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Through a collaborative partnership with the Town of Warrenton, Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office, Fauquier County Government, and Fauquier County Parks and Recreation, Encompass Community Supports (ECS) – also your Area Agency on Aging – announced the reopening of the Fauquier Senior Center at its temporary location beginning Tuesday, December 16, 2025.

The Fauquier Senior Center will operate from 10 AM to 2 PM Monday through Thursday at 18 Court Street in Warrenton, ensuring seniors continue gathering, connecting, and participating in robust programming. “Our Board of Directors, Advisory Council, Executive Director Sheryl Reinstrom, and dedicated staff are thankful that a timely solution was found as we continue our quest for a permanent home complete with well-rounded, healthy aging opportunities for older adults of Fauquier County, coupled with our commitment to provide vibrant space where adults aged 60 and better can thrive. A heartfelt thank you to Alec Burnett, President of the Fauquier Chamber of Commerce and Captain Kristi Kiernan of the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office who continue to go above-and-beyond for our older adult residents,” said Tina Schilling, Director of the Community Connections for Older Adults division of Encompass Community Supports and our Area Agency on Aging.

Formerly located at the Warrenton Community Center, local partners worked together to remove barriers, identify a safe and accessible location, and provide a beautiful location where adults aged 60 and better can experience lifelong learning, enjoy a hot nutritious lunch, and gather to help combat loneliness and social isolation. Robust efforts to secure a permanent home for ECS’ Fauquier Senior Center continue under the leadership of ECS’ Board, Executive Director, and Director of Community Connections for Older Adults and our Area Agency on Aging.

To ensure safe and convenient access, seniors who drive to the Fauquier Senior Center will have access to dedicated parking in the County parking lot at the corner of John Marshall Highway and Lee Street and be transported by ECS transit vehicles directly to the center’s front door.

Encompass Community Supports extends its gratitude to local community partners, including TC and Jenn Robinson, owners of Denim & Pearls and Licorice Pizza who donated an electric food warmer to support the senior meal program at the new location, helping ensure services continue smoothly during this transition. “We wholeheartedly welcome additional community support,” encouraged Tina Schilling.
All partners remain committed to working together in supporting adults aged 60 and better and identifying a long-term solution to meet the needs of our community members.

Encompass Community Supports does not discriminate on the basis of any characteristic protected by law in employment matters, programs, or services.

As we reflect on the past year, we are filled with gratitude for the support you’ve shown Encompass Community Supports. Your partnership makes it possible for us to provide vital behavioral health, developmental disability, and aging services to neighbors of all ages across our region.

Because of you, older adults stay connected and supported, families find stability, and individuals facing life’s toughest challenges receive compassionate care. Together, we are making a difference, one life at a time.

This year, the S.E.E. (Support, Encourage, Empower) Recovery Center welcomed more than 7,500 visitors.  Our transportation team provided 49,000 rides, and our seniors received more than 35,000 home-delivered meals.

Our Behavioral Health team supported more than 1,000 residents in crisis and delivered over 1,300 services. We also celebrated 10 years of our Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program.  This powerful partnership among law enforcement, first responders, behavioral health professionals, advocates, and individuals with lived experience promotes compassionate, stigma-free responses to mental health and substance use crises.

But we can’t do this work alone.  This year has brought challenges for many, including our agency. Social service cutbacks, the federal government shutdown, and anticipated Medicaid cuts create new pressures.

As the year comes to a close, we invite you to consider a year-end gift to help us continue strengthening the health and well-being of our community. Every contribution, large or small, makes a meaningful difference in the lives of the people we serve.

Visit:  https://www.encompasscommunitysupports.org/donate/ to donate online or click the QR code below.

For the safety of our senior center members, and due to ongoing construction in the area, Fauquier County has decided to close the Encompass Community Supports’ Fauquier Senior Center at 430 E. Shirley Ave. We’re actively working with the county to secure a new location and will share updates as soon as we have them.

Until a new location is found, Fauquier County older adults are invited to attend the Culpeper or Rappahannock Senior Centers.

Please feel free to contact us for more information and Thank you for your patience and support!

