A Conversation with IPG-Fairfax's Brian Salazar Zamora

Billy: What is your role at the Institute?

Brian: I am the Family Research Unit’s (FRU) Assistant Project Director based out of Fairfax County, Virginia.

Billy: How would you describe your research and praxis?

Brian: I am currently working on a Graduate Certificate at Virginia Tech on Local Government Management to allow me to develop the capacity to understand our partnership with the Fairfax County Department of Family Services (DFS) in a more nuanced way. Thereafter, I hope to get a master’s degree in public policy. The main goals of our work with Fairfax DFS are to reduce caseworker burden so that they can focus on assisting families and to assist the County with state-required reimbursement activities.

Billy: How did you become affiliated with IPG?

Brian: I was hired by Dr. Melony Price-Rhodes the then director of the FRU, who has since retired. She has become a mentor and dear friend, who has helped me address multiple career and life experiences and decisions.

Billy: What are some projects on which you are currently working?

Brian: I work directly on processing parental contributions for Children Services Act (CSA) services. I also help supervise, provide coverage, and support the FRU Director and other team members with securing social security benefits and obtaining child support for children in foster care, obtaining Medicaid reimbursement for children who qualify for services, and assisting the CSA team with continuous quality improvement tasks.

Billy: What does a typical day look like for you?

Brian: A lot of our work at the FRU is extremely time-sensitive to ensure documentation is examined as soon as possible to ensure prompt approval of services. In addition to daily tasks, I also attend meetings with members of the FRU and other stakeholders. Depending on the day of the month, I must also complete tasks for other departments.

Billy: What is one detail your job entails that might be surprising for others to know?

Brian: The FRU has been working with Fairfax for almost three decades. And we have a great relationship with our partners, which makes everyone’s job much easier. We can communicate easily, and Fairfax staff members appreciate our work very much. I hope to continue to collaborate with them for another three decades!

Billy: What inspires you to do the work you do?

Brian: A lot of the work we do at the FRU is based on ensuring timely completion of case work records but, from time to time, we receive compliments and thanks for our work from our partners or directly from families that are receiving services for which we are partly responsible. Knowing we are making a difference in people’s lives, makes our work rewarding. We are happy to assist in any way we can.

Billy: What is your advice to someone who would want to pursue your area of research and praxis?

Brian: If you are interested in assisting families in need of services, I would highly recommend getting to know those responsible for their provision within your local government. Get to know what services are available and the departments that offer them. Knowledge is power and you can find some amazing people in your local government.

Billy: What is a potential area of research/grant in the future that you would like to study and/or on which you would like to work?

Brian: I would love to expand the FRU to other localities within and outside Virginia. I am a firm believer that our work has significantly helped DFS and the communities and families the agency serves. We have accumulated an enormous amount of experience and expertise to share.

Billy: What are some things you like to do in your free time?

Brian: I have multiple hobbies I love to do in my free time. I am a huge fan of soccer, watching and playing. Hala (Real) Madrid! I also really enjoy preparing and drinking coffee and tinkering with anything computer related. I also have a pug, my sidekick, named Bean. I love to travel and to try new things with my family and friends.

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