Upcoming Programs, Events and News of Intensive Family Services

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

Intensive Family Services CONTACT:
Karen Zeller/ Intensive Family Services
703-219-2186, kzeller@nvfs.org

 

The following are a list of upcoming programs, events and news of the Intensive Family Service (IFS) division of Northern Virginia Family Service:

NVFS Foster and Respite Families, staff attend community forums sponsored by First Lady Ann Holton
NVFS Special Foster Care (SFC) and Therapeutic Respite Care (TRC) families and staff were among those attending a community forum sponsored by Virginia First Lady Anne Holton on Sunday, March 19 in Tyson’s Square.

The forum was part of the First Lady’s statewide “For Keeps” tour, a new initiative to find and strengthen permanent families for older children in foster care or who might be at risk for coming into foster care.

NVFS foster families and staff told Holton about their concerns for the future of older children transitioning out of foster care into independent living. They also talked about the need for more resources to support foster children and the on-going challenge of finding more foster families.

The audience also told her about notable local programs that address barriers to success, such as education and training, medical care, employment and establishing permanent connections for older youth in foster care.

Holton’s tour will conclude later this month. The results will be compiled into a specific action plan to improve the foster care system in Virginia.

Manassas resident is glad she is an NVFS foster/respite parent, encourages others to do the same
Manassas resident Dawn Embry knows the value of being an NVFS Special Foster Care and Therapeutic Respite Care Parent.

“Not only do I see the changes I can make with a foster child,” she said, “ I can see how being a foster/respite parent with NVFS has helped to change my life for the better. When I tell people I am a foster/respite parent, they say, ‘What a blessing you are to these children.’ But I say, ‘The children have been a blessing to me.’”

Embry is one of many local residents who have recently chosen to become a foster/respite parent. She’s glad she did, and she encourages her other community members to join her. “We need lots more parents for these kids,” she said. “It may be one the best things you’ll ever do.”

A spring training is planned for those interested in becoming foster/respite parents. Sessions will be held from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, May 19, 26 and June 2 at the NVFS Offices in Oakton, VA. Participants will learn how to support children with special needs, among other topics. Breakfast and lunch will be provided at each Saturday session. To register, or for more information, call 703-219-2184 or email gsnaider@nvfs.org.

NVFS Foster Care Program Licensed to Provide Adoptions to Children Currently in Care
Children currently in Special Foster Care may now be eligible for adoption by their foster families, thanks to a newly obtained licensure by Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS).

Though not an adoption placement agency, NVFS is now licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Social Services to process adoptions for children who are already in the NVFS Special Foster Care Program.

“This is an important benchmark for NVFS and for the children in Special Foster Care,” said Susan Morris, NVFS Special Foster Care Program Manager. “Normally, by the time a foster child and foster family are ready to begin the adoption process, they detach from NVFS and the caseworker with whom they’ve built a relationship.”

Now that NVFS is approved to complete the adoption process, the foster child and foster family can continue their relationship while they work toward adoption, Morris explained.

Children in the NVFS Special Foster Care program are referred by local governments because of family situations in which abuse or neglect has occurred. Many children in the program suffer from behavioral, emotional, mental or health problems that make it difficult for their biological parents to cope with them.

The Special Foster Care program currently serves 70 children. The ultimate goal is to permanently reunify each child with his or her biological family, but the next best option is adoption. NVFS has not yet received an adoption contract from any of the counties it serves but it considers licensure an important step in bringing the best possible service to deserving foster children and families.

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 23,000 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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