Family FocusA publication for the friends, partners and supporters of Northern Virginia Family Service

Spring 2012

Our Mission Initiatives

Child & Family Enrichment Safe & Stable HousingEmergency ServicesWorkforce DevelopmentHealth Access

In this issue >

Help • Hope • Here

NVFS has a commitment to making sure that children have opportunities to grow and thrive, regardless of the challenges or misfortunes of their parents and communities. Our Child & Family Enrichment programs aim to create safe environments for newborns, excellence in pre-K education and formation, accountability and mentorship for students that are struggling academically or socially, and nurturing homes for foster children.

But the real impact of our approach is the integration of the rest of our programming for these, our most vulnerable clients. Through quality case management and referrals, children are screened for developmental and health out-comes based on government guidelines. Catching an early warning sign enables NVFS to be proac-tive in creating a better future for each child. We have a team of specialists working on nu-trition, developmental disabilities, mental health screenings and family partnerships. Wherever possible, we educate and engage parents as the primary caretakers of their children.

At NVFS, we care too much about the future of this community to let a child fall behind.

Mary AgeePresident & CEO

SERVE Expansion 4,000 Sq. Ft. Expansion Underway

We are excited to share a few pictures of the ongoing work at our family emergency shelter in Manassas, where an expansion will be completed this summer to increase its capacity from 60 to 92 beds.

Week 1: Foundation work

Week 3: Roof installation

Week 4: Exterior construction

Healthy Families: An Integrated ApproachOur Healthy Families programs provide education to parents in order to promote positive childhood out-comes among families at risk for child maltreatment. Home visits begin prenatally or shortly after birth, and occur weekly until parents demonstrate consistent qual-ity care for their newborn children. Services continue, with frequency determined by the families’ needs, until children are three years of age. Our Family Support Workers (FSWs) guide parents toward positive interac-tions with their children, providing parenting education, health education, developmental screenings, school readiness, family health plans and referrals.

Especially for first-time parents, some of the common challenges of raising a newborn can feel insurmount-able. That’s where Healthy Families steps in, even as the family undergoes a stressful transition, to teach parents the basics. This includes techniques on soothing a crying baby, infant nutrition, maintaining a safe home environment, and observing child development.

The Healthy Families and Early Head Start home visit-ing programs are relationship-based, and once rapport is established, parents generally trust the FSW’s advice. Our FSWs educate parents on the importance of play time, of physical contact and of reading aloud to their children. This kind of interaction proves vital in the so-cial and emotional readiness of children to enter school.

Making a DifferenceEmily and Jason Debeniotis gave considerable thought before pursuing foster care and adoption. They believed they could help a child in need and make a difference. They had had discussed adoption with their nine year old daughter, Gabriella, in the spring of 2008. All agreed it was a good idea. Gabriella too wanted to help others. Emily and Jason’s positive parenting experience and their satisfaction raising a well-balanced, giving and happy daughter motivated them to parent others. Jason and Emily lost their daughter a year later due to cardiac arrest. Their interest in foster care was then enhanced as a means to honor their daughter. As foster parents with NVFS, the Debeniotises have made an immea-surable positive impact in the lives of their foster children while honoring the memory of their daughter.

Mission SpotlightTo provide services and interventions that support the healthy development of children from birth through early adulthood.

www.nvfs.org Help • Hope • Here(continued on next page)

Help-Portrait EventEarly this winter, a team of five volun-teer photographers, an assistant, and one hair and makeup artist spent a day at our SERVE campus taking portraits of many of our Early Head Start and

Healthy Families clients. For many families, this would be their first formal portrait session. For some families currently experiencing instability, the portrait offers a cherished moment of togetherness and happiness.

See our special thanks in the “Good Works” section on the following page.

In addition to our focus on the wellbeing of children in this program, NVFS looks for other indicators of family stress. Ongoing maternal depression can have signifi-cant and long-lasting effects on the growth and devel-opment of young children. Children who do not receive positive interaction from their caregivers may suffer from developmental delays. Many families come from countries where there is a stigma attached to therapy.

Upon recognizing the need to provide greater support to immigrant mothers suffering from depression, Healthy Families Alexandria and Healthy Families Arlington sought grants and donations to broaden their services. Through this additional support, they were able to provide some in-home mental health services to partici-pant families through contracted services with bilingual therapists.

These programs joined forces with Postpartum Sup-port Virginia, and numerous other community partners. Today there are three perinatal support groups for Spanish-speaking women in the city of Alexandria and Arlington County.

In an effort to increase our support of parents across all of our Early Childhood services, Healthy Families shared its mental health resources with our Arlington Early Head Start program. Early Head Start found these services so beneficial that they decided to hire a full-time mental health specialist to provide similar home-based services for the Head Start and Early Head Start programs in three counties.

