FOR RELEASE ON JANUARY 7, 2025
Media Contact:
Krysten Copeland for NVFS
krysten@jrcommunications.com
202-630-3215
Combined Entity Will Broaden Services to Better Serve the Children of Northern Virginia
FALLS CHURCH, VA – Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS) is pleased to announce its merger with Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) of Northern Virginia to add child welfare services that will further support families throughout Northern Virginia. Through this merger, NVFS will expand its robust spectrum of family programs, including Healthy Families, Early Head Start, Head Start, and Youth Initiatives, with the addition of SCAN’s CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) services and Family Programs.
“SCAN has an enduring reputation for its dedicated, compassionate service, and we are proud to join forces to deepen the impact of services for families in our region,” said Stephanie Berkowitz, president and CEO of Northern Virginia Family Service. “With the addition of SCAN’s child abuse prevention services, NVFS expands upon its experience providing comprehensive support for children and youth. We are honored to support the dedicated CASA volunteers who advocate for children in Arlington and Alexandria every day, and build on SCAN’s legacy and critical work.”
The merger of NVFS and SCAN has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both organizations and was effective as of January 1, 2025 at which time all SCAN employees joined the NVFS team.
NVFS supports individuals and families with high-quality services centered on food insecurity, health equity, education for parents and children, trauma recovery, workforce development, and more. By tapping into inherent resilience and focusing on the root causes of problems, NVFS helps individuals and families transform themselves and their communities for generations to come.
SCAN’s CASA programs serve children in Alexandria City and Arlington County who have been abused or neglected. Recognizing that family stability is fundamental to child welfare, SCAN’s Family Programs offer services that address the specific challenges faced by at-risk families, while its professional development and public education services further work to stop child abuse in Northern Virginia by enhancing the capacity of professionals and the community to safeguard children and support families effectively.
“For more than 35 years, SCAN has dedicated itself to making Northern Virginia a safer place for children,” said David (“Dave”) J. Cleary, founder of SCAN. “As a survivor-led organization, SCAN places each child’s well-being at the center of its work and believes in the fundamental human rights of all children to be safe, respected, and supported. NVFS has been a valued partner in our community, and I am excited to see SCAN’s mission continue and grow through this merger.”
Kevin W. Weigand, president of the SCAN Board of Directors, added, “Supporting families is core to the missions of both NVFS and SCAN. With NVFS’s extensive history and infrastructure in Northern Virginia, this merger allows SCAN’s advocacy efforts to reach more children and families than ever before. The combined entity has an extraordinary opportunity to enhance our impact.”
Katherine Markel and Cooper Littlejohn led the team from Holland & Knight LLP (for NVFS) and Zack Andrews, Christopher Young, and Emad Maghsoudi from Bean Kinney & Korman, P.C. (for SCAN) provided pro bono legal representation in connection with the merger.
About Northern Virginia Family Service
For more than 100 years, Northern Virginia Family Service’s (NVFS) breadth, depth, and scope of services have offered the resources and support to ensure that everyone in need, at every stage of life, maximizes their potential and fully contributes to a thriving community. We provide the essential building blocks for financial, emotional, and physical well-being, serving as leaders and innovators for the Northern Virginia community. Every year, we empower more than 40,000 individuals to achieve their goals. With these essential resources, our community is better equipped for future success and engagement among all of our neighbors. Learn more at nvfs.org.
About SCAN
Established in 1988 and based in Alexandria, Virginia, Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) is Northern Virginia’s only nonprofit organization exclusively focused on preventing child abuse. With over 36 years of experience, SCAN remains dedicated to advocacy and support for at-risk children and families, bringing a unique, survivor-led perspective to its work. By centering children and their well-being, SCAN strives to create a safe, nurturing environment for young people across the region. The organization’s mission is clear: to prevent child abuse and empower families through a multifaceted approach that strengthens child protection efforts in Northern Virginia.
Learn more at https://scanva.org/.