~ Encompass Community Supports

Tonight – in this region – more than 190 people will not have a home to sleep in. They will sleep in their cars or tents or in sleeping bags nestled against a wall or bench. For most it is not a life they choose to lead but the result of a series of unfortunate circumstances.

In a few weeks it will be winter, and the weather will be harsh. Temperatures will drop, winds will blow, and snow will fall, making it unsafe for anyone to be without shelter.

With your help people like Tom, a homeless senior, will have a safe, warm bed on the coming winter nights. A gift of just $25 will provide one night of care, including a bed and a hot meal for Tom and others like him. Will you help? Please make a gift by 10/31/25 to ensure Tom and others will be sheltered when winter comes.

Tom, like many of those who are homeless, is not well. He suffers from emphysema and other chronic health conditions that leave him unable to work. He doesn’t have the support of family or friends and can’t afford the high cost of local rents. He needs your help.

By donating to the Piedmont Warming Shelter by 10/31/25, you can provide a safe night for Tom and others. They need you. Just $25 will provide a night of care, possibly saving the life of someone who is truly alone in this world and in need of your help. Your gift is much more than a financial contribution; it’s a direct lifeline for a vulnerable member of our community.

You can make a difference right now. There are many ways to give. Checks can be made payable and sent to Culpeper Human Services, at 1835 Industry Drive, Culpeper, Virginia (indicate “warming shelter”) or you can donate to Encompass Community Supports at https://www.encompasscommunitysupports.org/donate/ (choose Piedmont Warming Shelter) or by using this QR Code.

Thank you for donating today to ensure that no one is left to face the cold alone this winter.

A federal shutdown affects our community in many ways.  While it creates uncertainty, ECS remains committed to minimizing service disruptions and ensuring that those who rely on our programs receive the care, resources, and assistance they need.

As your local Community Services Board (CSB) and Area Agency on Aging (AAA), our top priority remains providing essential care and support to the individuals and families we serve. Both the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) and the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) have indicated they have plans and funds in place to continue services during a federal government shutdown, depending on its length.

With so much happening around us, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But even in uncertain times, moments of joy, hope, and connection are all around us, waiting to be noticed.  Just this week, our Support Coordination Team helped clients successfully transition from unsheltered to safe, stable housing.  Eight clients moved into their own apartments, two more are in the final stages, and one achieved a major milestone by purchasing a home with their partner.

These successes remind us that even in challenging times, progress, hope, and community thrive. Together, we will continue supporting people and improving lives, today and every day.

A recent review in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that fall-related deaths for those aged 65 and better have more than tripled over the past thirty years. Those at highest risk are aged 85 and better.  Interestingly, other high-income countries have seen fall-related deaths go down during the same period.

Source: T. Farley, JAMA (2025). Annotated by Your Local Epidemiologist.

There are many possible reasons for the increase, including medication side effects, changes in how deaths are reported, and increased frailty.  Living longer is a gift, but it can also bring more health challenges.

Falls are not an inevitable part of aging; most can be prevented. By starting fall prevention early, we can educate clients to set activity goals, strengthen muscles, improve balance, and make simple home changes that lower their risk and keep them independent longer.  But funding for these programs is at risk.

Congress is still debating and has not yet passed the federal budget for Fiscal Year 2026, which begins on October 1, 2025.   Current proposals mostly keep funding for Older Americans Act (OAA) programs the same, with small increases for Supportive Services, Senior Centers, Native American services, and Elder Rights.

However, funding for some health programs could be cut. The current draft eliminates the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which would remove:

• $8 million for Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME)
• $5 million of $7.5 million for Falls Prevention
• $15.7 million of $31.5 million for the Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative

Funding programs for older adults, like the Older Americans Act, is a cost-effective investment. Cutting or keeping funding the same doesn’t keep up with the growing need. Supporting older adults to live safely at home and in their communities not only improves lives, it saves money in the long run.

Your voice matters. Continued advocacy is essential to protect aging services, and the community programs so many rely on.  Call your Members of Congress today.  You can find their contact information at: house.gov and senate.gov.

We’re pleased to share our 2024 Impact Report with you.