At NVFS, we are always looking for ways to enhance our programs to meet the changing needs of our diverse client population. Our programs are designed to move families from crisis and instability to self-sufficiency. Healthy Families follows the old adage – “Give a fam-ily a fish and they eat for a day. Teach them to fish and they eat for a lifetime.” To every interaction we bring a deep commitment to helping families live healthy and happy lives. With encouragement, we help families grow in self-confidence and their ability to make posi-tive life changes.

Contributor: Nanci Pedulla, Program Manager, Healthy Families Alexandria/Arlington, Northern Virginia Family Service

(Healthy Families, continued)

Moms EmpoweredOur Intervention, Prevention and Education program (IPE), which focuses on keeping teens out of gangs and reducing their risk, also works with parents to empower them to learn how to set appropriate bound-aries for their children. Depicted above, a moms’ group celebrates finishing a special course that builds up their own confidence and gives them more lever-age in appropriately addressing and confronting their children’s risky behaviors.

Around the Agency In addition to our Child & Family Enrichment programs highlighted in this edition, here are some other important updates from around the agency:

Emergency Assistance Our Food Distribution Center at SERVE is open and fully operational during construction at the neighboring shelter.

Safe & Stable Housing Our Bridging Affordability program is rapidly growing. Our consortium of nonprofit groups has now provided two-year housing certificates to over 60 clients in Fairfax County in an effort to secure permanent housing.

Health AccessOur Program for Survivors of Torture and Severe Trauma (PSTT) is accepting referrals of Syrian nationals who are seeking counseling and immigration legal assistance for Temporary Protected Status.

Workforce Development Training Futures recently celebrated its 15th year, and passed a milestone with over 1500 graduates of the program!

“Being a part of Help Portrait to help the families at NVFS was ALL pleasure.It was a wonderful experience and I am grateful for the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people!” - Deb Ann

About NVFSNorthern Virginia Family Service is a private, nonprofit orga-nization dedicated to helping vulnerable families and children. Each year, NVFS helps nearly 33,000 people through our programs in safe & stable housing, child & family enrich-ment, health access, workforce development and emergency services. NVFS is an innovator of efficient and comprehensive service methods, and has been recognized nationally for its effectiveness in creating sustained financial and social indepen-dence for its clients.

Volunteer Spotlight Ebony began volunteering by answering a challenge from The Virginia Tech Alumni Association encourag-ing its members to volunteer for the Intervention, Pre-vention and Education (IPE) program. She had previ-ously volunteered at our SERVE campus.

Ebony’s favorite part about mentoring is the opportu-nity to be directly involved in the community. She has been an IPE mentor for one year and often volunteers with her mentee at the NVFS Clock Tower Thrift Shop in Centreville. Despite working full time, Ebony still finds time to meet with her mentee at least one hour a week. They visit museums, go to Wizards games, to the mall, out to eat, or simply talk.

“I basically provide a listening ear, give some advice and offer words of encouragement.” says Ebony. She is very proud of her mentee—especially her motivation to finish school despite her circumstances. Her mentee shows optimism about the future, and has a loving rela-tionship with her siblings.

Outside of mentoring, Ebony works at the US Depart-ment of Housing and Urban Development, and is a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy (Navy Reservist).

What makes a great Volunteer?“being able to listen without being critical, helping your mentee make positive deci-sions, and being willing to put in the time and effort it takes to establish and maintain a relationship with your mentee.”

-Ebony We salute you Ebony, for being a shining example of what volunteerism is all about.

Good Works

Help-Portrait Photography Team Makes a DifferenceAs featured in an article on the preceding pages, we wanted to issue a special thanks to each of the volunteer artists who spent a full day making wonderful images for our clients.

Photographers: Joe Portnoy, Joanna Charron PortnoyGreg Keysar, Matt Allen, Deb Ann. Hair and Makeup: Lacey Elliot. Assistant: Jennifer Charron

Bertucci’s Does it AgainOn March 4, 20 new volunteers spent a full day in training preparing to be mentors for our intensive IPE program. Thanks to generous food donations from Giant-Oakton and Bertucci’s-Tyson’s, we were able to keep our mentors-to-be well nourished. Bertucci’s not only donated pizza, salad and drinks for 20, they even went the extra mile and delivered it.

People can reach out in many unique ways to support the communities in which they live. All of these efforts, in one way or another, have a profound effect upon families and children in our region.

To become a volunteer for NVFS, visit www.nvfs.org/VolunteerNow

Top 3 Fundraising NeedsSERVE CampusBetween now and May 1, we have a matching gift of $10,000 for our Spring SERVE appeal. For every $100 donated, this generous donor will match another $100 up to a maximum of $10,000.

Give today at nvfs.org/serve

Training Futures$350 pays for books for one student.$500 provides a year of business math for 120 trainees.$750 provides life skills training for up to 60 trainees. $1,500 provides coaching for two trainees for 1 year.

