>> Welcome to County magazine. The chance to find out what's
new across Fairfax County.
I'm Brian Ashton on this edition will explore resources
for recovery in our mini series on Sportingkc.
We'll meet a hero without a Cape Public Health nurse
Jennifer Callaghan and will discover the legal services and
resources on offer at the county's domestic Violence
Action Center.
A tour of the park authorities Colvin run Mill with 2 very
special guy. It
domestic violence is a dire public health problem that
affects residents from all walks of life.
Luckily, Fairfax County's Domestic Violence Action Center
helps with a range of legal services to assist survivors of
domestic and sexual violence and becoming whole again.
>> And domestic relations will assist clients with any type of
protective order that involves family or involves children.
Many of them are intimate partner, protective orders that
either between a husband and wife or between 2 people who
have a child together are 2 people who have lived together
recently.
But it can also be protective orders where
an adult files on behalf of a child's alleging some type of
abuse of the child
or it can be a protective order between 2 adult family members.
Sometimes, unfortunately, a parent will have to file
against an adult child because that a person has mental health
issues or substance abuse issues and is causing harm to
the family.
Are we also get ones that are between 2 juveniles, either
kids who are fighting in school or it can be a romantic
relationship between 2 juveniles that has turned
violent?
>> Well, there are several different types of
protective orders that can be obtained by victims.
One is the civil protective order that they can go to a
magistrate, fill out a complaint. And that is an
affidavit that they will sign saying that this is what
happened in that. It is true.
They also may have what they call an emergency protective
order
and that way something can be in hand that day from a
magistrate
so that the victim in the family can be protected and
then another court date will be set.
>> Legal services of Northern Virginia is the
basic bread and butter legal aid for all of Northern
Virginia. So we help with civil legal services for people who
are low income, elderly or disabled.
We see people at various stages, but it's usually when
they have some kind of legal issue or legal questions.
So sometimes it's because they've had a court case filed
against them. Sometimes it's because they have filed or want
to files for a protective order for custody or divorce or
something else. But other times it's they're thinking about
leaving and they want to know what their legal rights might
be when they do
Divac has several civil legal partners who help with
different aspects of a client's legal journey. Ellison D is the
civil legal aid. We provide the broadest range of services.
But the one thing that we don't help with his immigration law
and we don't do that because we have such great partners and
other nonprofit law firms in Northern Virginia. It like I
knew that was a dieback partner and taught her a justice
center. Also at the back partner,
Fairfax County is jurisdiction that has many, many immigrants
and it's not uncommon that and abusive party will use their
partners immigration status as yet another tool to abuse them
by withholding documents, withholding a signature on
documents or blatantly lying to them about how easy it might
be, too, to have them deported. And so we can refer to you to
and then they can take it from there and work on the various
immigration relief options that the victim might have.
There's also JK to the Jewish Coalition against domestic
abuse and they partner with us to help the clients that are
over income for us or might we might not be able to serve for
civil protective orders in Fairfax County.
>> In the main scheme of things.
>> As long as people know that there are other people out
there willing to help
trying to make this person or this family whole again,
that is the main goal.
If we can, if we can achieve parts of that.
That's great.
>> Next on County magazine, meet Jennifer Callahan, a
public health nurse and tuberculosis case manager with
Fairfax County join Jennifer for an inside look at nursing
and the rewards that come from doing one of the county's most
critical jobs.
>> My main job duties as a tuberculosis case, manager
nurses to assess clients that potentially have TV or have
active TV. So that means that I screen all clients from
hospitals or doctors offices there. If there is a suspect
that they may think has tuberculosis. We also screen
all immigrants entering the U.S. that have abnormal X-rays.
And then I care for all clients that have active tuberculosis.
One thing that inspired me was as a little child, I was born
with a congenital heart defect and spent time at Children's
Hospital in DC. And I think just having that experience and
being around nurses and hospital setting as a child,
I'm kind of made me want to try to explore that field more.
When I first started nursing, I worked in be. And then as my
priorities changed, so did my nursing career. So I've worked
in public health now be close to 16 years. I started off in
other areas of public health. And about 5 years ago, the
opportunity was presented to me. I wanted to get back to
hands on nursing or I actually got to to take care of the
patients myself. And I was like, this is my opportunity to
do it.
What I love most about tuberculosis, nursing is I get
to be with these patients for 6 months, 9 months, sometimes a
year until they become cured. And so I get to really know
them in their home. And so not only do I need them, but meet
their family and I meet their kids or their parents. I'm
treating the family as a whole and not just the client to be
TV case manager. I feel like you have to solid clinical
skills when you're in somebodys home. There's not that level of
support. There's not other nurses there and there's not
somebody I can consult with. Now. I can always get on the
phone if if I have something that I can answer on my own.
But you have to have that clinical skill to make that
decision, make it quickly and feel confident in your
decision. One of the reasons that public health was
appealing to me when I started, it was just like the work life
balance. I went from working holidays and weekends. And when
I started my family, I didn't have to work holidays. I didn't
have to work weekends. I could make every soccer game. I can
make every baseball game. And so for me, that was huge.
