Department of Family Services

CONTACT INFORMATION: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
703-324-7500 TTY 711
12011 Government Center Parkway, Pennino Building
Fairfax, VA 22035
Michael A. Becketts
Director

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Community Corner

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Welcome to the Department of Family Services' Community Corner. Our weekly newsletter, updated each Wednesday, provides information about upcoming events, parenting and wellness tips, programs and services, and more! Share these helpful posts with your family and friends.

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Do you need to sign up for Medicare? Medicare 101 Workshops, led by the Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP), are for individuals and their care partners who will soon be eligible for Medicare or have Medicare and would like to learn more about it. Register for a Medicare 101 workshop, offered virtually or in-person. In-person workshops have limited seating. Registration is required. Learn more.

Connect directly with recruiters and take your first step towards a new career, helping those who need it most. Hiring for Caregivers, Housekeeping Positions, CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistants), PCAs (Personal Care Assistants), and Part-time Administrative Positions. Co-hosted by Department of Family Services – Public Assistance and Employment Services and Fairfax County Public Libraries. Register to attend. 

Are you curious about becoming a foster parent? Hundreds of children in Fairfax County need a temporary loving home until they can safely return to their families. Our next virtual information meeting is by invitation only on Thursday, Nov. 6, at 6:45 p.m. Complete this short interest form for prospective parents. For more information check out our website.

If you want to make a difference for a child and you are available on the weekends, our BeFriend-A-Child Mentoring program may be the opportunity for you. You can even work around your schedule to spend time with your mentee. Build up a child’s social skills, increase their self-esteem, and help them overcome challenges through fun enrichment activities. Mentors are needed now! The next training for new mentors will take place virtually on Saturday, November 8 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Learn more or start the application process now! 

The Department of Family Services – Employment Services is partnering with Vitae Visual to host the Metro Area Career Fair. There will be 20 employers from different industries available to connect with jobseekers directly. Get free onsite career counseling, as well as workforce presentations! Register here.

Calling all family caregivers, volunteers that work with older adults, and professionals in aging services! Join us at the largest ongoing dementia conference in the region focused on caregivers hosted by experts in care, the Northern Virginia Dementia Care Consortium. Attend workshops and hear from dementia caregiver professionals to be better prepared to provide care and support at home or in a facility. Visit exhibitors who offer supportive services and connect with other caregivers. The conference runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Register today to reserve your spot.

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CHECK OUT OLDER POSTS!

The Department of Family Services has been notified by the Virginia Department of Social Services that if the federal shutdown continues, November SNAP benefits may not be issued. Learn more about SNAP and where to get help with getting food.

All relationships need healthy boundaries--appropriate behavior that keeps everybody in the relationship safe. This is especially true in intimate partnerships. And, in an age where our lives are increasingly lived online, it is crucial that we set digital boundaries, as well. What do healthy digital boundaries look like? Find out.

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newsletter graphicFoster Family News for Current and Potential Fairfax County Foster Parents – October 2025

Our monthly Foster Family Newsletter shares resources and experiences relevant to foster and adoptive parents, children in care, and the resource workers who support them. Check out the October 2025 newsletter. This month we focus on kinship heroes, the kinship symposium, and the youth survey.

newsletter graphicGolden Gazette Newsletter Covers a Variety of Topics Concerning Older Adults and Caregivers in Fairfax County

Check out the October 2025 Golden Gazette, featuring Elaine Miletta, who has worked to improve the lives of animals for five decades. You’ll also learn about the Fairfax Lions Club, Fairfax County’s Adult Day Health Care program, and more.

newsletter graphicThe Volunteer Post Newsletter

We have many wonderful volunteers and donors helping children and families in Fairfax County. Our Volunteer Post Newsletter provides a glimpse into the many ways to get involved in making a difference and supporting families in our community. Check out the September 2025 issue for the launch of the Adopt-A-Family Holiday program, meet our new interns, and see what an incredible summer our programs had.

newsletter graphicVolunteer Voices Newsletter

Catch up with Domestic and Sexual Violence Services’ volunteers in the October 2025 Volunteer Voices. Meet management analyst Simrat Grewal and Hotline volunteer Lynne Shapiro; find out how to participate in the Domestic Violence Awareness Month Community Quilt Project; and start our serial review of Netflix’s Emmy-winning “Adolescence.” Plus, get the scoop on how the Volunteer and Community Partnership Network works for all Department of Family Services volunteers; sign up for trainings; and more!

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Department of Family Services logoThe Department of Family Services (DFS) promotes the well-being of the County's diverse community by protecting and improving the lives of children, adults and families through supportive services, education and advocacy.

Fairfax County Health and Human Services LogoThis Department of Family Services agency is a part of the Fairfax County Health & Human Services System (HHS). The HHS System is a network of county agencies and community partners that support the well-being of all who live, work and play in Fairfax County.

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