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Family Services and Involvement Section (FSIS)
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Foster Parent Training and Consultation Program
In collaboration with the Fairfax County Department of Family Services' Court Supervised Care Program, Family Services and Involvement Section (FSIS) provides ongoing training and consultation to foster parents. These services are provided to individual foster families and are designed to meet the particular needs of a foster family and the child or children placed in their home.
This service is designed to serve all first-time foster parents, foster families with special-needs children, and families with sibling groups. Any foster family that a foster care social worker feels could benefit from this assistance may also utilize this service. Foster parents themselves may also request this assistance in connection with a specific child or children placed in their home.
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Our Parenting Specialist
Our parenting specialist focuses on providing short-term training, consultation, and support to each foster family regarding specific child management/ parenting issues. Emphasis is placed on behavior management techniques and continued support of foster parents and all members of the family.
The parenting specialist's role is complementary to the role of the foster care worker. The foster care social worker remains the case manager and retains all casework responsibilities.
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Our Services
The goal of this service is to assist foster parents in selecting and using effective methods of parenting to meet the individual needs of children placed in their home. FSIS and the parenting specialist also publish a quarterly newsletter with information about issues such as behavior management, child development, and issues related to education. To date, our parenting specialist has worked successfully with more than 256 families in the 12 years of the contract.
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Participant Comments
When asked "What was the best outcome of the experience you had with the parenting specialist?" participants responded:
- "The kids; allowing us to have and experience the kids has been wonderful."
- "We have been very favorably impressed with the support afforded us and the professional way we have been treated. The hard work and honest effort of all involved with us have been impressive and appreciated."
- "Providing a listening ear; having someone who would listen to me and support me instead of the focus always being on the child."
- "Consultant was helpful, knowledgeable and made outstanding suggestions; she was a great source of support for foster parents trying to find their way through..."
- "Fantastic service; parenting techniques actually worked!"
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Questions and Information
To receive more information about the foster care program and services, contact Doreen Larson at 703-227-2634 or via e-mail: Doreen.Larson@fcps.edu
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