Formed Families Forward

Formed Families Forward Visit us at www.FormedFamiliesForward.org We serve families, educators and child welfare professionals in the Northern Virginia area.

We are a family-led nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting foster, kinship, and adoptive families of children and youth with disabilities and other specialized needs. We are a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting foster, kinship, and adoptive families of children and youth with disabilities and other special needs.

Behind every foster, adoptive, and kinship family is a story that often includes complex needs, challenging systems, and...
04/02/2026

Behind every foster, adoptive, and kinship family is a story that often includes complex needs, challenging systems, and moments that can feel overwhelming and isolating. Formed Families Forward exists to ensure families do not have to navigate that journey alone. Through education, resources, and community, we support families raising children with specialized needs across Northern Virginia every day. Our goal is to help families feel seen, supported, and empowered as they care for the children who need them most.

🔗Learn more about the work of Formed Families Forward: formedfamiliesforward.org
🔗Register for Spring Forward, our day of learning and fun for foster, adoptive, and kinship families: bit.ly/FFFSF2026
🔗Event sponsorships still available too! https://bit.ly/FFFSF26sponsors

REMINDER-FUNDS AVAILABLE for kinship caregivers! The Virginia Lifespan Respite Voucher Program can provide up to $595 pe...
04/02/2026

REMINDER-FUNDS AVAILABLE for kinship caregivers! The Virginia Lifespan Respite Voucher Program can provide up to $595 per household per year in reimbursement to grandfamilies and kinship caregivers for the cost of childcare or camps, so they can take time to rest and recharge. Don't wait to apply, we understand that this program has limited funding.

To be eligible, you must:
✅Live in Virginia
✅Be a grandparent or other relative raising a minor child
✅Have custody of that child
🔗Learn more and apply here: https://dars.virginia.gov/aging/caregiver-support/lifespan-respite-voucher/

04/01/2026

Spring Forward is just around the corner! Register today! Check out this video for a preview of our keynote with Melissa Corkum, CEO and Founder - Rise to Regulation!

🔗Register at: bit.ly/FFFSF2026

Every child deserves the chance to learn, connect, and succeed. At Spring Forward Family Fun Day, scholarships help remo...
04/01/2026

Every child deserves the chance to learn, connect, and succeed. At Spring Forward Family Fun Day, scholarships help remove financial barriers so more children and families can take part in this special day of community, resources, and fun. Youth scholarships help ensure that families raising children with specialized needs can participate in programs and experiences that build confidence, strengthen connections, and create lasting memories. You can help open the door for a child to participate. The sponsorship deadline is April 4th.
🔗Sponsor a $55 youth scholarship for Spring Forward: bit.ly/FFFSF26sponsors
🔗Haven't registered for Spring Forward yet? Do so at: bit.ly/FFFSF2026

From our friends at PEATC: Join us for Exploring AI - Youth Training. AI can be a powerful tool for planning your future...
03/31/2026

From our friends at PEATC: Join us for Exploring AI - Youth Training. AI can be a powerful tool for planning your future. In this interactive session, youth will learn how AI can help with school, career exploration, and navigating services like vocational rehabilitation and independent living—while learning how to use AI safely and responsibly.

**This training is only for STUDENTS with disabilities (ages 12-22) who live in Virginia.

May 14, 2026 @ 6pm
🔗Registration Link: https://tinyurl.com/2xwhvcp6

Reminder: From our friends at Virginia LEND: Va-LEND is a program that helps health professionals, people with disabilit...
03/30/2026

Reminder: From our friends at Virginia LEND: Va-LEND is a program that helps health professionals, people with disabilities and their families learn how to be leaders. People from all different experiences and professions learn together about how they can provide person- and family-centered services for children and adults with disabilities. People with disabilities and family members learn from the professionals and the professionals learn from people with disabilities and family members so they can work better together.

Va-LEND stands for Virginia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. It was created to improve the health and lives of children and adults with disabilities and their family members. Trainees complete classes, clinical observations, policy activities, and a family mentorship experience. Over the course of the program, trainees work on their leadership project which they present at the end of the program. Trainees complete 150 or 300 hours of content. This is done both in classes and outside of class.

🔗For more information about Va-LEND check out their website: https://virginialend.partnership.vcu.edu/

🔗Ready to submit an application? Complete this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjh9NkQL97tW4NTjilJIy27l_7tesQt7AyHa3s0Llr0X9qkg/viewform

The priority due date is April 15, 2026 and the final due date is May 15, 2026.

If you have any questions, need help completing this application or need an alternate format of the application please feel free to contact us at (804-828-0073) or at valend@vcu.edu.

Reminder from our friends at VDOE: All families of students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in Virginia ar...
03/29/2026

Reminder from our friends at VDOE: All families of students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in Virginia are encouraged to complete the Virginia Department of Education's annual Special Education Parent Involvement Survey by December 11, 2026. The survey is available in Spanish and English. If you have questions concerning this survey, please contact Chiquita Seaborne, Family Engagement Specialist/Special Projects Coordinator, via telephone at (804) 418-4672 or via email at Chiquita.Seaborne@doe.virginia.gov.
🔗 Survey link: https://virginiadoe.gov1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2lttr1DqNfixIH4

From our friends at GMU: What Parents Need to Know About AI and Teen Relationships - Virtual Workshop with ConnerStrong ...
03/28/2026

From our friends at GMU: What Parents Need to Know About AI and Teen Relationships - Virtual Workshop with ConnerStrong and GMU CCMH. What Parents Need to Know About AI and Teen Relationships will focus on unhealthy attachments or expectations, learn the warning signs and how to encourage real relationships.

The workshop will be on zoom (link sent after registration) on Wednesday April 8th from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. Questions? Email: ccmh@gmu.edu; Workshop is FREE!

🔗Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdbF0nYnj0Kvktvy-5YJRCm3G1-Iy7pTXi0uLjPO3I1oQu3OA/viewform

This week, FFF board members and staff participated in Board and Brew. We enjoyed meeting local leaders interested in no...
03/27/2026

This week, FFF board members and staff participated in Board and Brew. We enjoyed meeting local leaders interested in nonprofit board service. If you missed the event, but are interested in serving on our board, we'd love to hear from you.

This week, FFF was delighted to attend a Community Resource Fair in Frederick County. We enjoyed meeting students, famil...
03/27/2026

This week, FFF was delighted to attend a Community Resource Fair in Frederick County. We enjoyed meeting students, families, and school staff and sharing resources with them.

Spring Forward is coming up on April 18th! We are delighted to announce our keynote speaker, Melissa Corkum, CEO and Fou...
03/26/2026

Spring Forward is coming up on April 18th! We are delighted to announce our keynote speaker, Melissa Corkum, CEO and Founder - Rise to Regulation! Melissa will present on "From Surviving to Thriving: Redefining Success When You Can’t Control the Outcome." When you’re raising or supporting kids with complex needs, traditional definitions of success can quietly lead to burnout, despair, and a sense of failure. Drawing from her experience raising six kids, brain-based insight, and her RISE framework, Melissa offers a hopeful, practical way to regain a sense of agency even when outcomes remain uncertain. You’ll leave feeling less alone, more regulated, and better equipped to show up with connection rather than protection.

We are so grateful to our Keynote Experience Underwriter, Youth For Tomorrow, who is helping make Spring Forward Family Fun Day possible.

Register today: bit.ly/FFFSF2026

Address

10304 Eaton Place , Suite 100
Fairfax, VA
22030

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+17035392904

Website

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