Encompass Community Supports (ECS) is proud to serve the people of Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange, and Rappahannock counties. Every day, we help individuals and families face life’s challenges by connecting them to the support and services they need, when they need it most. Our mission is simple: to help people live healthier, happier lives in the communities they call home.

ECS is the only agency in Virginia that serves as both a Community Services Board and an Area Agency on Aging. This means we offer a wide range of services for people of all ages, from infants to older adults. With more than 400 team members and over 80 programs, we support people at every stage of life.

• As one of Virginia’s 40 Community Services Boards, we are the single point of entry for publicly funded mental health, substance use, and developmental disabilities services.

• As one of 26 Area Agencies on Aging, we operate five Senior Centers and provide important programs like meals, transportation, in-home help, and support for caregivers.

This year’s report shows how our efforts are making a real difference across the region. It also celebrates the hard work of our staff and the strong leadership of our Board of Directors, who represent all five counties.

Thank you for your continued support. We invite you to read the full report and contact us if we can help you or someone you care about.

Encompass Community Supports is a non-profit organization funded by federal, state, and local governments.

We serve as both the CSB and AAA for Virginia’s Planning District 9 (PD9) which includes the counties of Fauquier, Culpeper, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock. Virginia has 40 Community Services Board (CSB) and 26 Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) in the state. We want to help people live healthier, happier lives in their communities.

H.R.1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, became Public Law No. 119-21 on July 4, 2025 during the 119th Congress. The bill will enact the largest federal healthcare cuts in U.S. history, and modeling suggests the cuts equal $1 trillion over the next decade. This represents a significant change to our healthcare system.

While the full impact will unfold over time, Community Services Boards and Area Agencies on Aging, some of the most vital safety-net systems in our communities, are squarely in its path.

CSBs are by statute the single point of entry into publicly funded mental health, intellectual and developmental disability and substance use disorder services. Medicaid cuts and a shift towards block grants mean fewer guaranteed resources and more local responsibility. Services like crisis support, outpatient therapy, case management, and waiver supports may face reduced capacity.

As the Area Agency on Aging, we support older adults with nutrition programs, caregiver support, in home services and transportation. Cuts to the Older Americans Act and Medicaid mean many seniors, especially those in rural areas, will face the future with less support to age safely and with dignity in their homes and communities.

Many of these changes are scheduled to be implemented in 2026 and beyond. To continue the discussion with your legislator, and advocate for a budget that supports all, go to: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member.

The need does not go away if funding does.

Senators are debating and voting on their version of the reconciliation bill today. The bill includes major changes to health care, food assistance, and government spending – the biggest cut ever to programs for low-income Americans.

Here’s what’s in the plan and what it could mean for people and communities.

Cuts to Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• Medicaid cuts are estimated at 18% – almost $930 billion less over time
• SNAP could be cut by 20%

These cuts would likely result in 11.8 million people losing health coverage, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. This is a million more than the House version of the same bill.

Work Requirements for More People

Right now, many parents and older adults don’t have to meet work rules to get help. This bill would change that:

• Parents with children 14 and older would have to work to keep benefits.
• People without children would need to work up to age 64 (currently the limit is 49).
• It would be harder for states to waive work rules, even during high unemployment.

Changes in How Need Is Measured

The bill also changes how we measure eligibility for help:

• Costs like internet access would no longer count in household budgets.

Impact on Hospitals

In Virginia, rural hospitals say these cuts would be devastating. A recent report by the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform found that:

• 9 of 31 rural hospitals in Virginia are at risk of closing.
• 7 are at immediate risk of closing.

Only four Republican Senators need to vote no for this bill to fail. Your voice could help shape what happens next.

These Senators have expressed concerns about this bill. Call them today!

• Rand Paul (R-KY): DC (202) 224-4343
• Thom Tillis (R-NC): DC (202) 224-6342
• Susan Collins (R-ME): DC (202) 224-2523
• Lisa Murkowski (R-AK): DC (202) 224-6665
• Rick Scott (R-FL): DC (202) 224-5274
• Josh Hawley: (R-MO): DC (202) 224-6154
• Mike Lee (R-UT): DC (202) 224-5444
• Ron Johnson (R-WI): DC (202) 224-5323
• Cynthia Lummis (R-WY):  DC (202) 224-3424