Department of Family Services Alert:
The Department of Family Services' Domestic and Sexual Violence Services offers compassionate and comprehensive state-accredited programs for adults, teens, and children who have been impacted by domestic and sexual violence, stalking, and human trafficking.
Free, short-term individual and family counseling services are now available via teletherapy. Call us at 703-324-5730 and choose the option for Counseling Services. The DSVS 24-hour hotline is still available 703-360-7273.
National Resources
State Resources
Local Resources
Domestic Violence Action Center (DVAC)
Historic Courthouse
4000 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 2702
Fairfax, VA 22030
703-246-4573, Email
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. (By appointment only from 4:30-7 p.m.)
Fairfax County Community Services Room
Tysons Corner Center
1961 Chain Bridge Road (2nd Level outside of Nordstrom)
McLean, VA 22102
703-246-5995, Email
Wednesdays and Fridays 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
(If you arrive before 10 a.m., please use Parking Deck A, located across from the Michael Kors store. Enter the mall through the entrance situated between Michael Kors and Maman Joon.)
Herndon Neighborhood Resource Center
1086 Elden Street
Herndon, VA 20170
Email
Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Herndon Connections for Hope
1141 Elden Street, Suite 200
Herndon, VA 20170
Email
Tuesdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
InovaCares Clinic for Women and Children
6400 Arlington Boulevard
Falls Church, VA 22042
Email
Mondays and Wednesday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Pennino Building
12011 Government Center Parkway, Suite 740
Fairfax County, VA 22035
703-324-5730, Email
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Interested in more articles about Domestic and Sexual Violence programs, services and resources? Check out the DSVS news page or variety of helpful topics.
Online (or digital) dating abuse--when a partner uses technology, such as a smartphone, social media, a tracking app, or another form of technology, to threaten, harass, and intimidate the person they're dating—is becoming more common. In fact, abuse prevention advocates report a significant uptick in the number of people, particularly teenage girls, who describe digital dating abuse in their relationships. Learn what digital abuse looks like and how to stay safe.
Victim blaming happens when a victim or survivor of sexual violence is held partially or completely responsible for the harm they experienced. It is a symptom of rape culture, in which our society minimizes the severity of sexual violence and normalizes attitudes and beliefs that defend acts of sexual violence. Victims of other violent crimes or health crises do not have to explain what they did to become victimized, but victims of sexual violence are too often forced to defend their actions leading up to an experience of sexual violence. This contributes to an environment where survivors who share their stories are blamed, disbelieved, and shamed.
Unscripted: Conversations about Sexual and Domestic Violence is a podcast featuring employees and subject matter experts from Domestic and Sexual Violence Services and partner organizations discussing all aspects of interpersonal violence, plus solutions and resources for support for residents of Fairfax County.
Sports fans, we have a problem—with interpersonal violence, that is. Recent research shows athletes in most of the professional sports leagues have domestic violence arrest rates much higher than the national average. This violence doesn’t stop with the pros. About 1 in 3 American athletes between ages 12 and 17 admitted perpetrating at least one act of sexual or dating violence in a 2019 study. On this episode of Unscripted, host Kendra Lee talks with Sultan Ludd, management analyst with Domestic and Sexual Violence Services (and a coach for local youth sports leagues); James Walkinshaw, Fairfax County’s Braddock District Supervisor; David Aldridge, senior columnist of The Athletic; and Keith Reed, editor at Capital B Atlanta and a former editor at ESPN the Magazine and Deadspin; about sports, culture, the intersection with interpersonal violence, and some solutions to this thorny issue.
Domestic and Sexual Violence Services works with communities to transform society’s response to domestic violence, sexual violence, human trafficking, and stalking by challenging oppression, collaborating to inform policy, and providing everybody impacted by violence with equitable access to trauma-informed support, advocacy, education, and a space for healing. Check out this article about the value of working with Fairfax County Domestic and Sexual Violence Division.
All services are confidential, free, and provided regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
For media inquiries, contact Department of Family Services' Public Information Officer Amy Carlini by email, office phone 703-324-7758 or mobile phone 571-355-6672.
Like and Follow us on Facebook at @FairfaxCountyFamilyServices for news, events, tips, stories and training opportunities. We support families and county residents of all ages and stages of life. Join our online community and engage with us through social media. #FairfaxCountyFamilyServices