News – FFF

We are Hiring!

Formed Families Forward is accepting applications for our Training and Administrative Coordinator position. This flexible part-time position is perfect for someone who is organized and passionate about supporting families, youth […]

Summer Camps 2023

Summer Camps and Programs 2023 FFF has compiled links for summer 2023 camps, therapeutic recreation offerings and other programs for children and youth with special needs in the northern Virginia […]

Recording of Schools & Substance Abuse Panel

FFF, as part of the Northern Virginia Family Network, hosted a virtual panel on 2/22/23. Schools Respond: Teens and Substance Abuse panelists from 6 local school districts shared about substance […]

Clase de paternidad postiva, 6 de mayo

https://formedfamiliesforward.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Paternidad-Positiva-6-de-mayo-2023-flyer.pdf Registrarse aquí.

Black History Month reads

February is Black History Month. One great way to honor the accomplishments of Black Americans with your children is to share some books that feature Black characteristics or critical historical […]

Apply for free Neurodevelopmental Disabilities training

Va-LEND is excited to announce that we are recruiting our next cohort of trainees! Va-LEND stands for Virginia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. Va-LEND is a training program that helps […]

Evening Classes for Middle and High Schoolers

Teens, come join the fun and make great connections! This winter and spring, FFF offers free Tuesday evening classes for middle and high school students, in person at Sherwood Community […]

Research opportunity for parents/caregivers of high school students

Sharing from our friends at the RAISE Center: Are you a parent or legal guardian of a high school student who has an IEP and is about two years away […]

Resources for Caregiver and Parent Loss

In October 2022, the federal Administration on Children and Families (ACF) issued a Dear Colleague letter offering resources and links for families and professionals supporting children who have been impacted […]

New Guidance for Highly-Mobile Students

On November 10, the US Department of Education issued guidance to states about how to support students who move schools frequently including children in foster care, military-connected children and those […]

VDSS Needs Assessment of Adoptive Families in Virginia

The Virginia Department of Social Services is partnering with Child Trends (a non-profit research organization) to conduct a needs assessment of adoptive families in Virginia, which includes a 20-minute voluntary […]

New Head Start Students with Disabilities guidance

New guidance for serving young children with disabilities in Head Start programs The Department’s Office of Special Education Programs and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of […]

Learning Your Way online modules open!

Learn at your own pace! Free interactive online courses from Formed Families Forward on Special Education Basics, Trauma, Communication and Collaboration with Agencies, and Dispute Resolution! Learning Your Way registration […]

New federal guidance on Discipline

Released July 19, new federal Q & As and Guides clarify schools’ responsibilities under Section 504 and IDEA related to disciplining students with disabilities. Must-reads! bit.ly/3Pjv7E8

Resources for Supporting Children through Tragic Events

Sadly, in response to the horrific events in Uvalde, Texas on May 24, 2022 and other too-common violence impacting children, families and communities, we offer this collection of resources to […]

Share your Feedback on Section 504

The U.S. Department of Education will seek public input on possible amendments to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in public […]

Spring Forward 2022 Sponsors

Thank you to our Spring Forward 2022 sponsors: Kay and Stan Klein for their SPECIAL GIFT Our GOLD sponsors – For Children’s Sake Virginia & Anthem Healthkeepers Plus Our SILVER […]

Spring Forward 2022 presentations

Thank you to ALL who came out on April 30 for a fabulous Spring Forward Family Fun Day and Workshop. Links to resources from the presentations can be found HERE.

Summer camps and programs 2022

FFF offers these links for summer 2022 camp, therapeutic recreation and other programs for children and youth with special needs in the northern Virginia region. The Prince William County public […]

FASD webinars in January 2022

FFF hosted a new series of webinars on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders throughout January 2022. All webinar recordings are available under our RESOURCES tab, then WEBINARS. A flyer for the […]

Learning Your Way virtual courses

FFF’s online Learning Your Way self-paced courses offer family members, professionals and other interested partners brief lessons and vignettes about critical special education content including referral and eligibility; individualized education […]

New COVID Handbook from US Department of Education

In early April 2021, the US Department of Education released Roadmap to Reopening Safely and Meeting All Students’ Needs, part 2 of an ED COVID-19 Handbook. Find it HERE.

Resources for Families during COVID-19

NEW on June 1, 2021- COVID family resources from the IRIS Center including virtual learning fact sheets NEW on February 1, 2021- Virtual Learning and Accommodations Guide from Virginia Department […]

Crisis Resources for No Va Families

For those raising children and youth who experience critical mental health or behavioral issues during this challenging time, here are some options for crisis response in Northern Va: Your local […]

COVID-19 and Special Education

Families are learning to live with new roles and routines while children, youth and young adults are learning from home or in hybrid settings. More recently, students may be returning […]

Getting Ready for IEP meetings: a new “Less than 5” minute video

FFF is starting a new series of short videos on special education basics. The first, “Getting Ready for IEP Meetings”, is now available. Download the mp4 video HERE.

Find what you need in FFF’s Resource Directory Update

A fan-favorite, our Formed Families Northern Va Resource Directory is updated for 2019-20. Get your free download HERE. Find hundreds of services, organizations, agencies and other resources of interest and […]

Family Engagement videos help schools and families partner!

Formed Families Forward, family partner to the Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports (VTSS), has released a new series of three brief videos on Family Engagement in VTSS. The training videos […]

Directions to FFF Offices

Formed Families Forward’s offices are in the Mason Enterprise Center, 4031 University Dr., Fairfax, VA 22030. Our building is north of GMU’s Fairfax campus, between the fire house and the […]

Virginia Foster Care report: A must-read for families

A report to the Virginia legislature lays out some significant concerns about the state’s foster care system. Read the December 2018 REPORT HERE.

Before you click! Choose Amazon Smile & help formed families.

When you shop Amazon, through our Formed Families Forward’s link, Amazon Smile donates to Formed Families Forward. Help us help families, just by shopping Amazon.com.

Trauma Videos and Fact Sheets available!

Formed Families Forward-produced trauma training videos are available now! These introductory videos are each less than 10 minutes long, and are designed for a wide audience of families, educators and […]

Va Services for Students Identified as Hearing or Visually Impaired

In September, the Virginia Department of Education provided information to school divisions about options for serving students identified as hearing or visually impaired. The information describes the educational and other services […]

Workforce Training opportunities in northern Virginia!

The Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) offers some great opportunities for young persons who can benefit from education, training, workforce development, and other supports. For older youth and young adults […]

NAMI of No Va Programs

Our friends at NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) of Northern Virginia host a variety of education programs and support groups for individuals with mental health conditions and their families. […]

Enrolling Students in Kinship Families

School enrollment for children and youth who are in the care of non-parent relatives can be tricky. Attorney Becky Wolozin of the Legal Aid Justice Center presented a training in […]

New IDEA website launched!

The US Department of Education has revamped its website with resources specific to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Find and bookmark it at https://sites.ed.gov/idea/. Content from the previous Building […]