Destination Family Services

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Virginia Beach, VA
Destination Family Services

The mission of LEAF Behavior Support, LLC (LEAF) is to empower the community by displaying our values of inclusion, education and preserving today’s families.

Destination Family Services is driven by the mission of supporting the overall well-being, health, and safety of every community member and cultivating engagement & positive relationships within all family units. We accomplish this with family therapeutic coaching, support, consultation and education. LEAF is comprised of a team of behaviorists such as Behavior Analysts, Positive Behavior Support Facilitators, Licensed Mental Health Professionals, Qualified Mental Health Professionals (QMHP), Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs), and master’s leveled educators. Using person-centered practices, LEAF’s goal is to meet families where they are to reduce communication barriers disguised as challenging behaviors. All LEAF behaviorists strive to provide each family and team with the tools that evolve along their journey. LEAF also focuses on supporting adolescents and adults who have intellectual, developmental or a mental health diagnosis. We are bridging the gap between home, school and the community.

10/13/2026

Brave Buddies is back, and registration is OPEN!

This November, we’re excited to welcome the Chesapeake Fire Department as our featured first responder agency for another opportunity to build meaningful connections with children with autism and their families! We're especially excited to bring Brave Buddies to a new community and create opportunities for families and first responders to learn from one another in a welcoming environment.

Brave Buddies, a program of Destination Family Services, in collaboration with the Autism Society Tidewater Virginia, creates opportunities for children with autism, ages 4–8, to interact with first responders through structured, sensory-aware play.

Our goal is simple: Build trust before emergencies happen!

NOVEMBER PLAYDATE DETAILS

Saturday, November 21, 2026
Two Play Sessions Available:

Session A: 10:00 AM–11:30 AM

Session B: 11:30 AM–1:00 PM

Location:
Bricks & Minifigs Chesapeake
1464 Mt. Pleasant Rd., Unit 6
Chesapeake, VA 23322

Registration is FREE, but space is limited!

Register at www.TidewaterASA.org

A special thank you to the Chesapeake Fire Department for joining us and Bricks & Minifigs for providing a space where our Brave Buddies can play, connect, and explore!

Interested in sponsoring a future playdate or bringing Brave Buddies to your community? Contact us at (757) 971-1414.

09/30/2026

WE’RE LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT KIND OF BEHAVIOR CONSULTANT.

Not just someone who knows behavior science.

We’re looking for someone who can see the person behind the behavior, think creatively, solve problems, and partner with families and teams to create meaningful change.

At Destination Family Services, we believe behavior support should be more than managing challenging moments. It should help people communicate, build skills, experience greater stability, and live fuller lives.

We’re growing our team and looking for a Behavior Consultant who brings both expertise and a solutions-driven mindset.

Starting at $100/hour
-In-person services
-1099 position
-Monday–Saturday availability, 9 AM–6 PM

You may be a great fit if you:
• Have experience developing positive behavior support plans
• Are creative and solutions-focused
• Communicate and collaborate well with families and professionals
• Can think beyond the obvious to find individualized solutions
• Are a Virginia-licensed BCBA, BCaBA, LCSW, or LPC, or credentialed as a PBSF

If you believe behavior is communication and that the right support can change the trajectory of a person and their family, we want to meet you.

Apply & upload your CV:
www.Destination.Family

If you know a professional who belongs on this team, tag them.
Share this with them.
Send them our way.

08/26/2026

We’re excited to welcome families to the next Brave Buddies: Play. Connect. Explore. playdate on September 19, 2026.

Brave Buddies is a program hosted by Destination Family Services, in collaboration with the Autism Society of Tidewater Virginia, designed to help children with autism ages 4–8 build familiarity, comfort, and positive connections with first responders, before an emergency happens.

Our September playdate will feature Virginia Beach Emergency Medical Services (VB EMS) and give children and families an opportunity to meet, interact, explore, and play with first responders in a welcoming, sensory-aware environment.

Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM–1:00 PM
Where: 3509 Virginia Beach Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
Who: Children with autism, ages 4–8, and their families

Space is limited, and registration is required!