Donate at nvfs.org/trainingfutures

NVFS Family Hope FundEvery dollar counts! Support NVFS and our community-sustaining programming as we continue to stretch to meet increasing community needs. Your contribution ensures that we can continue to develop innovative solutions and partnerships to make permanent changes for our clients.

Use the enclosed envelope, or simply donate online!Visit nvfs.org for more information.

Fannie Mae Mini-WalksSince 1988, the Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Pro-gram has brought together caring and committed indi-viduals to work toward preventing and ending home-lessness in our region. It has become the largest funding collaborative in the nation focused on homelessness, raising more than $80 million for nonprofit organiza-tions in the Washington, D.C. area that serve homeless people and those at risk of becoming homeless. NVFS will once again be a beneficiary this year, which means we’ll be organizing multiple mini-walks through-out the region to raise funds and awareness for the homeless. We will be actively recruiting schools, civic organizations and local businesses to rally around the cause and offer to host mini-walks from May through early November. The more walkers we register, the more Fannie Mae contributes to support our homeless prevention programs. > Contact Colleen Ross for more info.

Bowlathon a Huge Success!NVFS enjoyed amazing support for our 21st annual Strikes for SERVE bowlathon! This was our best year ever, as we raised $46,700—surpassing our event goal and raising $16,000 more than last year’s event! The money raised will support SERVE, in its provision of food packages to over 900 families a month. Special congratulations to our 2011 top fundraisers:Team Finley of Finley Asphalt & Sealing - $11,475 Bean Counting Bowlers (NVFS Finance Team) - $2,020

THANkS To our gENErouS EVENT SpoNSorS! Perfect Game Sponsor: Vulcan Materials CompanyDeuce Sponsor: Finley Asphalt & SealingClutch Sponsors: Heltzel Mortgage, Miller Toyota and The Waters Foundation

Principal Underwriters: GDIT and Metro Sign & Design

Lane Sponsors: Advanced Title Insurance, Advantage Physical Therapy, Coles District Supervisor Marty Nohe, EE Wine, First Baptist Church, Friends of SERVE, M&T Bank, NOVEC, NOVEC HELPS, Park West Lions Club, Puffenbarger Insurance Agency, Scott & Stringfellow, Security Title Insurance and Trust Properties.

In-Kind Sponsors: Glory Days Grill, QMT Windchimes and Weisco Signs & Awards

Mother’s Day pamperingAs you prepare to celebrate the special women in your life on Mother’s Day, consider organizing a self-care items drive to help pamper new moms in our Healthy Families and Early Head Start programs. With your help, we would love to provide our new moms with small gifts bags of pampering items such as lotion, emery boards and nail polish, slippers, perfume, costume jewelry or any other non-essential but simply fun items to help make them feel extra special on their first Mother’s Day. This is a great project for a Girl Scout troop, women’s organization or a family. > Contact Colleen Ross to get involved.

Your NVFS Contacts: Stephanie Berning NVFS Event Specialist 571.748.2533 sberning@nvfs.org Colleen Ross Community Engagement Specialist 571.748.2532 cross@nvfs.orgPam Ryan Development Director 571.748.2531 pryan@nvfs.org

NVFS News & Events

/nvfs.org @nvfs /NoVaFamilyService

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDMerrifield, VA

Permit No. 1413

Northern Virginia Family Service10455 White Granite DriveSuite 100Oakton, VA 22124Help • Hope • Here

Family Focus

#8099 #79645

GA

LA C

HA

IR J

ohn

P. J

umpe

r, C

EO, S

AIC

,th

e G

ala

Com

mit

tee,

and

the

lead

ersh

ip s

taff

of

N

orth

ern

Virg

inia

Fam

ily S

ervi

ceco

rdia

lly in

vite

you

to

Frid

ay, M

ay 1

1, 2

012

Hilt

on M

cLea

n Ty

sons

Cor

ner

6:3

0 pm

R

egis

trat

ion

& S

ilent

Auc

tion

8:0

0 pm

D

inne

r &

Liv

e A

ucti

on

9

:00

pm

A

war

ds &

Spe

cial

Rec

ogni

tion

Com

mun

ity

Cham

pion

Dr.

Rob

ert

Tem

plin

Pr

esid

ent,

Nor

ther

n Vi

rgin

ia C

omm

unit

y Co

llege

Lege

nds

of N

orth

ern

Virg

inia

Aw

ard

Dr.

Geo

rge

W. J

ohns

on

Form

er P

resi

dent

, Geo

rge

Mas

on U

nive

rsit

y&

Mrs

. Joa

nne

John

son

Busi

ness

/Coc

ktai

l Att

ire

Join

us f

or o

ur

prem

ier a

nnua

l eve

nt!

To p

urch

ase

ticke

ts, o

r for

mor

e in

form

atio

n on

sp

onso

rshi

ps, v

isit

ww

w.nv

fs.o

rg/g

ala