Family Services – Community Corner

Volunteer and Partner Services is excited to once again partner with Roonga, this time for our annual School Supply and Backpack Drive! Starting today, July 1 through August 7, you or your organization are invited to Adopt-A-Student and help them start the school year prepared and confident. Learn more.

“Last year, I decided to pour more of my time into volunteering regularly,” says Blain Tariku, a Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Hotline volunteer. “A DSVS training was offered by my employment with Fairfax County and through that I became informed of the many volunteer opportunities through DSVS and felt drawn to supporting this population in the county and community I grew up in.” Read more of Blain’s volunteer journey.

If you have some weekend availability and love children, apply to BeFriend-A-Child! Mentoring plays a vital role in children’s growth and development. From building self-esteem to promoting educational success, the influence of a caring adult can be transformative. Our next new-mentor training will take place virtually on Saturday, July 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Learn more about the program or apply online.

If you are a resident in Fairfax County, City of Fairfax, or City of Falls Church, and are age 50 or older, please take a few moments to complete the community-wide 2026 Community Assessment Survey for Older Adults.

This survey is conducted by The Department of Family Services’ Fairfax Area Agency on Aging in partnership with Polco, a research firm and civic engagement organization. The questionnaire gathers insight from persons age 50 and older into overall community livability, covering topics such as employment and volunteer opportunities, housing, accessibility, mobility, and physical and mental health. Results from this survey will help inform the development of strategic planning related to initiatives, and community programs that serve older adults in the community.

If you’ve already taken this survey because you were part of a randomly selected sample, no need to take it again, but please do help us spread the word by sharing the survey link with your neighbors and local networks. Please complete the survey by July 14, 2026.

Beginning in September 2026, VDSS will replace all magnetic stripe EBT cards with chip-enabled cards that support both tap and chip-insert transactions. The move to chip-enabled EBT cards is a major step toward protecting customer benefits and reducing fraud. EBT cardholders should update their address before July 15, 2026, to get the new card on time. Update your address online at CommonHelp; call 703-324-7500; or email DFSMyCase@fairfaxcounty.gov. Learn more about chip cards and how they help protect your benefits.

Sheila Consaul has always been fascinated by historic properties. After spending 15 years restoring a historic lighthouse in Ohio to use as her summer home, she applied to Fairfax County Park Authority’s Resident Curator Program. Now, one year into her tenure as resident curator of Ash Grove, a historic home in Vienna, she has made significant progress restoring and preserving an important piece of Fairfax County history. Learn more about Sheila and her work to restore Ash Grove in the July issue of the Golden Gazette.

A lifetime of domestic violence sent a victim to Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Counseling Services for support. Years of emotional and verbal abuse had left her feeling unsure, confused, and unable to trust herself. Through short-term counseling, the woman developed tools for healing and built her self-confidence and resilience. She learned to stand up for herself and take better care of her mental and physical health. Now, she no longer views herself as a victim but instead feels empowered and in control of her life. See more of her journey.

Make your move to local government or a nonprofit organization at this free event for job seekers interested in pursuing meaningful careers that make an impact. Fairfax County Public Libraries and the Department of Family Services- Workforce Development are partnering to bring together hiring government agencies and local nonprofits with all types of open positions. Join us on Wednesday, July 22, 2-5 p.m., Franconia Governmental Center at 7130 Silver Lake Blvd., Alexandria, VA 22315. If you’re a federal worker considering making the move to local government, check out our Redefine Your Path webinar series on leveraging your skills and application tips.