NVMS receives support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Fairfax County Consolidated Community Funding Pool to deliver this two-part program. Residents with an open case with the Division of Child Support Enforcement are referred to the program by Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Court.
The goal of the program is to keep the needs of children involved in each case at the forefront. Parents participate in mediation to increase communication during the child support revision and adjustment process.
Phase One: Co-Parenting Class: Two Parents, Two Homes
The program first phase is a four-hour co-parenting class titled Two Parents, Two Homes. Topics covered include:
- Challenges of parenting from separate homes
- Challenges this poses for your child
- Being more involved in your child’s life
- Improving communication between you and your child’s other parent
- Approaches to communicating with your child
- Ways to prevent and resolve conflicts
Both parents are not required to attend, but may take the class together if they choose. This class is offered free of charge to parents with open Division of Child Support Enforcement cases by the Virginia Department of Social Services.
Resources materials and a Certificate of Completion is provided at the end of class.
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED BY PHONE: 703-865-7263; CLASSES OPEN TO AND OFFERED AT NO COST ONLY FOR CLIENTS WITH DCSE CASES. SE REQUIRE PRE-REGISTRACION ANTES DE ASISTIR AL CLASE (favor de llamar al 703-865-7263 para completar su pre-registracion por telefono)
Phase Two: Court-Ordered Mediation for Child Support
The program’s second phase is mediation for co-parents.
The Fairfax Division of Child Support Enforcement identifies clients whose cases are appropriate for mediation and sends the referrals to the Fairfax J&DR Court. Fairfax J&DR then officially orders the clients to complete mediation through NVMS. The program is NOT open to clients who call in as self-referrals — all clients must be directly ordered by Fairfax J&DR Court to complete mediation. Clients do not pay for these services.
The goal of mediating these cases is to have parents agree on a new or updated child support agreement. Any drafted agreements are then sent to the Division of Child Support Enforcement for approval. If approved, the agreements are then sent to the Fairfax J&DR Court for the judge’s final approval/signature.
| Mediation sessions are scheduled by the NVMS Family Mediation Coordinator Contact us at (703) 865-7263 or gcalles@nvms.us |