Register today by clicking this link ( https://shorturl.at/Og3NQ )

Questions or interested in supporting Brave Buddies through sponsorship?

Call (757) 971-1414 or (757)461-4474

08/11/2026

RICHMOND, VA — The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental
Services (DBHDS), in partnership with Arlington County, the City of Virginia Beach, and
Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, announced the launch of Jail-Based Restoration Units (JBRUs) in three jails to improve the quality of care for people in jail with serious mental illness. These units are located at Arlington Detention Center, Virginia Beach Correctional Center, and Riverside Regional Jail in Prince George County.

To read the full press release, follow this link:https://dbhds.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DBHDS-News-Release-JBRU-080626.pdf

07/22/2026

Community is at the heart of everything we do, and the inaugural Brave Buddies event was a wonderful example of what can happen when organizations come together with a shared purpose.

A heartfelt thank you to the Autism Society Tidewater VA for serving as a collaborative partner and helping bring this vision to life. Your commitment to supporting autistic individuals and their families continues to strengthen our community.

Thank you to Connecting The Steps, LLC for being our first-ever Big Buddy Sponsor. Your generosity helped make this inaugural event possible, and we’re grateful for your investment in building safer, more inclusive communities.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to the Cpl. Matt
Youth Services Division and all of the officers and volunteers who spent the day engaging with our families. Your willingness to build relationships through play helps create trust and understanding long before an emergency ever occurs.

To the families who joined us, thank you for being part of the beginning of something special. We can’t wait to welcome you back for future Brave Buddies events!

First responders: We’d love to have you join us at an upcoming event. Your participation makes a lasting difference.

Families: Stay connected with Destination Family Services for announcements about future Brave Buddies events and opportunities to build confidence, connection, and community together.

06/18/2026

BRAVE BUDDIES: PLAY. CONNECT. EXPLORE.

Destination Family Services, the Autism Society Tidewater VA , and the Virginia Beach Police Department Youth Services Unit are excited to introduce Brave Buddies, a unique play group designed for children with Autism ages 4–8.

Through interactive play, sensory-friendly activities, and positive engagement with first responders, children will have the opportunity to build confidence, familiarity, and trust in a fun and supportive environment.

July 21
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
3509 Virginia Beach Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23453

Interactive Play Activities
Meet & Play with VBPD Youth Services Officers
Sensory-Friendly Environment
Explore Police Equipment & Vehicles
Safe, Supportive Community Connections
FREE for participants!

Space is limited to 15 participants per play date, so early registration is encouraged.

A special thank you to our sponsors and community partners whose support helps keep this program FREE for families.

Interested in attending or sponsoring future Brave Buddies events?

Contact [email protected] and visit our website www.TidewaterASA.org

06/03/2026

📣 Registration for 2026 Virtual Family Engagement Summit is LIVE! 📣

Join PEATC, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), invites you to the 2026 Virtual Family Engagement Summit: "Collaboration That Transforms Outcomes." This FREE virtual event brings together parents, caregivers, educators, and community partners who share a common goal - helping students with disabilities succeed in school and in life.

Participants will
➡️ Hear from inspiring speakers sharing practical tips, real-life experiences, and fresh ideas
➡️ Learn strategies for building stronger partnerships between families, schools, and communities
➡️ Explore resources and supports available to students with disabilities and their families
➡️ Engage in meaningful conversations
➡️ Leave with tools, ideas, and actionable takeaways

Together, we can build stronger relationships, improve communication, and create better outcomes for children and youth with disabilities.

📅August 22, 2026
🕓9:00 a.m. - 2:50 p.m. EST

Register here: go.peatc.org/26FESummit

04/02/2026

On World Autism Awareness Day, we'd like to remind Virginians of our ✉️ Blue Envelope Program. ✉️

Blue envelopes inform police officers that a driver is on the spectrum. This can inform the officer and help decrease the stressfulness of interactions between individuals with autism and the police.

They also act as a storage place for all the resources that the driver may need in the case of an interaction.

Envelopes are available at DMV Customer Service Centers across Virginia.

Address

Virginia Beach, VA

Telephone

+17579370438

Website

http://www.Destination.Family/

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