To advertise: 540-349-8060 www.discoverypubs.com
Discover Fauquier August 2017
10
Round Out Your
Child's Life
with the Arts
PROGR A MS
Private Lessons
· Piano · Voice · Percussion · Guitar ·
All Band & Orchestra Instruments
Allegro Youth Orchestra
Allegro Young Performers
· Theatre Technique
· Theatre Performance · Music Theatre
Visual Arts
Vocal Ensembles
Recording Arts
Music Therapy
Allegro Community Performers
Allegro Music Academy for the Blind
Registration is now open for the fall!
Allegro Community School of the Arts
20 Main St., Warrenton, VA 20186
540-349-5088 AllegroCSA.org info@AllegroCSA.org
Loni Colvin
Broker/Co-owner
540-351-0001
www.TeamLoni.com Email: loni5664@aol.com
Call Loni Colvin Today!
540-222-1180
26 N 5th Street, Old Town Warrenton, VA
A Realtor Licensed
in the State of Virginia
0 Lost Lakeview Road, Madison
MLS# MA9749474
Vacation, Vacation, Vacation, If you are looking for a place
to have fun and relax this is it, close to the Rapidan Wildlife
Refuge there is plenty of hunting around as well. This is a great
community with abundance of wildlife. Close to the lake fi shing
is always a possibility on those lazy days. Great time to work on
Next years vacations site!!
0 Old Busthead Road, Broad Run
MLS# FQ9946536 40 acres
Wooded 40.47 ac lot in a very sought after area. Close to 66 and
tons of potential. Property borders Old Busthead and Fosters Fork.
MLS# FQ9946539 2 acres
Wooded 2 acre lot in a very sought after area. This lot has so
much potential, property is close to 66!
CALL TODAY!
4005 Running Quail Trail, Culpeper
MLS# CU9951868
This cozy home is nestled behind beautiful landscaping for a
sense of Privacy, lots of room in this well loved home, with ample
storage, 3 car detached garage. The upper level almost fi nished,
electric has been run and water is set up to be added. It needs to
be fi nished and it would make a great offi ce, or craft room, lots of
beautiful landscaping, and a wonderful front porch to relax on!
0 Beahm Lane, Rileyville
MLS# PA9793731
Beautiful breath taking Panoramic views, 2 ponds, barn, fenced,
creek, you name it, you will fi nd it on this approx. 60 acre lot,
The pictures do not give this property justice, it does have
division potential!
Team Loni
All children deserve to grow up in a secure and loving environment. Unfortunately,
youth sometimes need to be removed temporarily from their natural families to
safeguard their wellbeing. When such situations arise, the Fauquier Department of
Social Services (DSS) has a team of dedicated professionals who stand ready to place
these children with families that will provide them with the love and care they need.
Shawn LaRue and Gabby Lewis, who have a combined 45 years of experience in
DSS, note that the county's foster care program has existed for decades. Shawn
explains that laws shifted in the 1970s, giving DSS the responsibility for working with
neglected and abused children. One of their most important tasks is fi nding suitable
foster families that provide a temporary stable home for a child when he or she can't
remain safely in his or her own home.
Gabby explains that the majority of children needing foster families suffer from
neglect--a lack of food, clothing, shelter, and/or supervision, any of which can stem
from a parent battling substance abuse, or suffering from mental health or other
illnesses or diffi cult circumstances. There are approximately 55 children--from infants
through age 19--currently in foster care in Fauquier County.
DSS learns about children who may need foster families in a variety of ways--quite
often from schools and daycare providers, but also from other family members, friends,
neighbors, and physicians. A screening process follows, and if a child is identifi ed as
one who needs a foster family, DSS staff reviews the list of available homes, striving
to make the best match. Although families can note preferences for a foster child
(age, gender, etc.), it is easier if they have fewer restrictions, and especially if they
don't request a fostering time limit.
They explain that foster families are diverse: they can be a single adult, a couple, or
families with one or more children of their own. Far more essential than the physical
makeup of a foster family is the possession of various traits. For example, since the
fi rst priority of DSS is to try to return the child to his or her birth family, it's critical for
the foster family to be non-judgmental. In addition, they should be fl exible, patient,
and able to connect with the child and anticipate his or her needs, as well as be willing
and able to communicate with DSS and have the time to care for a child. It's also
important to note that while some foster children end up being adopted, the county
does not have a foster-to-adopt program.
Word-of-mouth from current foster families is often the best means of identifying
potential new families, who need to meet certain competencies during the application
and training process. The approval must be mutual--both DSS and the family have
to agree that they would provide a benefi cial environment for a child in need.
DSS provides foster children with medical insurance, and families receive a small
monthly stipend, although it doesn't cover all of the expenses of caring for an additional
family member. DSS also takes care of daycare costs for preschool-age children living
with foster parents who work outside the home. In addition, they conduct fundraisers
to fund foster family events, such as a Christmas party and a spring picnic, as well as
incidental expenses for the foster child--music lessons, team sports, prom, etc.--that
may be diffi cult for a foster family to afford. Last spring, DSS hosted the inaugural
Champions for Children 5K at Great Meadow. About 125 runners and walkers
participated, raising $6,000. They plan to continue this event and invite businesses
and community members to consider sponsorships.
Recently, DSS began hosting monthly orientation meetings to answer questions for
individuals considering the possibility of fostering a child. The meetings are held on
the fi rst Wednesday of each month at the DSS offi ce (320 Hospital Drive). Although at
press time, the August 2 date will have likely passed, the next one is on
September
6 from 6:007:00 p.m. For more information, contact foster parent coordinator Carrie
Smith at
(540) 422-8435 or carrie.smith@dss.virginia.gov.
~ Nancy Griffi n-Bonnaire
~ Nancy Griffi n-Bonnaire
~ Nancy Griffi n-Bonnaire
Department
of Social
Services:
Fostering
Love for Our
Children