Family Services – Community Corner

During Fatherhood Awareness Month, we reflect on the ways fathers help shape the lives of children and the strength of our neighborhoods. The more involved fathers are in their communities, the more their impact ripples out from their families throughout society. If you’ve ever wondered why fathers matter, how their community involvement makes a difference, or what are some simple steps fathers can take at home and in their neighborhoods, check out this article.

Are you passionate about education and children? We want to meet you at the Fort Belvoir Children & Youth Services (CYS) hiring event on Wednesday, June 24 from 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at the Gerry Highland Government Center. Open positions for Childcare Teachers and Teaching Assistants, full-time, part-time, and flex opportunities available. DFS Workforce Development partners with local employers to connect job seekers with the next step in their career, providing employment services and support to help you get there. Learn more about CYS position requirements and benefits.  

Longtime Unscripted listeners know we never say “why doesn’t she just leave” or even encourage people in violent relationships to separate or divorce. The decision to leave or stay rests with the victim, as they know their situation best. But when someone does want to end an abusive situation, what should they know? This is an especially important question when we understand that planning to leave, leaving, and the immediate aftermath of leaving can be the most dangerous times for victims. On this episode of Unscripted, host Kendra Lee; Domestic and Sexual Violence Services senior victim advocate Vanessa Cullers; Stephanie Sauer, a partner and family law chair at The Geller Law Group; and Allison Mazzei, a senior associate also at The Geller Group, talk about safety planning during divorce. 

Do you ever open your cable bill and feel unsure about what you are being charged for? If so, you are not alone. Cable bills can be difficult to understand, particularly when prices change, promotional discounts expire, or unfamiliar fees appear. Learn more about your cable bill, your rights, and where to get help with unresolved issues in the June issue of the Golden Gazette.

Imagine being the trusted adult a child looks forward to seeing. If you have some weekend availability, you can do just that through our BeFriend-A-Child Mentoring Program. Mentors help children build social skills, grow their confidence, and overcome obstacles—all through meaningful, fun enrichment activities. You can even fit mentoring around your own schedule. We’re recruiting mentors now ahead of our virtual training for new mentors on Saturday, July 11, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Learn more or apply today.

Many people may not realize that benefit programs like SNAP and Medicaid provide additional accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Under both programs, individuals with disabilities are exempt from work and community engagement requirements. SNAP participants with disabilities may be allowed to deduct more medical expenses and be eligible for longer certification periods. Medicaid provides access to Long Term Support and Services (LTSS) that provides services through nursing facilities and community-based settings. Learn more about policy highlights and waivers that may help individuals with disabilities participating in benefit programs.  

If you or someone you know is in a violent intimate relationship, you may hear (or say yourself), “The abuse is not that bad” or other phrases that seem to excuse the behavior. Though minimizing abuse might sound like low self-esteem on the part of the survivor, it’s most likely a survival strategy. This is what else you should know about the reasons someone may minimize abuse.