News

Snapshot of FFF Services

Formed Families Forward continues to grow our services and outreach to foster, adoptive and kinship families. Check out our 2023 stats HERE.

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$595 Respite vouchers available to Kinship Caregivers

The Virginia of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) is offering vouchers for kinship caregivers. The Virginia Lifespan Respite Voucher Program can now provide up to $595 in reimbursement to Grandfamilies […]

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Contribute to Child and Youth Scholarships for Spring Forward

Spring Forward Family Fun Day includes outdoor experiential learning activities for all children and youth age 4 and older. While the registgration fees are already offered at a significant discount, […]

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ICYMI – Loving Formed Families Virtual Open House

On Tuesday, February 13, Formed Families Forward hosted a virtual “Loving Formed Families” Open House. Attendees heard from our Board, family members and a special guest! Thanks to those who […]

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New Kinship Federal Rule

Great news to share! On September 28, 2023, the U.S. Administration for Children and Families (ACF) issued a final rule that explicitly gives child welfare agencies the option to use […]

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New Virginia Special Education Guide

The long-awaited revision of the Parent Guide is now ready! The new Virginia Family’s Guide to Special Education overviews the special education process and focuses on what families need to […]

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Fairfax Kinship Support Group!

Formed Families Forward is hosting new meetings of the Fairfax Kinship Support Group, under agreement with Fairfax County Department of Family Services. If you are raising child or youth for […]

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Youth and Young Adult Support Groups in Fall 2023

Our Stronger Together peer support groups for ages 14-22 are back this fall! Eight weekly sessions on Thursday evenings meet in person in the Fairfax area, starting September 28. FREE […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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.

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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. 

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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.

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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 […]

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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 […]

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Directions to FFF Offices

NOTE as of September 1, 2023, we have MOVED OFFICES. Our building is  now located in the city of Fairfax near the intersection of Chain Bridge Road  (Route 123) and […]

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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.

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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.

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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. […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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