Prince William County recently appointed Phyllis Jennings-Holt as the new director of the Department of Social Services following a national recruitment process.

Jennings-Holt has worked in the county since September 1992 in various roles in DSS. She’s been a social worker, case manager, assistant director of protective services and deputy director. Jennings-Holt was the acting director of DSS starting in June, and effective immediately became the director.

“I am delighted that Jennings-Holt will be the county’s next Social Services director. She has dedicated her career to serving the people of Prince William County,” County Executive Chris Shorter said in a county press release. “She has extensive knowledge of the community and tremendous experience in leadership and the human services sector. I am confident that she will continue the work we are doing to provide human-centered and customer-centric service to all of those we serve.”

As director, Jennings-Holt will oversee a team of more than 420 employees along with several programs and hundreds of thousands of residents.

Potomac Local asked Jennings-Holt a few questions about herself and her approach to this new position.

Can you share your journey within the Prince William County Department of Social Services and how your previous roles have prepared you for the position of director?

I worked in the arena of social work for 36 years and came to Prince William County in 1992 and have worked in every services program area in child welfare to include Child Protective Services, foster care and adoption. In 2022, I was hired as the deputy director; in this position, I supervised six direct reports and 327 indirect reports. In addition, my education and leadership training throughout the years has helped prepare me for this position.

How do you plan to enhance the delivery of social services to meet the evolving needs of the community?

The Department continues to assess internal processes to ensure that constituents are receiving services timely and efficiently with minimal disruption to include applying for benefits online and developing creatives ways to bring services in neighborhoods/communities.

What do you perceive as the most pressing challenges facing social services in Prince William County, and how do you intend to address them?

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many individuals and families have been impacted through loss of employment/income which may have impacted their financial stability. A lack of affordable housing, food insecurity and homelessness are few of the pressing challenges that is not just facing Social Services but the community as well. The Department in collaboration with other departments and the community to address these challenges.

How do you plan to foster collaboration between the Department of Social Services and other community organizations or stakeholders?

DSS partners with community organizations and stakeholders and will continue that relationship. In December 2023, the CXO created the Office of Transformation Management that assist departments with change management and community outreach and the Department will work with OTM to expand our collaboration within the community and strengthen the partnering relationships

In what ways can the community support the department’s mission and initiatives?

Prince William County constituents have always been great about reaching out and asking the Department how they can support our mission and initiatives through donations and volunteering, and we would like for that to continue.

How do you plan to strengthen the county’s response to crises, such as housing instability, unemployment and mental health challenges?

The Department will continue its collaboration with the Office of Housing and Community Development and our community partners to assist our constituents who are at the risk of homelessness or homelessness to secure housing. Prince William County Community Services and the Department collaborate to identify and assess if individual may need mental health services. PWCCS is the lead agency in providing mental health services for our community.  The Department administers the Virginia Initiative for Education and Work, which offers employment, education, training opportunities and supportive services to assist people in attaining economic independence.

Are there any new initiatives or programs you plan to implement to address gaps in the current system?

The Department is always looking at how we can improve service delivery to our constituents and currently developing ways to be more visible in the community.

On Saturday at Woodbridge High School, the Prince William County Police Department is hosting an event to help residents learn how to safeguard their vehicles.

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. — or until the approximately 900 tags are gone — PWCPD will be distributing free tracking tags to county residents to help locate and recover stolen vehicles. According to a public information officer in PWCPD, the county’s completed and attempted thefts are up 13% from this time last year.

The PIO said the department picked Woodbridge High School because it’s “somewhat central” and is densely populated. Detectives will be able to install the tags onsite.

“If your vehicle has been stolen, call the Prince William County Communications Center at 703-792-6500 to report the theft, and let them know it has a tracking device,” a press release stated. “When responding officers arrive, provide them with the real-time location of the device by logging into your account and showing officers where your tag is pinging.”

If you’re going:

• Where: Woodbridge High School, 3001 Old Bridge Road, Woodbridge
• When: Saturday, Oct. 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until supplies last
• What you need to bring: Identification and registration showing proof of address, vehicle to install the device by a detective

Welcome (or welcome back) to a new Potomac Local News series, “Meet the Principal.” With nearly two dozen new principals in Prince William County this school year, it’s important to get to know the folks in their new roles. Potomac Local has asked each principal the same questions in bold, and their respective answers will be found below.

