Department of Family Services – Community Corner Newsletter

Did you know?

• 1 in 4 women and nearly 1 in 10 men will experience sexual violence, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner during their lives.
• More than 43 million women and 38 million men will experience psychological aggression by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

Domestic violence is a family, community and public health issue with widespread ripple effects that impact all parts of our community. Learn more about how Domestic and Sexual Violence Services observes DVAM and supports survivors—and what you can do to help educate the community about this public health issue.

This month we highlight the importance of increasing the quantity and quality of employment opportunities for people with disabilities. “Access to Good Jobs for All” is the theme of this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 36.9% of the working-age population (aged 16 to 64) with disabilities was employed in July 2024. Learn more about Employment Mentoring Day, an annual event organized by the Disability Rights and Resources unit in the Department of Family Services.

Cold weather can strain heating systems and increase costs, which can be difficult for anyone on a limited income. The Fuel Assistance program helps pay heating costs for eligible households. Some people will be pre-approved and others will need to apply. Applications will be accepted from October 8 until November 8. To apply for Fuel Assistance, or other food and medical benefits, visit CommonHelp or call 855-635-4370.

Julianne (Juli) Verrier believes in finding your passion. A lifelong animal lover, she is passionate about caring for vulnerable animals. Following her retirement 10 years ago, Verrier began devoting much of her time to volunteering with the animal rescue group, Pets Bring Joy, to help cats without homes in the community. In June, her compassion for endangered cats led to her rescuing a mother cat and her five kittens from the parking lot at a local Starbucks, then fostering the feline family while working with other volunteers to place them in loving homes. While caring for these creatures can be exhausting, it is also a gratifying experience, one that provides Verrier with a deep sense of purpose and great joy. Learn more about Verrier and her efforts to help animals in the October issue of the Golden Gazette.

We are thrilled to announce that 14 youth in foster care overcame significant challenges to successfully graduate high school, college or obtain a professional certificate this year. Over the summer, the Fairfax County Foster Care and Adoption Program joined with friends, family, and community partners to celebrate their accomplishments at a special event. It was a special event with lots of fun surprises. Learn more. 

Fairfax Employment Services held the Northern Virginia Senior Community Services Employment Program (SCSEP) Career Fair last week and connected 78 mature job seekers with employers. SCSEP places mature workers in paid training and development opportunities to prepare for permanent employment. Participants thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to speak directly with 7 regional employers and 5 community agencies about job placements. The Northern Virginia SCSEP Program is delivered in close coordination with The SkillSource Group, Inc. and the Virginia Career Works Northern Region. Learn more and apply.

Social media can be a powerful and helpful way for folks to build a sense of connection and community and to share important information. But sometimes that information is misunderstood or used in ways that isn’t quite accurate and could even be harmful. On this episode of Unscripted, host Kendra Lee sits down with domestic and sexual violence counselor Kathryn Harlow and Youth Education and Outreach specialist Debra Miller, both of Domestic and Sexual Violence Services, to reframe common misconceptions, particularly the information we are seeing a lot in the domestic and sexual violence realm.