(Posted 2025 August)
By Emily Kim, Court Liaison, Foster Care Case Carrying Unit for the Central Region of Fairfax County
Fairfax County Government is known for being innovative. Recently, the Fairfax County Department of Family Services has gained recognition for being the only jurisdiction in the state of Virginia to have two dedicated full-time court liaison positions.
Court Liaisons Forge their Own Path
The court liaison role was first designed to stop unnecessary transfers of troubled youth into foster care. Over time, the job has grown. Now, court liaisons work with community partners to help youth at high risk for out-of-home placements due to serious behavioral issues, mental health challenges, criminal activity, or substance use.
Recently, court liaisons gained statewide attention for their work with Relief of Custody (ROC) petitions. Virginia law allows parents or guardians to request the court to relieve them of caring for their child, which leads to the child entering foster care.
After noticing certain regions of the state had an unusually high number of these cases, the state studied how counties handle ROC petitions. It was shocking that Fairfax County, the largest locality in Virginia, consistently had the fewest ROC petitions filed.
As part of this review, Fairfax County’s court liaisons were invited to a Regional Roundtable with lawyers, judges, state officials, and even a state senator to discuss their out-of-the-box approach. Their work was also highlighted in a television interview with WSLS News 10 earlier this year.
Preventing Relief of Custody Petitions through Partnerships
The success of the court liaison team is rooted in prevention, teamwork, and Fairfax County’s "One Fairfax" mission. Court liaisons build strong relationships with partners such as Fairfax County Public Schools’ counselors and social workers, Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court probation officers, Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board resource team members, Guardians Ad Litem, and private providers.
These relationships act as an "early warning system," identifying and solving problems before parents feel the need to file for Relief of Custody.
Court liaisons know that caregiver burnout is the biggest reason families file for Relief of Custody, so they take a proactive approach to preventing it. They regularly meet with families and community agencies on Family Resource Teams to develop solutions, attending as many as 150 FRT meetings each year. These early interventions reduce stress and keep families together, which ultimately lowers the number of ROC petitions.
Processing Petitions, Modeling Care
On the rare occasions when an ROC petition is filed, court liaisons follow a detailed process. They use a special Relief of Custody Assessment Form, developed by the team, to evaluate the situation. This form helps gather all the necessary information to decide whether to support or oppose the request. The ROC process is long—sometimes taking up to a year—and there’s no guarantee the court will approve the request. During this time, court liaisons connect families with resources, help caregivers find ways to address their stress, and encourage plans with relatives or community services for immediate support.
Once the assessment is done, the team holds a meeting, bringing together professionals who understand both the ROC process and foster care's impact on youth. The team includes placement coordinators, Foster Care and Adoption staff, supervisors, and others who apply our Safe and Connected Practice model to make decisions in the best interest of the child.
The court liaisons are excited to be a part of setting a standard that is being noticed across the state. Their focus on preventing family breakdowns provides a roadmap for other localities across Virginia. The state workgroup has even hinted that new legislation is in the works to require a standardized document and process like the one in Fairfax County. This could make a significant difference for children and families across the state.
This article posting is part of the Foster Family News monthly newsletter designed to keep foster parents informed about all the new and notable happenings in Fairfax County.
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