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The National Museum of the Marine Corps unveiled two new galleries to the public on Sunday, commemorating the exhibits with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The galleries feature hundreds of artifacts from all major United States Marine Corps operations from 1976 to 2021, including Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. As the 250th anniversary of the Corps approaches, this new exhibit will showcase the most recent 50 years.

It took 13 years of work by the museum staff and contributors to collect all of the artifacts for the exhibits. Many displays include uniforms of Marines and a comprehensive view of life in the Corps in combat and humanitarian missions.

“Each of the artifacts tell part of the Marine Corps story,” Keil Gentry, Director of the NMMC and retired Marine Corps Colonel said. “You will see the dress blues of 1st Lt. William Sommerhof who, along with 240 other Americans, was killed in the Beirut bombing on Oct. 23, 1983. Keep in mind, many of the dress blues you see in these new galleries represent a Marine killed in action.”

The new exhibits will also feature the integration of women and reservists in the Corps, advancements in military medicine and the role of unmanned vehicles in modern combat. There are also many interactive elements in the exhibit. There is a life-sized recreation of an Iraqi street scene, allowing veterans and visitors to directly engage with Corps experiences.

“They’re not just displays; they’re a powerful representation of the very best our Nation has to offer, of selfless service and sacrifice,” keynote speaker Lt. Gen. Benjamin Watson said.

InsideNoVa.com: “A $17 million Tesla dealership is being eyed for James Madison Marketplace along John Marshall Highway in Haymarket.

The Prince William Planning Commission unanimously approved a special use permit for the project during its Sept. 11 meeting. Measuring 50,215 square feet, the dealership is planned for a 7.9-acre pad site due west of a Home Depot and will include over 300 surface parking spaces. The project has yet to appear on a Board of County Supervisors agenda.”

Read more.

The Manassas National Battlefield Park debuted two all-terrain wheelchairs on Monday to provide more access to visitors.

The manually powered wheelchairs have two mountain bike wheels and a manual lever to allow for greater access to visitors who may need the wheelchair to experience the battlefield. The chairs will be available for free each day the park is open.

“The all-terrain wheelchairs are the first phase of the park’s increased accessibility strategy,” Park Superintendent Kris Butcher said. “Providing equitable access for all visitors is an integral part of our mission. I look forward to continuing to provide more opportunities for all visitors to experience Manassas National Battlefield Park.”

MNBP has employed several other accessible ways for visitors to access the park. Throughout the park, there are several handicapped parking spaces and paved, level pathways in addition to wheelchair-accessible ramps. There is also signage available in large type.

The all-terrain wheelchairs are available from the Henry Hill Visitor Center, which is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting Oct. 14.

Welcome (or welcome back) to a new Potomac Local News series, “Meet the Principal.” With nearly two dozen new principals in Prince William County this school year, it’s important to get to know the folks in their new roles. Potomac Local has asked each principal the same questions in bold, and their respective answers will be found below. Today, get to know Erika Williams, the new principal of Dumfries Elementary. Williams has been an educator in Prince William County Schools (PWCS) since 2015. Why Prince William County, and why Dumfries Elementary?

I came to PWCS in 2015 as a military spouse. I started as a fourth-grade teacher at Elizabeth Vaughan Elementary School and later taught at Kyle Wilson Elementary School. Following that, I stepped into the role of assistant principal at Yorkshire Elementary School. I became my best in PWCS, thanks to the leadership opportunities, professional development and peer support I was given. I can officially call this place home, as it’s the longest my family has settled anywhere during my husband’s military career, the second being Fort Cavazos, Texas.

Dumfries Elementary School piqued my interest because I see it as a place where I can really connect with the surrounding community. One of my Gallup strengths is connectedness. When I reviewed Dumfries Elementary's mission and vision, it resonated with one of my core beliefs: help, don’t hinder. The focus on goals, positive choices and collaboration aligned perfectly with my values. The staff and community were incredibly welcoming, offering support not just to students and families, but to each other as well. In times of need, they are all-hands, hearts and minds on deck.

How will you bring your experience as to your new role as principal in PWCS?

I have a diverse background. These experiences enable me to lead empathy, innovation, and a strong commitment to the community, ensuring that Dumfries is a place where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed. My time as an assistant principal has equipped me with a deep understanding of school operations, staff management, and student needs. I plan to leverage this experience to create a supportive and efficient school environment, ensuring that both teachers and students thrive.