There were so many benefits to coming to work for the county
knowing that I could then bounce having my my kids at
home, I would highly recommend nursing nursing is one of those
careers where you can work in a hospital. You can work in a
doctor's office. You could go into research, you could go
into public health. So there's so many avenues, but you'll
eventually find your next beach. You'll find what speaks
to you. And that's not always hospital nursing. It's
certainly not always public health nursing, but for all new
grads know that they will find their area or an experienced
nurse. Just give it a try.
I think some of these people may think like, oh, wow,
she did all of this.
But to me, it's just my job. It's it's it's what's expected
of me. And I'm gonna give it 100% because I mean, it's their
life like I'm only here for the next 6 months to a year.
But to them, it's the rest of their life.
>> Hoarding is defined as the extreme and persistent
collection of possessions or trash inside a home that
creates a dangerous and unhealthy living situation
in the final installment of our mini series on hoarding experts
discuss resources available to residents to get them started
on their road to recovery.
>> Warning is occurring in communities across the United
States. For many they need help getting out.
If you're living in a hoarding situation or want to help
someone who is there are many options for assistance.
The first step is finding and utilizing available resources.
Local government agencies, nonprofit organizations and
private industry can be the change catalyst needed to
return to a safer life style. Additionally, housing laws may
offer some benefits to renters diagnosed with hoarding
disorder.
>> As rental housing service coordinator with the Department
of Housing and Community Development, my job is to
connect residents to resources to encourage safe and healthy
household as part of the Affordable Housing program.
>> We require regular inspections to ensure homes
need housing quality standards set by the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development.
Each unit must pass inspection before residents can occupy the
home and will continue to be inspected.
Warning, however, can lead to lease violations, which can put
residents at risk of suspended housing subsidy or even
eviction.
When violations are observed, housing staff works with the
resident to develop an action plan so the home can pass
inspection. Our goal is to ensure all residents I treated
fairly and offered the reasonable accommodations they
need.
>> Nonprofits and local governments offer assistance
reporting which are compiled on Fairfax County's hoarding
website.
Highlights include
emergency shelter options if you should find yourself
homeless because of Hardin
Home repair grants and loans with downloadable applications.
>> Services for older adults, all 5 individual for additional
resources will services and volunteer solutions.
Local support groups for individuals and families,
services for individuals experiencing hardship when the
financial aid and utility turn on assistance,
trash or recycling programs, including special pickups,
a list of nearby donation centers,
resources for animal care and welfare. Mental health
providers and a stroke leaders are professional organizer,
search engines and much more
if you or someone you know is in need of assistance for
hoarding conditions.
>> Please don't hesitate to access your facts. County
resources by visiting our website
to inquire about government intervention. Please call code
compliance for assistance. Help is within your reach.
You to have the power to create change.
>> Hypothermia is caused by prolonged exposure to cold
temperatures causing the body to lose heat faster than it can
be produced and dropping the core body temperature to 94
degrees or less
to help ensure that no one sleeps outside during the
winter months risking hypothermia a collaborative
effort by the county nonprofits and faith communities created
the hypothermia prevention program
through this program. More than 1000 homeless people had a
warm, safe place to sleep and a healthy meal.
The hypothermia prevention program provides hundreds of
additional beds beyond those available in emergency
shelters.
If you see someone that night who was unsheltered, please
call the county's non-emergency phone number.
>> Your facts, pets on Wheels is an all volunteer pet care
working station that provides companionship and an improved.
I love the life for residents in participating long-term care
facilities and Fairfax County
to learn more. And to find out how you can volunteer with us.
This is W Dot Org.
Come join us. You'll take someone's life changer. Rome.
>> The park authorities Colvin run Mill is the last surviving
and operational 19th century grist mill in the Washington
Metropolitan Region.
Recently Park Authority director J Cole met up with
County Executive Brian Hill for a stroll around the grounds and
a look at one of the county's most valued treasures.
>> I'm here to run with County executive. Brian. Hello.
I'm so excited to be here. I don't play favorites and my
park system. However, this is one of my favorite parks who's
actually the site of my very first field trip as a child in
the first time ever with a school bus. And so this site is
really near and dear to my heart. I'm really excited to
walk around with the help.
>> Well, I took this tore and 2018 when it first came,
the Fairfax County to county executive and Mike Henry was
that was in charge of the park and he took me through every
single space and every single nothing cranny. And he made
this more as a family and a home as opposed to just a
tourist attraction and his generosity. Insincerity,
maybe always think about calls and mail.
Well, we would. General store is always nice. You know,
she can buy me some greats,
wink, wink and the house. The House has been restored and
working, though. And I think those are the main things here.
But, you know, like I said, you can find the rest.
I believe parts of Ida to the community that people need to
get outside to COVID 1920, 21. 22, we've stayed inside too
long and the peacefulness and the serenity here.
It's something that has to be valued and appreciated. And we
do a great job here in Fairfax County with these parks and,
you know, under the leadership of Mister Cole, 420 adoptions,
this is one of the many options that we have.
>> Well, that's going to do it for this edition of county
magazine. Thanks for joining me. Remember, there are
countless ways to get involved in your community, make Fairfax
County and even better place to live work and play. And one of
the most important ways this to be a good neighbor. So reach
out to the folks in your community this season and find
out how you can help.
I'm Brian Ashby and we'll see you next time on County
magazine.