Northern Virginia Family Services

In our first Pathways to Healing installment, Yesenia Zelaya-Alem, NVFS Multicultural Center Domestic Violence Program Coordinator, explores common misconceptions about trauma and how trauma-informed care can foster greater compassion and understanding.  Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eabUm-mw  #TraumaInformedCare #DomesticViolenceAwareness #MentalHealthAwareness #NVFS

A child’s first classroom isn’t a classroom at all. It’s the relationships that surround them. 💙 Dennis DeLoach, NVFS Early Childhood Programs Director, shares how everyday moments and nurturing relationships build the foundation for lifelong learning. #NationalHeadStartMonth is almost coming to a close but, we’ll continue to celebrate how Early Head Start and Head Start support children’s development while strengthening the families and relationships that help them thrive. Read more: nvfs.link/bonds-we-build-2 #HeadStart #EarlyChildhoodEducation #ChildDevelopment #NVFS

Food insecurity is rising in our communities, and children are feeling the impact. According to the Capital Area Food Bank:  📊 44% of households experienced worsening financial situations in the past year, up from 35% in 2023.  In our latest Beyond the Pantry installment, Hanneke Van Dyke, NVFS Director of Anti-Hunger Programs, explores how stronger support systems can help ensure our neighbors have access to nutritious food.💙 Read more: https://lnkd.in/ekXPdsep  #FoodInsecurity #NorthernVirginia #CommunityImpact #NVFS

Last Friday, during Dev Technology’s Week of Service, our team volunteered at Northern Virginia Family Services' Head Start to host a Fall Party for their preschoolers. The kids enjoyed a pumpkin themed craft and story time. NVFS’ Head Start program provides early care and education programs supporting families from pregnancy through a child's first day of kindergarten. Learn more about NVFS mission and their Head Start program: https://lnkd.in/eyKG-UXb #community #DevGivesBack

With open enrollment for the Virginia Insurance Marketplace beginning November 1, understanding how health insurance coverage works is one of the biggest challenges families face when choosing a plan. “The barrier really is just in the complexity of the terminology and the frequency that it changes,” our very own Lydia Allen shared with the Fairfax County Times. We’re grateful for Lydia and our Community Health team’s dedication to helping individuals and families understand their coverage and feel confident in their choices. 💙 Read the article: https://lnkd.in/eFVmWruE

A big thank you to Natasha Magrath, President and CEO of You've Got MAIDS® of Northern Virginia, for spotlighting NVFS! 💙 Our very own Sara Kreitzer and Ann Durbin, CFRE joined Natasha for a conversation about our programs, partnerships, and work across Northern Virginia. A few highlights ✨ 💙 Sara shared how NVFS takes a comprehensive, person-centered approach to helping individuals and families overcome barriers. 🤝 Ann spoke about the nonprofit partnerships that help move our work forward and strengthen our impact in the community. 🥫 Sara also highlighted ways our community comes together through our annual Celebration of Service fundraiser and Fall Food Drive. We’re grateful to You’ve Got MAIDS® of Northern Virginia for helping share our mission and celebrate the partnerships that make our work possible! Listen to the full conversation: https://lnkd.in/eE_fa_Tj #NVFS #NorthernVirginia #CommunityPartnerships

On World Food Day, I’m reflecting on the reality here in our Northern Virginia community. We live in one of the wealthiest regions of the country and yet an increasing share of our friends and neighbors face hardship getting the food they need to feed their families well. If we are to “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow,” we need concerted commitments across governments, corporations, philanthropy, and civil society to invest in new approaches that will ensure that all people have access to nutritious food.

Hunger is global. And it’s local. 🌎  On World Food Day, we’re shining a light on the role each of us can play in helping make nutritious food more accessible in our own communities. The NVFS Hunger Resource Center supports more than 450 families each month with fresh produce, proteins, pantry staples, and other essentials. Our Fall Food Drive brings our community together to help keep those shelves stocked for the months ahead.  Whether you donate food, organize a drive with your workplace or community, or make a financial gift, you can help put nutritious food within reach for our Northern Virginia neighbors. Learn how you can take action: nvfs.link/Fall-Food-26  #WorldFoodDay #NVFS #FallFoodDrive #FoodSecurity #CommunityImpact #NorthernVirginia

Hunger affects communities around the world, including our own here in Northern Virginia. In our latest Beyond the Pantry installment, Hanneke Van Dyke, NVFS Director of Anti-Hunger Programs, explores what innovation, community action, and stronger support systems can do to help ensure our neighbors have access to nutritious food today and into the future. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/ekXPdsep #WorldFoodDay #NorthernVirginia #HungerRelief #AntiHunger #NVFS