Community Notice from
Dranesville Supervisor John Foust
Dear Neighbor,

As Phase Three continues in Fairfax County, several County facilities and services are again available to assist you in-person. However, the community is still encouraged to take advantage of the many services that are available online or over the phone. I have included more information about how to access these services below.

Many people have reached out to me looking for ways to volunteer or donate to help others in our community during this time. I have included some ways to get involved and specific donation needs below.

In addition, this email includes information about upcoming virtual career fairs, summer activities for kids and families, and more.

Please share this email with your friends and neighbors and do not hesitate to contact my office if we can be of assistance; email Dranesville@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-356-0551.

Sincerely,
John
Several County Facilities to Provide In-Person Services in Phase Three
In earlier phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person interactions at Fairfax County government facilities were adjusted to protect the health of both the community and staff. As Phase Three continues in Fairfax County, some government buildings can be accessed for in-person services.

The community is still encouraged to take advantage of the County's Assistance from a Distance services offered online or by phone. In situations where in–person interactions are necessary, appointments are encouraged. 

A summary of what can be accessed in-person is below, and updates for most County agencies can be found on the operating status webpage, which will be updated regularly.  

Available Now
Tax Counters
Department of Tax Administration service counters will be open for limited service on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for walk-in service at the Government Center (12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035). Staff will provide full service for all tax needs during those hours. Face coverings are required, and social distancing signs and floor decals are in place. However, most transactions can be conducted online. For more information on whether an in-person visit is required, call 703-222-8234 or send an email.  

Building Permits, Plans and Inspections
Limited customer services are being offered by Land Development Services (LDS) in the lobby of the Herrity Building (12055 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035), Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. However, LDS is only accepting electronic submissions for permits and plans. Click here for LDS operational status updates.

Zoning Permits and Applications
Application submissions are only being accepted online, by mail, or via the drop box in front of the Herrity Building. However, the Department of Planning and Development will schedule in-person appointments on an as-needed basis, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., to accommodate individuals with limited access to technology resources or specific needs.

Health Clinics
The Health Department has expanded essential services to three clinic locations. Clients in need of essential services can make an appointment at the  Herndon-Reston District Office,  Joseph Willard Health Center, or  Mount Vernon District Office.  

Essential services offered include limited immunizations, pregnancy tests, STI services, TB testing, WIC services, and yellow fever immunizations. To make an appointment, call 703-246-7100. The Health Department does not offer COVID-19 testing. Contact your health care provider if you are seeking COVID-19 testing or visit the  COVID-19 Testing page for more information. 

Behavioral Health, Substance Use Disorders and Developmental Disability
The Community Service Board’s (CSB) 24/7 services, such as emergency services, Mobile Crisis Unit, residential services, and other community-based services, continue to be available. Some other services can be accessed on-site, as well, at certain locations, including individual therapy, case management/support coordination, group therapy, psychiatric services, nursing services, pharmacy services, emergency services, homeless drop-in service, detoxification services, residential treatment, and crisis stabilization.

Call the CSB site prior to going for any reason, other than emergency services. CSB’s assistance from a distance flyer includes phone numbers and hours of operation for all sites. For additional questions, call the Entry and Referral line at 703-383-8500, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Available Next Week (Starting July 13)
Camp Fairfax
This abbreviated summer program for rising first- through sixth-grade children of working families will run from July 13 through August 7 from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 18 locations across the County, including seven community centers and 11 Fairfax County Public Schools. Registration is underway and space is limited. 

Libraries
Library branches will reopen to the public for express services (focused on grab-and-go style activities) beginning July 13. There will be some modifications in place to ensure safety, including limiting daily visits to 30 minutes. Express services will be available Monday and Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 

Curbside services will continue as an option for residents who are not yet comfortable using library facilities, Monday through Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

RECenters
The County’s nine RECenters will reopen in phases over the next several weeks, starting with Lee District, Oak Marr, and Spring Hill RECenters on July 13. A RECenter membership provides access to any open RECenter.

The other RECenters will open as follows: 

  • July 20 – Audrey Moore, Cub Run and South Run RECenters. 
  • July 27 – George Washington, Mount Vernon, and Providence RECenters

Initially, the fitness centers and pools will reopen under timed entry restrictions for individual workouts, lap swimming, and water walking. Reservations will be required, and there will be a specific time limit allotted for visits. Everyone not actively exercising will be required to wear face coverings. There will be less equipment on the floor with increased separation between equipment.

Drop-in exercise and other indoor RECenter classes, free and plate weight use, and racquetball and basketball court availability will resume at a later date. 
Ways to Help During COVID-19
It is important to remember that we are still in the middle of a serious public health crisis. There are many communities in Fairfax County that continue to be impacted and need supplies such as handmade masks, cleaning supplies, and food.

Donate
Cloth Face Coverings
Cloth face coverings can be dropped off at any of the eight Fairfax County District Police Department stations ( map). Each station has a donation bin for you to place your items.

