Community Notice from
Dranesville Supervisor John Foust
Dear Neighbor,

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation continues to impact our community, I will continue to share resources and updates that I hope you will find helpful. Below, I have included information about health care options for the uninsured, how to get employment, SNAP, and Medicaid assistance, how to access coronavirus news and updates in other languages, and suggestions for fun and educational activities to do while at home this weekend.

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
COVID-19: Health Care Options for the Uninsured
The Health Integration and Safety Net initiative leads the County's efforts to strengthen and coordinate the network of County and community partners providing affordable comprehensive health services to improve the County’s population health outcomes, reduce the overall healthcare cost and improve residents’ satisfaction with health services.

Fairfax County partners with Neighborhood Health and HealthWorks for Northern Virginia, which is located in the Dranesville District, in Herndon. These community health centers provide primary medical, dental, and behavioral health care to low-income individuals and families in Northern Virginia.

A list of health care options for the uninsured is available online at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/strategymanagementhhs/other-safety-net-providers.
Help with SNAP, Medicaid, Employment Assistance
Due to the coronavirus' impact on employment, there has been a significant increase in the number of applications for SNAP (food assistance), TANF (temporary financial assistance for families with children who are minors), and Medicaid.

The County's Department of Family Services (DFS) is available to help with financial, medical, and employment assistance, from a distance, so residents can stay safe at home.

The first step in the application process is to visit “ CommonHelp,” a Commonwealth of Virginia website. Click on the “Am I Eligible” link and answer a short list of questions to learn about the available programs. After you have completed the screening, the next step is to apply. 

You can apply online at any time through the CommonHelp website. Once your application is complete, you will be assigned a Fairfax County caseworker. You may need to participate in a phone interview or turn in documents to help your caseworker complete your case. If you have questions, call the customer care phone line, 703-324-7500, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  

Need help finding a job?  
Virginia Career Works, Fairfax Centers, and the VIEW Job Center are closed right now, but services continue to be offered online and by phone, including: 

  • Tools, resources, and assistance for job searches, interview preparation, and career advancement. 
  • Access to a bank of online employment resources and education and training options. 
  • Workforce information and local labor market information. 
  • Career coaching.
  • Live job seeker webinars. 

For more information, visit DFS Employment and Training, or call/email:


Don’t let staying home keep you from seeking the assistance you need. Visit https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/familyservices/assistance-from-a-distance for more information about how to access DFS services remotely during the coronavirus pandemic.
COVID-19 Resources Available in Several Languages
The County's COVID-19 Language Portal provides coronavirus-related information and assistance in multiple languages. The page features enhanced information and resources in several languages, including:

  • Arabic / العربية
  • Chinese / 中文
  • Farsi / فارسی
  • Korean / 한국어
  • Spanish / Español
  • Urdu / اردو
  • Vietnamese / Tiếng Việt
  • American Sign Language

The Language Portal includes videos, audio files, fact sheets, and more translated to different languages. All materials on the portal have been verified.

Need Other Parts of the County Website Translated?
To make it easier to access information on https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/, the County has made translation functionality more prominent with a button that appears across all pages. Look to the top right of the County website on desktop (or under the menu on mobile) and click on the flags icon to have the page translated in the language of your choosing. As this is being done using machine translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not fully convert text into its intended meaning. Fairfax County Government cannot guarantee the accuracy of the converted text.

COVID Information Available by Text in Spanish
Fairfax County now provides COVID-19 text alerts in Spanish. To sign up, text FFXCOVIDESP to 888777. These COVID-19 text alerts will offer up-to-date information about public health guidance, county programs or services to help residents, and key news.
Fairfax At Home
During this time of social distancing and staying home, Fairfax County's venues, attractions, and local business are still serving the community and working to keep us entertained. Take a virtual tour of some of the County's most famous attractions, browse local to-go/delivery food selections, and don’t forget to practice a little self-care with available wellness options.

Visit https://www.fxva.com/fairfax-at-home/ for a list of fun and educational activities to enjoy while staying at home and social distancing. Check back often as new events and activities will be added.
Stay Informed
Fairfax County is closely monitoring the rapidly evolving coronavirus situation. Residents are strongly encouraged to sign up for coronavirus text alerts and to visit the frequently updated website listed below.

  • Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/covid19/.
  • Sign up for text message alerts­: text FFXCOVID to 888777.
  • Email the Fairfax County Health Department at ffxcovid@fairfaxcounty.gov (monitored 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. weekdays).
  • Call the Health Department at 703-267-3511 (9:00 a.m. to 7 :00 p.m. weekdays and 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekends).