March 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 15

The Virtual Center for Active Adults
A multi-jurisdictional partnership leverages shared resources to grow
virtual programming opportunities for vulnerable populations
By Cristin Bratt
W
hen the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic shuttered local
community centers in March 2020, Fairfax County, Virginia,
immediately recognized the negative impact that isolation
would have on older adults and persons with disabilities. By
May 2020, it had partnered with ServiceSource Inc., - a nonprofit organization
that uses a collaborative approach to facilitate services and provide resources
to people with disabilities - to develop a variety of live, interactive
Zoom programs. Led by the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood
and Community Services, a collection of county agencies contributed programming
and resources to create a space where adults could connect with
peers, engage in a variety of activities and discover useful resources virtually.
The Virtual Center for Active Adults (VCAA) launched in May 2020, featuring
live and recorded videos and resources, from yoga to discussion groups to
a weekly lunch bunch.
The VCAA's most remarkable
success isn't in its formation; it is in
its evolution. As the region emerged
from the pandemic in spring 2022,
staff began considering the VCAA's
future. Though many people were
returning to in-person activities,
VCAA participation remained constant;
older adults and people with
disabilities needed the convenience
and safety offered by virtual activities.
But with facilities reopened
and COVID-19 restrictions easing,
strained staff were now tasked with
managing two sets of programs
- virtual and in person. This challenge
wasn't unique to Fairfax County.
If the county wasn't alone in its
need to stretch resources to present
high-quality in-person and virtual
programming, why should it be
alone in the solution?
The Northern Virginia region excels
at multi-district collaboration
at all levels of government. Dozens
of municipalities in Washington,
D.C., Maryland and Virginia
coordinate and collaborate on everything
from schools to transportation
to parks. The Metropolitan
Washington Council of Governments
is one of many organizations
that connect thousands of local
officials and experts to share
information and develop solutions
to the region's major challenges.
As the world returned to inperson
activities, this collaborative
approach to governance proved to
be the perfect solution to this new
problem. Four other local Northern
Virginia
The Virtual Center for Active Adults provides
a place for adults to connect with
peers, engage in activities and discover
useful resources to combat isolation.
nutrition, brain exercise, discussion
jurisdictions joined
Fairfax County and ServiceSource
Inc., to grow VCAA program offerings
while reducing strain on
each individual organization. As
a result, rather than reduce virtual
offerings, the expanded partnership
team increased the frequency
and variety of programs. Livestream
programs now include art,
exercise, dance, language, travel,
groups and holiday celebrations.
" All of the VCAA partners share a
common goal of improving the quality
of life in our community, " says
Lloyd Tucker, director of Fairfax
County Neighborhood and Community
Services. " I am proud that
we've reached across city and county
boundaries to create and sustain
this new virtual gathering space. If
our community isn't limited by geographic
boundaries, then our programming
shouldn't be either. "
The VCAA continues to be a
place for adults to connect with
peers, engage in activities and discover
useful resources to combat
isolation. To learn more about
the VCAA and join the activities,
please visit bit.ly/NCSvcaa.
Cristin Bratt is Communications Director for Fairfax County
Neighborhood and Community Services (cristin.bratt@
fairfaxcounty.gov).
PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G | MARCH 2 0 2 3
| Parks & Recreation
15
PHOTO COURTESY OF FAIRFAX COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
http://www.bit.ly/NCSvcaa
March 2023 - Parks & Recreation

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