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About FSIS

Family Services and Involvement Section (FSIS) is part of the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Office of Early Childhood and Family Services in the Instructional Services Department.

FSIS has a culturally diverse staff with many years of personal and professional expertise in education and parenting.

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Program History

In 1973, as part of the Office of Adult and Community Education of FCPS, the Home Economics program offered its first parenting classes to the public. Under the same program, the Speakers Bureau was created in 1982.

The Parenting Education Center (PEC) was conceived in 1987 and quickly expanded its services to include parent involvement in the schools, community outreach, and child-care services for parenting programs.

For the past ten years, the program has continued to grow to enhance parenting skills, promote parent involvement in the schools, and increase understanding and respect for families of diverse cultures.

In June of 2001, PEC changed its name to Family Services and Involvement Section (FSIS) to highlight our focus on families and better reflect our mission and services.

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Our Mission Statement

Family Services and Involvement Section (FSIS) serves as a catalyst and resource to schools, businesses, and communities to support and involve families in the development and education of their children.

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Guiding Principles

• Families

• Healthy families exist in many forms; all families have strengths.
• All families need support and encouragement.
• Parents can support and learn from one another.
• Families are children's first and most significant teachers.
• Family involvement in education can enhance school achievement.
• The home environment can support learning and children's school experience
• Families should be encouraged to celebrate their own unique culture and heritage.

• Schools

• Schools have a responsibility to involve all parents in their children's education.
• The culture, heritage, and strengths of families should be acknowledged and valued.
• All school staff should be committed to parent involvement.
• Effective parent involvement programs are comprehensive and year-round.
• Schools should have flexible and individually tailored activities which involve parents in their children's learning.
• There are a variety of ways to involve parents.
• Parent involvement activities enhance family-school relationships.
• School systems have a responsibility to coordinate parenting programs with other agencies and organizations.
• Schools and parents want children to be successful in life.

• Parenting

• Parents' knowledge and insight about their children should be recognized and valued.
• Parenting is valuable, important work.
• There are many positive ways to parent.
• Parents have a responsibility to be involved in their children's education.

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Customer Service Statement

Customer service within FSIS means that every member of the FSIS team will understand, take ownership of, and implement our mission by valuing and respecting our customers, anticipating and identifying their needs, and working together to provide the human and material resources to meet those needs.