Department of Family Services – Community Corner Newsletter

Domestic violence is a family, community and public health issue with widespread ripple effects that impact all parts of our community. We can prevent domestic violence across our community by addressing the root causes of the problem, starting with Crafting Healthy Relationships—this year’s DVAM theme. Together we can eliminate attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, environments and policies that contribute to domestic violence and promote strategies to stop it, while confronting the gender and racial injustices that also contribute to the issue. It will take all of us to build a peaceful and safe Fairfax County. Find out how you can help raise awareness with our DVAM Community Engagement Toolkit.

The Department of Family Services’ Adult and Aging Division is excited to welcome the Silver Shield Anti-Scam Campaign as a new addition to its programs. Housed within the Volunteer Solutions unit, the program will continue its mission of educating older adults, people with disabilities, and family caregivers about scams and how to avoid them. With this move, the name will change to the Silver Shield Anti-Scam Program.

Launched in 2017 by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the campaign initially focused on addressing a rise in home improvement scams. As scams became more frequent and costly, the initiative expanded to cover a wide variety of fraudulent schemes impacting the community. Over the past eight years, the program has reached residents through community presentations and resource-sharing at local events. The annual Scam Jam event, a collaboration with AARP Virginia, brings together experts in law enforcement, finance, and consumer protection to educate the community. For more information visit the Silver Shield Anti-Scam Program website.

Starting October 1, 2025, SNAP participants will need to show proof of dependent care, housing (shelter), and medical costs when applying for or renewing SNAP benefits. Until now, participants could just tell us these expenses, but now we need documents to prove them. This change applies to new applications, renewals, and interim reports. Providing proof of expenses helps us make sure everyone gets the right amount of SNAP benefits. If you don’t share this proof, we can’t count those expenses, which could reduce the benefits you qualify for. Learn more and help us spread the word about this important SNAP change.

It’s that magical time of year again—our Adopt-A-Family Holiday Program is accepting donations! Thanks to your incredible generosity, last year we set record-breaking milestones, bringing joy, hope, and love to 2,190 children and 1,009 families. Help us surpass those milestones this year! Learn more.

Elaine Miletta is deeply devoted to improving the lives of animals. For most of her life, she has been involved in animal rescue, adopting and rehoming scores of dogs and cats. She is the founder of two nonprofits devoted to helping cats – Animal Allies and Pets Limited. Through her work, hundreds if not thousands of animals have been placed in loving homes or received the care they needed. She was recently recognized by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for her five decades of work on behalf of animals. Read more about Elaine’s life and work in the October issue of the Golden Gazette.

New and experienced Body Safety volunteers joined program staff for two creative training sessions. They reviewed the curriculum and prepared to step into classrooms across Fairfax County to share lessons in how to set boundaries and recognize uncomfortable touches and unsafe situations. We want to thank them for their commitment! To those inspired by their work—it’s never too late to join! Email us, call 703-324-7459 or check out the article to learn more.

What is rape culture? We define it as an environment where sexual violence is normalized, ignored, trivialized, or excused due to societal attitudes about gender, power, and sexuality. It is a culture in which harmful beliefs, behaviors, and systemic inequities contribute to the prevalence of sexual violence and make it easier for those acts to happen while minimizing accountability for people who inflict sexual violence on others and silencing or blaming survivors. Learn more about what rape culture is and how to challenge it.

The Fairfax County Department of Family Services is hosting its annual Employment Mentoring Day as part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) in October. NDEAM, started in 1945, celebrates the accomplishments of workers with disabilities and promotes equal job opportunities. This year’s theme, “Celebrating Value and Talent,” highlights how people with disabilities bring unique skills to the workplace and help grow the economy.

Employment Mentoring Day on Tuesday, Oct. 7 will connect three dozen students with disabilities to Fairfax County employees. The event helps students prepare for future jobs by offering advice and showing them career opportunities in local government. It’s organized by the county's Disability Rights and Resources (DRR) team in partnership with Fairfax County Public Schools. Learn more.