archive. To provide feedback on our newsletter or to be added to our mailing list, contact us.