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DEPARTMENT of FAMILY SERVICES |
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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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Get Your Taxes Done for Free Before April 15
Did your household make less than $67,000 in 2024? You could benefit from free tax preparation services with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, open until April 15. Visit one of our five locations across the county to get trained volunteer assistance maximizing your return and tax credits. Watch our video chatting with VITA staff and volunteers about how the program supports you this tax season.
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We’re Here for You: Financial and Medical Assistance
Do you know what to do when times are tough and budgets are tight? You don’t have to figure it out alone. Public Assistance and Employment Services operates financial and medical assistance that can help you afford essentials. Whether it’s help buying groceries, finding affordable medical care, or training and education to help you find a new job, we can help. Learn more about our services and consider sharing with a friend.
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The Keys to Success for Families
No one can take all the stress out of parenting, but it can be manageable if you build up the five protective factors that help families thrive. Learn more about these keys to success including ways to bounce back during adversity, social connections, seeking community resources, learning about child development, and social emotion learning.
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Volunteer Solutions is Making a Meaningful Impact
Fairfax County offers many services and resources for people living in our community to reduce social isolation and help them “age in place.” But sometimes, the demand for help exceeds what county staff can provide for clients who receive case management services. That’s where volunteers come in! Volunteer Solutions, a program within the Adult and Aging Division of the Department of Family Services, in partnership with Neighborhood and Community Services, connects volunteers with meaningful opportunities to improve the lives of older adults, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers. Read how Volunteer Solutions is making a difference in the April issue of the Golden Gazette.
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Is Patriarchy the Driving Force Behind Interpersonal Violence?
Patriarchy influences how we view gender roles, economic systems, and interpersonal relationships. To understand how it shows up in communities—and how it contributes to violence in those communities—requires studying its history, its influence on social structures, and its intersection with economic systems. This episode of Unscripted breaks down patriarchy and looks at its influence on interpersonal violence.
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Preparing for Summer Camp: Tips for Foster Families
Summer camp registration is underway for many programs. It’s so important for children to stay active and keep their minds engaged while school is on break. Summer camps can provide those opportunities while filling a need for children to be occupied during the workday. Here are a few tips, resources, and guidelines about summer camps.
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Understanding Reproductive Coercion
Reproductive coercion: when your partner won’t let you see your doctor, sabotages your birth control, forces you to have sex without protection, or threatens your pregnancy. And it’s a type of sexual violence. Learn more about what reproductive coercion looks like and where you can go for support if you’re being impacted by it.
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Wednesday, April 16 – Miscommunication or Missed Communication? The Challenges of Hearing Loss for Caregivers
Join Bonnie O’Leary from the Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons, as she shares information about hearing loss as a disability, the types and causes of hearing loss, how to recognize it, and its similarities to early-onset dementia. She will also discuss myths surrounding hearing aids and cochlear implants, and the emotional and psychological impact late-onset hearing loss can have on seniors. This presentation hosted by the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging will also teach caregivers about the speaker/listener/environment/message components of communication and what can be controlled in listening situations to make communication easier. Learn about helpful tools, personal amplifiers, and tips and information on effective communication strategies. This presentation is scheduled from 12-1 p.m. Register to receive an email with access instructions.
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Monday, April 21 – Virtual Community Forum on Accessible Transportation Topics
Join the Fairfax Area Disability Services Board (FA-DSB) April 21, 2025, from 7-8:30 p.m. for a virtual community forum to identify systemic gaps in service and/or barriers Fairfax County, City of Falls Church, and City of Fairfax residents with disabilities face with accessible transportation. Learn more and register.
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Wednesday, April 23 – Teen Advocates Gameshow Event
Join our Teen Advocates as they raise awareness about teen dating violence on Wednesday, April 23, from 6-8 p.m. at the James Lee Community Center (2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church, VA 22042). This event, which will feature team-based competitions, cool prizes, and more, is free and open to Fairfax County teenagers and their families. Questions? Email Debra Miller.
Únete a nosotros para el evento de concursos de los Teen Advocates que será emocionante. Que: Violencia en el noviazgo entre adolescentes concurso de concientización. Cuando: miércoles, abril. 23, 2025, 6-8 p.m. Donde: Centro comunitario de James Lee, 2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church, VA 22042. Quien puede atender: Jóvenes de la edad 12-19 (¡Trae a tus amigos/amigas!). Para más información, contacta Noraybeth Nieto.
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 Access Fairfax is a twice monthly newsletter sharing news, resources, and events for people with disabilities in Fairfax County.
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 Our weekly Career Resources Newsletter includes information on job leads, upcoming webinars and employment events.
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 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.
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 The quarterly newsletter The Update covers helpful information and topics for persons receiving long-term care services and their caregivers.
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 Our Volunteer Post Newsletter provides a glimpse into the many ways to get involved in making a difference and supporting families in our community.
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 Please follow us on Facebook at Fairfax County Department of Family Services for news, events, tips, stories and training opportunities. We support families and county residents of all ages and stages of life. Join our community and engage with us through social media!
Join Us! Learn about career and volunteer opportunities in the Department of Family Services.
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The Department of Family Services (DFS) envisions a community where everyone lives their success story and thrives. DFS strengthens the well-being of our diverse community by protecting and improving the lives of all children, adults, and families through assistance, partnership, advocacy, outreach, and quality services.
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