Cleaning Supplies
The Office for Children is seeking donations to support childcare programs countywide in providing essential services to children and families. Donated supplies will support healthy hygiene practices and help childcare centers and family childcare programs maintain a clean and healthy environment. The following essential supplies are needed:

  • Hand soap
  • Paper towels
  • Toilet paper
  • Disinfectant wipes
  • Disinfectant spray
  • Bleach
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Disposable gloves
  • Diapers

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
The County continues to accept PPE donations to assist County staff during the coronavirus pandemic. All PPE items must be new and unopened. The following items are still needed:

  • Masks: N95, KN95, Surgical or 3-D
  • Face Shields: Homemade or business-produced
  • Other PPEs: Medical gowns, caps, and booties
  • Nitrile gloves

Volunteer
NV Rides
NV Rides, a collaborative of community-based volunteer driver programs, needs volunteers to drive vulnerable seniors. All drivers and riders are asked to wear masks and observe physical distancing protocols. Attend a brief information session on July 14 at 7:00 p.m. to learn more.

Grow a Row FC
Grow a Row FC is seeking volunteers to join its community-wide effort to grow fresh produce for Food for Others and its food pantry partners. 

How to participate: Dedicate a row of your garden or a container to growing food to donate. No amount is too small. Take your donation to Food for Others or to a drop-off in Falls Church. Visit https://www.growarowfc.com/ for more information.

More Ways to Donate and Volunteer During COVID-19
For more ways to donate and volunteer, visit https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/covid19/donate-help.
Upcoming Career Fairs
Tech Virtual Career Fair
The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) is sponsoring a job fair to help mid-career tech professionals find jobs. Though the fair is primarily focused on those in tech fields including data science, software engineering, IT, cybersecurity, defense, and aerospace, some companies are featuring non-tech positions such as marketing, sales, finance, human resources, and legal. The fair will be held Tuesday, July 14 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Click here for more information and to register.

Fairfax County Park Authority Virtual Career Fair
The Park Authority (FCPA) is looking to fill seasonal positions. If you already know what types of jobs you are interested in, search for openings on the Park Authority’s Jobs and Internships website. Click on Summer Hires to find listings at all locations. Additionally, the Park Authority will be conducting Virtual Job Fairs for job openings for Golf, Park Services, Resource Management, and Park Operations in the weeks ahead to provide additional information.

Save the date if you are interested in learning more about jobs in:

For more information about FCPA career fairs, click here.
FCPS Community Meetings
Herndon Pyramid
The Herndon Pyramid principals will be holding two virtual community meetings on Monday, July 13 to share information about opening school plans and answer questions. Families and staff are invited to attend and ask questions. Meeting details:

Monday, July 13
1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. in Spanish

2:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. in English

FCPS will send recordings of the meetings out to the Pyramid community for any who were unable to attend. 

Langley High School
Langley High School Principal Greer hosted a parent forum to answer questions specific to Langley's reopening yesterday. Video of the meeting is available online here.
Summer Activities for Kids and Families
In addition to Camp Fairfax, described above, below are some fun activities for students and families to get involved in this summer.

Summer Learning 2020 from FCPS
Visit https://www.fcps.edu/academics/summer-learning for free summer learning activities for K-12 students.

Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) Virtual Camps
Click here to download a spreadsheet of FCPA virtual camp options for this summer. This easy-to-use tool allows parents to filter down to specific titles, age groups or even sort by week. This is a great time to try something new or refine skills. Visit https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/camps for more information.

Traveling Players
Virtual Classical Theatre Festival
Join Traveling Players on July 17 for an afternoon of three classical plays that are fun for the whole family! Tickets are $10 for all three plays (Ariadne’s Thread, The Imaginary Invalid, and The Tempest). Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

Visit https://travelingplayers.org/ for more information about Traveling Players programs for kids and families.
Fairfax County Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Resources
Fairfax County Domestic and Sexual Violence Services (DSVS) remains committed to providing support to those in the community who may be experiencing interpersonal violence. The DSVS hotline ( 703-360-7273; TTY 711) is open 24 hours a day. Advocates continue to provide virtual support to individuals and to community partners from a distance. Below are some new services offered by DSVS.
 
Teletherapy
Starting July 2020, DSVS is offering its free counseling services online via Teletherapy. Counseling helps people feel stronger, safer, less afraid, and more hopeful. Seeking help takes effort and courage. DSVS is working to ensure that it is easy to access these services.
 
Abuse Intervention
Some families are finding it difficult to cope. Hurting someone else only makes things worse. Instead, DSVS helps people stop and think about their options. Click here for more information.
 
Safety Planning with Children
When someone lives with a partner who threatens their safety, they are probably concerned about their child’s safety, too. It is best to plan for safety with children before a crisis. Click here for more information.
 
For some people, staying home does not always feel safe because someone there may threaten or hurt you. If this is you, learn what steps you can take to try to stay safe. If you know someone who might be being abused, find out what you can do to provide support. And know you can call the Fairfax County Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline for help 24 hours a day at 703-360-7273. If it is not safe to talk, text LOVEIS to 22522 for the national domestic violence hotline or chat online at rainn.org.
Stay Informed
Fairfax County is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation. Residents are strongly encouraged to utilize the resources listed below: