Our Community in Fairfax County, Virginia

Each year, hundreds of adults receive their high school diplomas and GED equivalency certificates through Fairfax County Public Schools.  If you do not have a high school diploma, either from the U.S. or another country, you can earn your degree now through one of three different high school completion programs:

Woodson Adult High School (703-503-6407) offers a traditional classroom experience which awards a standard high school diploma upon completion;

The National External Diploma Program (EDP) (703-207-4014) is a self-paced program built upon the completion of a series of tasks, some of which can be completed at home, designed to demonstrate skill mastery. EDP students earn a standard high school diploma;

The General Educational Development Program (GED) (703-533-5466) is a national test which measures competency in five high school subjects and leads to the awarding of a high school equivalency certificate.  Regardless of the program chosen, adult learners can take advantage of County resources including tutors, study groups and computer labs to ensure success.

It’s a good idea to sign up for an information session to help you decide which program best suits your needs. At the same time, you can also learn about improving reading, writing, or math skills prior to beginning your program.  Info sessions are offered frequently at five locations.  Call 703-503-6440 for additional information or check online at www.fcps.edu/DIS/OACE and click on “Adult High School” on the left.

Go on the Internet to www.seniornavigator.org to find a wealth of up-to-date health and aging information and resources for senior citizens, adults with disabilities, and caregivers in Virginia.  Fairfax County partnered with this information service to provide us with an excellent resource to obtain information about services available for family members who are elderly or have a disability.

Fairfax County also has plenty of valuable information for seniors and their caregivers at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/seniors.

If you or someone you know is a senior adult or an adult with a disability and needs help living independently, Fairfax County's Department of Family Services can help.  Some problems are immediate, such as the need for at-home care for someone living alone who is recovering from surgery.  Other problems can creep up over time, such as an inability to keep up with basic personal care needs and household chores, or medical conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.

The first step is to call Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880, (who will contact the Department of Family Services), to make a referral and arrange to talk to or to meet with a social worker about your situation.  The department is conveniently located at Seven Corners, 6245 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Virginia 22044.  They will give you a free consultation and provide you with information about the services they provide including case management, home-based care, community homes for adults (adult foster care), adult protective services (services to adults who are being or are at risk of being abused, neglected, or exploited), and pre-admission screening for long term care services like the Assisted Living Facility and Medicaid-funded services (i.e. community-based care, nursing home placement, or adult day healthcare).

Even if you are "over-income" to qualify for any county financial assistance, the free consultation is well worth the time and effort.  They can take what seems to be an overwhelming problem and give you practical guidance on many options available to you.

Mr. Barry Barr, a caseworker at the department, provided additional information at our civic association General Meeting on 1 May.  He said that determining eligibility for financial assistance for community-based services is done on an individual/couple basis, but something his office along with the Eligibility/Benefits Program do for people all the time.

For married couples or partners where one or both individuals need help, he urges people to contact his office as soon as the need arises.  There are many supportive services available to caregivers in the community.  The Area Agency on Aging (703-324-5411), which is well worth contacting, can also provide information regarding other services available in the northern Virginia region.

Remember: You are not alone.  Help is just around the corner!!!