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Thank you to all those who participated and helped make the event so fun and successful. Over 2,900 children received gifts for the holiday season.
An extra special thanks to CASA and Breakthru Beverage for once again making this incredible event possible.
Click
here to see some photos from the celebration.
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Making Homes Available 24/7
The Department of Family Services is excited to announce "24-7", the next step in its "Family Matters" reform effort. This will aim to make sure there are foster parents available and supported for placement 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.
Learn more about this new effort.
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January Events
Start 2018 by taking the family to try something new. Check out some of these gr
eat events around Southern Nevada in January.
Click
here to view the events.
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Nominate an Outstanding Young Leader!
The FosterClub Outstanding Young Leaders is an annual recognition program aimed at recognizing the success and achievements of young people who have experienced foster care.
Over the past 18 years, FosterClub has worked with countless young people from the foster care system who are true inspirations. These youth have persevered through challenging circumstances and are now finding different ways to give back to their community and disprove negative stereotypes about foster kids.
Who is eligible?
Young people must be aged 14 to 24 years old and must have spent some time in foster care in the United States. We are looking to celebrate and recognize young people who are engaged in local, state or national community service or advocacy. This could include activities such as youth boards, advisory committees, volunteering and service leadership.
What's the deadline?
January 12, 2018
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Locations for
Foster Parent Info Sessions
If you know someone who is interested in learning more about what it takes to become a foster parent, please refer them to one of the many information sessions the Department of Family Services offers each month.
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QPI Conference 2018: New Orleans
The 5th Annual QPI National Conference will be held January 16-17 in New Orleans! We are excited to gather with others doing the same amazing work around the country and cannot wait to come back with new ideas to implement throughout the year.
Keep an eye out for a recap of the conference in the February edition of the Caregiver Courier!
You can also learn more about the conference
here.
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Trauma-Informed Parenting (First in a Series)
Understanding and helping children in care who are victims of trauma is a critical skill for caregivers. This month, we bring you the start of an eight-part series about the effects of trauma on children and parenting through a trauma-informed lens.
This information is courtesy of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. More information can be found at
www.nctsn.org
.
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New Training Available from B-Beautiful Children's Foundation
DFS is partnering with the B-Beautiful Children's Foundation to offer caregivers an opportunity to learn important information about the proper care for skin and hair.
These three (3) hour classes are being offered 2-3 times per month so that Foster Parents, Relatives, Parents and even Youth themselves have an opportunity to learn about the best products and tools to use for their particular hair and skin type.
Please call the Parenting Project at 702-455-5295 to register.
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Foster One Recruit One Success Story!
The Clark County Department of Family Services (DFS) recruitment department had a very successful relaunch of its Foster One Recruit One program. Here is the firsthand testimonial from the hosts:
On November 10 we had the privilege of inviting friends over for both a foster and CASA information/recruitment meeting at our home. We invited friends who had expressed an interest in becoming foster parents, along with those who are simply good parents and we thought could become great foster parents as well. We also included those who are not currently able to foster to learn more about how they can still support the kids in need through the CASA program. E
veryone we talked to, and invited, was very receptive
.
A representative from DFS gave a presentation which was very powerful and touching, but not at all pushy. Many of our friends texted us later expressing their appreciation for the opportunity to come and learn more. One friend in particular stated her husband, who was adamantly against fostering, is now completely on board and they are now in the process of filling out the application. Attendees also met many people who will be a support to them in their journey, including ourselves. Our neighbors who attended the meeting decided they aren't quite ready to become foster parents, but they still want to help. Now they come to our home once a week to read to our kids.
We had a very positive experience. We would be happy to do it again.
You can help us recruit more foster parents!
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Independent Living January
Newsletter
Foster and Adoptive Youth Together (FAAYT) is looking for new membership and leaders as 2018 begins. Learn more about FAAYT and help spread the word to those who may be interested in joining.
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Share Your Story for Other Foster Families
Do you have a story you want to share about your experience as a foster parent? If so, we want to hear from you!
Whether you are a new foster parent or an experienced foster parent, everyone has a story to share.
What would you say to someone who is considering becoming a foster parent?
What would you want a new foster parent to know?
Why did you decide to become a foster parent?
What does fostering success mean to you?
You can be creative, funny, serious, reflective, or whatever style you feel best represents your foster care experience. Send us your story in less than 250 words with a photo to
[email protected]. Give us a glimpse of your story and you might see your story featured in the next Caregiver Courier!
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Grace Point Church Offering Monthly Foster Parents' Night Out
Grace Point Church is hosting a
FREE
respite program so foster parents can get an occasional night out! Grace Point will offer respite care from 6 - 9 p.m. on the first Friday each month through August 2018.
Who:
All foster caregivers (licensed, unlicensed, relative, fictive kin)
What:
Foster Parents' Night Out
When:
6 - 9 p.m., first Friday each month. Next date: Friday, February 2nd
, 2018
Where:
Grace Point Church, 3794 W. Ann Rd., North Las Vegas
How to register:
Click here. (Registration
closes two days before the event and
opens the Saturday after each event for the following month's event.)
What Do You Get Out of it?
Make it a "date night," catch a movie, unwind at your favorite coffee shop...whatever you need, it's a little "you" time to use as you choose! During that time, Grace Point will provide a fun, safe and nurturing environment for your children in care as well as your biological children.
The full list of upcoming Foster Parents' Night Out evenings includes: Jan. 5, Feb. 2, March 2, April 6, May 4 (Star Wars Day!), June 1 and Aug. 6. Keep watching the Caregiver Courier for more details and registration information.
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The Caregiver Courier would like to offer friendly reminders of upcoming school holidays (based on the Clark County School District 9-month Calendar):
Monday, January 15: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
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Entrenamiento en Español
There's a new feature on the QPI Nevada Just in Time training website! There is now a button (Entrenamiento en Español) on the homepage. This button directs caregivers to a new page that features a link to the "Trainings in Spanish" topic in the video library and the Spanish version of the FAQ document.
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What is QPI?
Making sure every child living in foster care has a caregiver (foster, relative, fictive and/or adoptive) who provides skilled, nurturing parenting while helping the child maintain connections to his or her family.
Enhance Your Skills
Various trainings are offered in the community to help enhance caregivers' capacity to parent. Please click on the links below to learn more about exciting training opportunities from which you can benefit.
The QPI Nevada Brand
Foster parents nurture children who have experienced trauma and provide a safe, loving and healing environment in which the children can thrive. They are parenting partners who honor and support family relationships. Foster parents are dedicated, informed and committed advocates for children. They are instrumental and fully supported members of the child and family team. Great foster parents make a difference for children and families in our community.
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Let Your Voice Be Heard! Join a QPI Workgroup Today
As a caregiver, we know you have ideas for improvements in child welfare that you'd like to share with decision makers. Now is your chance. Get involved with the Quality Parenting Initiative and join one of our six workgroups:
- Training: Meets the second Tuesday of each month
- Recruitment: Meets the first Wednesday of each month
- Community Partnerships: Meets the third Tuesday of each month
- Support & Retention: Meets the third Thursday of each month
- Communications: Meets the third Friday of each month
- Child Welfare: Meets the fourth Tuesday of each month
Within these workgroups, child welfare professionals, community partners and caregivers convene monthly to develop solutions to issues they face every day. Your input can make the difference in the lives of children and families in Clark County.
Click here for more information about QPI training, initiatives and workgroups.
Click here to complete the workgroup interest form.
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121 S. Martin Luther King Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89106
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