Friends,

I am proud to highlight the proactive steps we are taking to address a growing challenge impacting families across Virginia—"relief of custody." While this issue affects families statewide, Fairfax County is leading the way in offering solutions.

Relief of custody is a legal process where a parent or guardian petitions the court to transfer custody of their child, often due to being unable or unwilling to care for them. Recently, WSLS 10 in Roanoke shared an in-depth news special on the "relief of custody" crisis in Virginia, highlighting Fairfax County as the "one place in Virginia preventing families from being torn apart." We are incredibly grateful for this recognition and would like to take the opportunity to share our efforts.

Over the past five years, hundreds of relief of custody petitions have been submitted across Virginia. However, in Fairfax County, we’ve created a proactive approach that aims to prevent these crises from happening in the first place. Through close collaboration with courts, schools, the Fairfax Falls Church Community Services Board, and the Fairfax County Department of Family Services, we offer early intervention and support to families in need. As a result, Fairfax County has seen fewer than 30 relief of custody requests in the last five years, with only four requiring a judge's decision.

This approach not only helps keep families intact but also reduces costs for taxpayers by avoiding more expensive interventions later on. This is an effective, cost-saving strategy that can truly make a difference. Fairfax County is proud to be at the forefront of this effort, and we hope our work will encourage other communities to implement similar solutions.

You can learn more and watch the full WSLS 10 News Special here: Virginia’s Custody Crisis: Why are parents giving up their kids and solutions to help families

• Setting the Record Straight
• The Federal Workforce Resource Hub
• Women's History Month
• The Sustain Fairfax Challenge

Recently, some misleading information has been shared in the news regarding security protocols at our recreational facilities, particularly in relation to the access of registered sex offenders. I want to set the record straight, address these concerns directly, clarify any confusion, and outline the steps we are taking to improve security. Fairfax County is committed to maintaining public spaces that are safe for all who choose to use them.

Richard Cox Incident

A recent incident involving Richard Cox, a registered sex offender, raised significant concerns within the community. Here’s a summary of how the situation was handled:

Prior to learning that Mr. Cox was a sex offender he was allowed to access rec center facilities. On November 14, 2024, the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) learned of his status as a registered sex offender. Upon discovering this, the FCPA immediately consulted with the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) and the County Attorney to determine the appropriate actions. On November 16th, Cox again attempted to enter a facility. FCPD was called and FCPA was able to formally ban Cox from all rec centers.

Actions Taken

In response to the incident, a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was developed by FCPA in collaboration with the County Attorney’s Office and the Office of Human Rights and Equity Programs. The SOP allows staff to direct guests to use alternative accommodations, such as family changing rooms or a single-stall bathroom.

In addition, the Board of Supervisors supported legislation to extend the prohibitions in place for sex offenders to include local rec center and park facilities. However, the bill (HB 2527) that sought to do this did not move forward this year, as it was rejected by the Courts of Justice Committee and in the Appropriations Committee in February.

Moving Forward

We understand the concerns raised by this incident and appreciate the feedback we’ve received. Both the County and FCPA are working to enhance security and strengthen protections for the community. Any situation that threatens the safety of our community—regardless of the attention it receives—is always taken seriously and handled with the utmost care.

What happened? Today, our Board approved our second letter to Gov. Youngkin asking him to step up for Virginians who are impacted by the drastic measures being taken to reduce the size of the federal government. You can read our letter here.

What’s in the letter? The new letter focuses on the direction of the White House to federal agencies to deliver plans to relocate outside our region, and the plans must be developed by April 14. Federal agencies occupy 20 million square feet of space in Fairfax County, half of which is leased. Abruptly moving agencies from this region will have immediate negative impact on our economy, in addition to the problems it would create in terms of collaboration among federal agencies. 

We urge the governor to take action to prevent further attacks on Virginia's federal workers and private sector contracts. This is what every governor in Virginia's history has done: protect Virginia's interests first and foremost when federal actions seek to impact us dramatically. Virginia leads the nation in federal contracting, and it is clear that these actions by the Trump administration will have dire economic impacts on our entire region. Governors across the country, with fewer impacts to their states, have spoken out. We need our governor to do the same. Failing to do so will create long-term challenges. The fact is, if our Fairfax economy stumbles because of this, the state will stumble worse. When that happens, people across Virginia will feel the direct impacts of a weakened Northern Virginia economy. This is why the General Assembly is slated to hold a special session on this issue alone.

What is the County doing? Fairfax County is home to approximately 80,000 federal employees and more than 3,800 federal contractors. Fairfax County recently launched a Federal Workforce Resource Hub. This hub serves as a valuable tool for navigating current and future challenges faced by residents, government employees, active military personnel, veterans, contractors, nonprofits, and businesses. This initiative has already gained significant momentum, with more than 15,100 page views in just over a week.

The resource hub is regularly updated with the latest information, including upcoming hiring events hosted in our County. I encourage you to save the link to this page and share it with anyone who might benefit from it.

Anything else? On March 11 at 11:00am, the Board of Supervisors will use our Economic Initiatives Committee to hear from our Fairfax County Economic Development Authority and other public and private sector representatives regarding the potential impact of the federal government actions. More information will be posted on our website and social media later this week. You can stream the meeting live or watch on demand. 

We will continue to ensure resources are made available to those who need them.

What happened? At today's Board of Supervisors meeting, we kicked off the celebration of Women's History Month by officially recognizing March 2025 as Women's History Month in Fairfax County.

How can I celebrate? This month provides a valuable opportunity to recognize and reflect on the significant influence women have had in shaping both our community and our nation. Fairfax County is rich with locations and stories that celebrate women's contributions. This an ideal time to visit these sites and honor women's history. Visit Fairfax has compiled a list of places to visit and events to attend. To read more, visit Celebrating Women's History | Fairfax County, VA.

The Turning Point Suffragist Memorial located in Occoquan Regional Park.

What's happening? The Sustain Fairfax Challenge is a web-based app designed to help residents adopt and track actions that positively impact the environment. The challenge encourages collaboration with friends, neighbors, and other community members in group challenges to make sustainable changes.

Tell me more! Participants can select actions such as conserving energy, composting food waste, driving electric vehicles, or using public transportation to help reduce their environmental footprint. The app allows users to track their progress and connect with others to share tips and celebrate success. Available in both English and Spanish, the app offers resources like rebates, guides, and local programs to support Fairfax County residents.

How can I join the challenge? You can join the challenge by visiting sustainchallenge.fairfaxcounty.gov. Just create an account and begin exploring the resources available to make a positive impact on your community and the environment.

Are you up for the challenge?