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The Way Home Fairfax Public Comment Opportunity
The Fairfax County Continuum of Care Board is in the final stages of developing a new Strategic Plan and is requesting feedback from the community. They want to hear from people who live in Fairfax County, the Cities of Fairfax and Falls Church, and the Towns of Clifton, Herndon, and Vienna.
Community members are invited to review either the Executive Summary or the full plan, entitled "The Way Home Fairfax", and answer a few brief questions about the proposed priorities, what they would change or improve, and how they would like to receive updates on progress.
Your input will help shape the final version of the Strategic Plan and ensure it reflects the needs and perspectives of residents across the region.
Follow the link below to access the Executive Summary or the full plan and provide your feedback. Responses will be accepted through Friday, September 18.
The Way Home Fairfax
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 The following public announcements are for interfaith meetings and activities sponsored by organizations in the community and are not endorsed or sponsored by Fairfax County. These announcements are provided as a public service to promote interfaith dialogue and goodwill. If you have an announcement you would like to share, please contact NCSinterfaith@fairfaxcounty.gov.
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Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy Hosting Faith Leaders: Train to be Poll Chaplains on Election Day! Virtual meeting Tues., Sept. 15, 6:00 p.m. (second interest meeting)
Are you a faith leader looking for a meaningful way to serve your community this election season? As we prepare for the Nov. election, we're excited to launch a new initiative: the Poll Chaplains Program. Faith leaders will have the opportunity to train to assist voters on Election Day by offering a calming, supportive presence at polling places during a season that can be stressful. We'd love to have you join us. Register here.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Center for Faith Webinars
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Hope: Faith Communities Celebrating National Recovery Month
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Center for Faith is pleased to invite you to join a webinar, "Ordinary People, Extraordinary Hope: Faith Communities Celebrating National Recovery Month" on Wednesday, September 16th at 2:00PM ET on Zoom. This webinar will bring together faith and recovery voices to discuss how everyone can support individuals in or seeking recovery, connect people with resources, reduce stigma, and help create communities where recovery is encouraged and supported.
Register now for this compelling conversation (please note the link is case-sensitive): https://bit.ly/HHSFaithCtrExtraordinaryHope
Grandparents in the Gap: A Conversation on Recovery, Foster Care, and Kinship Support
Join the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Center for Faith for "Grandparents in the Gap: A Conversation on Recovery, Foster Care, and Kinship Support" on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 2:00PM ET on Zoom . Learn how grandparents and other kinship caregivers are supporting children and families affected by substance use, foster care, and other challenges, while discovering practical ways faith communities can strengthen and support kinship families.
Grandparents Day is on Sunday, September 13, and this month we also celebrate National Kinship Care Month and National Recovery Month, recognizing the vital role grandparents and relatives play in the lives of families and communities, sharing wisdom, traditions, faith, and a sense of belonging across generations.
Participants will leave with practical examples of how faith communities can engage grandparents and kinship caregivers, build partnerships with organizations serving children and families, and access resources that strengthen family stability, recovery, and long-term resilience.
Register today for this impactful conversation (please note the link is case-sensitive): https://bit.ly/HHSFaithCtrGrandparentsInGap
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Back to School Safety & Emergency Preparedness
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With about 50 million children in U.S. public schools, it is critical that schools have emergency plans in place to keep all students safe. It’s also necessary that parents are aware of these plans and that staff and students practice them. This month, we have compiled resources to help parents and schools support the unique needs of students during a disaster.
The resources below include a Federal Emergency Management Agency curriculum on emergency planning for students, as well as a National PTA list of helpful questions parents can ask school leaders about school safety. A resource to help parents and families support children with coping after a disaster is also provided.
For Students & School Staff: Student Tools for Emergency Planning
For Parents: Safe and Supportive Schools: 20 Questions Every Parent Should Ask
For School Staff: Back-to-School Tip Sheet
For Parents & School Staff: Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event
Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services -Faith, Healing, and Partnership: Strengthening Victim Services Through Spiritual Care and Community Collaboration
Session 1 - September 22, 2026 from 1:00-2:30pm
Session 2 - September 28, 2026 from 1:00-2:30pm
The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the “Faith, Healing, and Partnership: Strengthening Victim Services Through Spiritual Care and Community Collaboration” webinar training series.
Participant Registration and Cost: This training series is free. Participants need to register in advance for the training. You only need to register once for both sessions.
Webinar Series Description: Survivors of violence bring their whole selves into the healing process, including their beliefs, values, spirituality, and faith traditions. Yet many victim service professionals report feeling uncertain about how to respectfully engage these aspects of a survivor's experience or how to effectively collaborate with faith communities. This two-part webinar series explores both the interpersonal and systems-level opportunities for integrating faith and spirituality into trauma-informed victim services. Participants will learn practical strategies for honoring survivors' spiritual identities while also building meaningful partnerships with faith-based organizations to strengthen community responses and expand support for survivors. The series draws upon trauma-informed, survivor-centered, and collaborative approaches to healing.
For more information, visit the website here. Register here.
Questions? Contact Tricia Everetts at tricia.everetts@dcjs.virginia.gov
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Submission Guidelines:
If you are interested in submitting something for the newsletter, please review our guidelines:
- Submissions should be sent to NCSInterfaith@fairfaxcounty.gov
- Submissions should be timely and occurring in the upcoming month. For ongoing needs or services, we reserve the right to hold for future issues.
- All submissions should have no more than a 3-line description of the event and include a link for more information or to register.
- All flyers, details and text should be finalized and ready for publication when submitted.
- The event must be open to the entire community.
- Proselytizing events/activities will not be posted.
- Events must be apolitical. Legislative lobbying efforts will not be posted.
- Fundraisers or events soliciting financial contributions will not be posted.
- Events must be geared to promoting understanding, goodwill, community service or fulfilling a defined need in helping strengthen Fairfax County residents and communities.
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