Meredith McKeen, MSW Director, Multicultural Center and Youth Initiatives Kate Reen, MSW Supervisor, Youth Intervention & Prevention Services

NVFS Programs in Fairfax Youth Specific Programs: The IPE Gang Prevention Program VPIP – Violence Prevention and Intervention Program The Family Reunification Program Multicultural Mental Health Services SHORT Program Other NVFS Programs serving families in Fairfax: Healthy Families Multi-cultural information, referral, and case management Immigration Legal Services Housing Assistance Health Access See for more details IPE Program of Northern Virginia Family Service

Intervention, Prevention, and Education The IPE Program of NVFS is an asset development intervention designed to increase the protective factors that ensure that gang involved youth, and youth at risk for gang involvement, have increased abilities to resist the destructiveness of gang involvement. NVFS is the direct service provider of intervention and prevention services for the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force.

Who does IPE help? IPE Services are geared toward helping specific types of youth and families affected by gang involvement: Youth at risk but not yet involved – Prevention Cases Gang Involved Youth - Intervention Cases Youth and Families Victimized by Gangs Victims of gang controlled trafficking Victims of gang violence Victims of gang intimidation and threats

IPE Service Components: I.Individual and Family Services Effective prevention and intervention services include a combination of intensive case management and specific interventions designed to provide youth with the tools to resist gang involvement. II.Group Based Services Support and Education Groups for Parents of IPE youth Skills building groups and workshops for IPE youth Pro social group activities III.Community Outreach and Education Services Educational presentations to service providers, school staff, parent groups and other community members on effective prevention strategies and enhancing community response to gang prevention. IPE Program of Northern Virginia Family Service

IPE Eligibility and Referral Process IPE in Fairfax serves youth ages who are at-risk for gang involvement, who are gang involved, or who have been victimized by gangs either in the US or in their Home Country. Services are free of charge and offered in English and Spanish in clients homes, and other community sites Send completed referral forms to Kate Reen: or to Ed Ryan, Fairfax County Gang Prevention Coordinator:

VPIP – Violence Prevention and Intervention Program The overall goal of NVFS’ Violence Prevention and Intervention Program (VPIP) is to reduce family and community violence in specific high-need neighborhoods in Fairfax County by intervening with at-risk youth and families experiencing multiple, complex needs. Utilizing highly effective youth service delivery models, NVFS provides holistic “neighborhood based-school connected” services designed to ensure that at-risk immigrant youth and families are able to thrive in their chosen communities, succeed academically and socially, and that they are equipped to prevent future community and family violence. Each identified community is staffed by a culturally competent, clinician- case manager team with expertise in counseling, family engagement, trauma recovery, family reunification, and gang and community violence interventions. IPE Program of Northern Virginia Family Service

Who does VPIP help? Children and youth living in the targeted areas (Culmore/ Baileys, Herndon, and Annandale) who are demonstrating at-risk behaviors or poor decision-making and who are: Living in families with child / parent conflict exacerbated by immigration, acculturation, and / or reunification issues Recently immigrated Recently reunified with parents after separation due to immigration or CPS An immigrant or child of immigrant(s) living in poverty Exposed to violence (as a victim or witness): In the Community In the Family (Domestic, Dating, and / or Family Violence) In the Past (in country of origin / on journey to US) Through the presence of gangs in neighborhood / school

VPIP Service Components: I. Individual and Family Services – Intensive Case Management Individual and Family Trauma Recovery MH Counseling Home visiting and community based II.Group Based Services Support and Education Groups for Parents Support and Psycho-educational Groups for Youth III.Community Education Services Skills Building Workshops for Youth Educational Workshops for Parents IPE Program of Northern Virginia Family Service

VPIP Referral Process Services are free of charge and offered in English, Spanish and Arabic Intensive Services (Case Management and Mental Health, and Support Group services) are available only in the identified neighborhoods, but educational workshops for youth and / or parents are available in all parts of Fairfax County. Send completed referral forms to Kate Reen:

Family Reunification Program NVFS’ FRP program is a highly specialized service delivery model that includes a holistic array of trauma- informed services to address the complex needs of children, youth and families affected by immigration- related separation and reunification including: Acculturation and adjustment needs Attachment and re-bonding challenges Parenting Role shift Unaddressed Trauma

Why Focus on Reunification? Prevention of: Out of home placements Gang Involvement Human Trafficking and other Victimizations Juvenile Justice Involvement School Disruptions Family Violence Child Abuse and Neglect

“Final” Stage - Reunification Youth Experience Parent Experience Attachment – Strangers as parents Vocabulary – when saying “mom” feels wrong Family Composition Cultural adjustments - “Loss of Competence” Context of typical adolescent development Parenting Role Shift Navigating the school system Learning to communicate with an adolescent Competing needs Awareness of time commitment Loss of competence – being a “new” parent all over again

NVFS’ FRP Service Components: I.Individual and Family Services Intensive Case Management Family Reunification Interventions Individual and Family Mental Health Counseling II.Group Based Services Support Groups for Parents Support Groups for Youth III.Community Outreach and Education Services Educational Workshops for Parents Educational presentations to service providers, school staff, and other community members on effective strategies and on enhancing community response to reunifying families.

Current FRP Services in Fairfax NVFS Programs: Groups and Workshops Intensive Family Reunification Services ORR post-release services Non ORR / not detained - limited availability but expanding soon IPE and VPIP youth also receive family reunification services Contact: Kate Reen

ORR Hotline 1(800) Resources/Support Detained at the border as an unaccompanied minor Youth can call directly Means to get documentation from shelter Parents with a child in the shelter but unsure where Additional services Released within the last six months