FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Kristin Derlunas
Northern Virginia Family Service
Community/Media Relations
703-219-2123, kderlunas@nvfs.org

Karen Zeller/Intensive Family Service
703-219-2186, kzeller@nvfs.org

The following news is from the Intensive Family Services (IFS) division of
Northern Virginia Family Service:

NVFS Respite Parent Named Inova Volunteer of the Month
Full-time Systems Analyst Jim Poignon, who also is an NVFS therapeutic respite parent to two boys with special needs, has been named the July Inova Volunteer of the Month for his work in its Alexandria Hospital.

Poignon, a retired Army officer and the father of two adult children, has been a weekly volunteer at the hospital since 2004. As an Inova volunteer, he delivers newspapers to rooms and escorts discharged patients to their cars, among other duties. He also presents silver dollars to new mothers "as a start for baby's college fund." Inova awarded him the honor for his enthusiastic spirit and "can do" attitude.

He brings the same enthusiasm to his work with NVFS. A Therapeutic Respite Parent with NVFS for more than a year, Poignon recently presented the NVFS program with a check of nearly $2,000 from a fundraising drive that he coordinated at ASM Research, Inc. in Fairfax. He also bought 100 fishing poles for every Special Foster Care and Therapeutic Respite Care child and presented them during the program's annual Family Appreciation Picnic in May. Additionally, Poignon finds time to be an active fundraiser for breast cancer research, a disaster responder and a Catholic Eucharistic Minister.

Local Photographer Plans Picture-Perfect Days for Foster and Respite Children
A professional photographer from Alexandria plans two picture-perfect days for foster and respite children Aug. 24 and Aug. 25 at the NVFS office in Woodbridge. Elza Daniel of Elza Photography is hosting the two-day photo shoot that will feature individual and group shots of more than 80 kids currently in Special Foster and Therapeutic Respite Care. In addition to lending her time and talents, Daniel will provide families with professional digital photos of the foster and respite and biological children invited to the event as a community service.

Registration Continues for Fall Anger Management and Equipping Teens Registration is taking place for the fall Anger Management series that begins Tuesday, Sept. 5 and continues weekly through Tuesday, Oct. 24 at the NVFS Oakton Office, 10455 White Granite Drive, Suite 100. This 7-8:30 p.m. class teaches participants how to identify their anger triggers and how to express anger appropriately. Learning how to protect oneself from the anger of others is another goal of the class, among other topics. Classes cost $25 a session and $175 if all sessions are paid in advance. Pre-registration and an intake interview are required. Call 703-219-2185, ext. 1 to register.

There is also still time to register for the seven-week Equipping Teens series that begins Thursday, Sept. 21 at the NVFS Office in Oakton, Va. Based on the nationally known Equip model, this class integrates anger management with other important life skills. Teens learn ways to improve their social and communications skills. They also learn stress reduction techniques and how to make good decisions. Professional NVFS social workers and family clinicians lead the groups. Youth between the ages of 15 and 18 who are currently enrolled in high school can attend. Cost is $175 for all seven classes; $150 if paid in advance. A sliding scale is available to those who qualify. An in-take is required for all registrants. This can be conducted by phone or in person. There is an additional $25 charge for a 50-minute, in-person intake interview. Call 703-219-2116 to join.

Train to Be a Special Foster Care or Therapeutic Respite Parent This Fall
Community members interested in becoming a Special Foster Care or Therapeutic Respite Care parent may register for fall training that begins Saturday, Sept. 16 in Woodbridge. Training will be held from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays Sept. 16, Sept. 23 and Sept. 30. The classes will be at the NVFS Woodbridge office at 2200 Opitz Blvd., Suite 100. Participants will learn how to support children with special needs and therapeutic parenting techniques, among other topics. Breakfast and lunch will be provided at each Saturday session. To register, or for more information, call 703-219-2184.

Established in 1924, Northern Virginia Family Service is a private, non-profit community service resource dedicated to helping individuals and families find new paths to self-reliance and brighter futures. Each year, NVFS helps more than 24,000 people find affordable housing, counseling and child care; access to low-cost medical and dental services; foster and respite care, job training; trauma recovery; and much more. For more information, visit www.nvfs.org.

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