Reston's Hopecam Teams Up With FCPS

Reston-based Hopecam has partnered with Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) to bring more opportunities to homebound students to communicate with their classmates through the use of web cameras and web conferencing software.

Hopecam will provide a new netbook computer or other hardware, such as a tablet, plus an internal web camera and headsets to FCPS students battling life-threatening illnesses who will receive homebound instruction for six or more months. 

Schools would be provided with loaner web cameras, which would be returned to Hopecam after the student returns to school. As part of the agreement, Hopecam will deliver, set up, and pick up all equipment and provide troubleshooting and technical support to the student in his or her home or healthcare facility.

“This agreement with Hopecam will enable our critically ill students to maintain social contact and peer interaction with their classmates while they battle their disease,”  FCPS Superintendent Jack D. Dale said in a statement. “While the technology has been used by FCPS homebound students previously, this agreement will make Hopecam more widely available for students.”

 President and CEO of Reston's Milestone Communications, in 2003. The idea for the nonprofit began when Forkas' son was undergoing treatment for leukemia and was homebound for many months.

“The idea for Hopecam became a reality because of the resourcefulness and innovative thinking ingrained in the culture of FCPS," said Forkas. "We are proud to formalize this partnership with FCPS to make a good program even better and streamline our ability to connect these brave children to their friends at school”

FCPS students who have been approved for homebound instruction, are battling a life-threatening condition and are predicted to miss six or more months of school will be eligible to receive Hopecam support.