Deepening Our Roots
Hello friends,
Welcome to February–the heart of winter and a great time to consider getting involved with what’s going on at 3FS.
As you read this newsletter, we are joyfully recovering from our very first Firm Foundation Family Services-sponsored community event! Last night, on Feb 3, we hosted a community panel to discuss local changes to school district policies governing personal device use in public schools.
We are heartened by the warm reception we’ve received as we’ve publicized this event–from community members, school administrators, and mental health professionals. We want to heartily thank our skilled panelists for being part of this inaugural 3FS event: we so appreciate high school principal Michelle Luttrell, school counselor Katrina Smith, and our own licensed professional counselor Chia-Hua Lu.
Later this month, we continue our engagement with local schools at the 8th Annual Mental Health and Wellness Conference at Heritage High School on February 21, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. I will be tackling a pressing topic in a presentation titled Preserving Your Child’s Humanity in the Age of AI. See the below flyer to learn more about the conference and sign up to stop by. We’ll have a table at the resource fair as well. You won’t want to miss our free raffle for a goodie basket full of treats to encourage calm and relaxation.
FEATURED BLOG
When it Comes to Kids and Tech, Policy Matters
Policies are important because they set the tone for a school’s culture. Policies establish norms, set expectations, and send a powerful message about what school leaders value and what they care to protect.
BOOK RECOMMENDATION
The Anxious Generation
by Jonathan Haidt
Published in 2024, Haidt’s book has caused a viral movement to examine the impact of smartphones on adolescent mental health and revitalized a campaign to reclaim important elements of an analog childhood. Thoroughly researched, sobering, but also full of hope, Haidt’s easy to read commentary is an important warning for a tech-saturated culture.
“Once a child gets online, there is never a threshold age at which she is granted more autonomy or more rights. On the internet, everyone is the same age, which is no particular age. This is a major reason why a phone-based adolescence is badly mismatched with the needs of adolescents.” (p. 105)
MONTHLY PICKS
CARRINGTON'S CORNER
Reflections for faithful living
PODCAST
Your Undivided Attention is hosted by Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin from the Center for Humane Technology. In the episode Attachment Hacking and the Rise of AI Psychosis, the discussion with Dr. Zak Stein addresses the rise in the use of AI for therapy and companionship. This episode does not present a biblical perspective, but does shed important light for Christians to be aware of about how AI developments are impacting the well being of humans as precious image bearers of God.
INSIGHTS ON ANXIETY
It is a prevalent myth that information alleviates anxiety. It does not. Information feeds anxiety. The best antidote to anxiety is gratitude.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 4:6-7
PERMISSION TO PARENT
A common question from parents today is “What am I supposed to do?”
What am I supposed to do when my kids…
ignore curfew
break a family rule
misbehave in public
etc?
The question belies a prevalent insecurity in parents who are timid to exercise their God-given authority in their children’s lives. If you find yourself fretting about how to set boundaries, enforce expectations, or have direct conversations with your kids, consider that God saw fit to make you a parent, which means with His help you are equipped for the task.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” ~2 Corinthians 12:9
God does allow us to face circumstances beyond our strength, but His promise is to uphold those who, in Christ, call on Him for help.
As we take our first steps to make our presence widely known in the Loudoun community, we welcome both your prayers and your participation. We hope you’ll keep an eye on the events page on our website to keep track of the upcoming calendar. Thank you for your support as we launch this new phase of growth at 3FS. We are so grateful to have you with us.
Walking with you,
Carrington
