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The Caregiver Courier
September 2018
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National Kinship Care Month
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September is Kinship Month!
Kinship care refers to caregiver grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, adult siblings and even family friends who step up to parent children when parents are not able or willing to do so.
Nevada has more than 32,000 children living full time with kin. Over 23,000 of these children reside in Clark County. While most of these children are cared for outside the "formal" child welfare system, Clark County also ensures that when children can't be with their parents, family is sought, and about 42% of children in DFS care live with their family in kinship homes.
Kinship care isn’t easy – it’s a labor of love from dedicated caregivers. Children live with their kin because of unfortunate circumstances. But the families are remarkably successful – a result that we credit to the determination and unconditional love of family.
This is the second year that Nevada celebrates September as Kinship Care Month. The Governor has
issued a proclamation marking September as the time to praise the virtues of kinship families and recognize their importance in keeping families connected. That’s a common cause worth celebrating!
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Foster Kinship: Supporting Kinship Families!
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Foster Kinship was founded with a mission to "strengthen the kinship caregivers' capacity to provide
safe,
permanent, and
nurturing homes for children."
Nationally recognized, Foster Kinship is the only non-profit organization in Nevada exclusively serving kinship children and families. Since its inception, Foster Kinship has proudly served over 5,000 children and 2,700 kinship families across Southern Nevada.
Foster Kinship also advocates for all kinship families to receive access to services and improved caregiving options through training, partnerships and advocacy.
By helping to “keep home in the family” for these vulnerable children, Foster Kinship envisions a safe and healthy childhood for ALL children in kinship care.
Foster Kinship will celebrate Kinship Care Month with several fun events. For more information, please contact
Anntesha@FosterKInship.org or call 702-546-9988.
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CASA/Square Salon
Back to School Party!
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The CASA/Square Salon Back to School event was a huge success. A special thanks to Square Salon for once again opening their doors to our kids and helping provide haircuts and other beauty services before the school year.
Between the CASA and FosterChange events, over 1500 children in care received new backpacks and supplies for the school year!
See pictures of the the CASA event
here.
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Save the Date:
Annual Halloween Carnival
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Looking for a great, safe trick-or-treat experience for your children? Through the Eyes of a Child Foundation will once again be hosting its annual Halloween Carnival. There will be games, prizes and an event full of fun is in store. This event is co-sponsored by Foster Change.
What: Through the Eyes of a Child Foundation Halloween Carnival
When: Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018
Where: Juvenile Justice Gym
601 N. Pecos Rd
Las Vegas, NV, 89101
This event is open to all children in DFS care. Keep an eye out in your email inbox and the October Caregiver Courier for registration information.
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Save the Date:
2018 Angel Tree
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We know, we aren't even a week past Labor Day. But that time of year will be here before you know it and we want to make sure you have your spot reserved on the nice list. Save the date for the 2018 CASA Angel Tree Celebration.
What: 2018 CASA Angel Tree Celebration
When: Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018
This event is open to all children in DFS care. Keep an eye on your email. Registration will open Oct. 3!
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Foster parents are required to complete 12 hours of training in 2018. There are many trainings each month you can attend to satisfy this requirement.
You can view the September training calendar with dates/times/locations
here.
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Training Highlight: Car Seat Training*
C
ar Seat Safety Course Description:
This training is designed to maximize safety for the children transported by DFS Staff and Caregivers by familiarizing participants with the different types of child restraint systems and their appropriate use, dependent on the weight and size of the child. In addition, participants will learn and practice how to install car seats in compliance with Nevada law and identify resources for more information and assistance with the safe installation of child passenger safety seats. *For Caregivers only.
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SEPTEMBER 2018
9/8/18, 8am-12pm
Location:
DFS East – 2nd Floor Training Room
4180 S. Pecos Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89121
9/21/18, 4pm-8pm
Location:
DFS Pecos - Red Rock Room
701 N. Pecos
Las Vegas, NV 89101
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OCTOBER 2018
10/10/18, 5:30pm – 9:30pm
Location:
DFS Pecos - Red Rock Room
701 N. Pecos
Las Vegas, NV 89101
10/27/18, 8am-12pm
Location:
DFS Central – Carson City Room
121 S. Martin Luther King Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89106
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There is Help, There is Hope:
Save a Life by Recognizing the Suicide Warning Signs
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September is also recognized as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. In 2016, Nevada slipped from #11 to #5 nationally in number of annual suicides. There are many resources available to help us all recognize the warning signs of suicide, which might just allow us to save a life.
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Foster Parents' Night Out!
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Grace Point Church and Canyon Ridge Christian Church are both hosting a
FREE
respite program so foster parents can get an occasional night out!
Grace Point offers respite care from 6 - 9 p.m. on the first Friday of each month.
Canyon Ridge offers respite care from 6 - 9 p.m. on the third Friday of each month.
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Grace Point Church Foster Parents' Night Out
What: Foster Parents' Night Out
When: 6 - 9 p.m., First Friday of each month.
Next date: Friday, September 7, 2018
Where: Grace Point Church
3794 W. Ann Rd., North Las Vegas
Who: All foster caregivers (licensed, unlicensed, relative, fictive kin)
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.)
Upcoming 2018 Dates: October 5, November 2, December 7.
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Canyon Ridge Christian Church
Foster Parents' Night Out
What: Foster Parents' Night Out
When: 6-9 p.m., Third Friday of each month.
Next date: Friday, September 21, 2018
Where: Canyon Ridge Christian Church
Lone Mountain Campus – Base Camp
6200 West Lone Mountain Road
Las Vegas, NV 89130
Who: All foster caregivers (licensed, unlicensed, relative, fictive kin)
How to register:
Click here
. (registration closed the second Friday of each month opens the Monday after each event for the following month).
Upcoming 2018 Dates: October 19, November 16, December 21
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Important Payment Changes!!
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Effective January 1, 2019, the Department of Family Services will no longer issue paper payment checks to foster/adoptive parents for their placement services and will instead offer direct deposit or a prepaid Visa debit card. All those affected by this change will have until December 3, 2018 to select a new payment method. Read more about the changes
here and check out this
FAQ for the differences between choosing direct deposit or a prepaid Visa debit card. You can also download the following documents:
Prepaid card enrollment form/
Direct deposit enrollment form/
W-9/
2018 payment calendar.
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Hope Christian Health Center will be offering physicals needed for youth to play sports until September 28. Please click on the image for further information and disclaimers. Click
here for more information about accepted insurances and locations.
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Foster One Recruit One
The greatest tool to recruit new foster parents...are current foster parents.
Clark County DFS wants to help you host a recruitment party. We will provide the information and refreshments, all we need from you is a location and a minimum of five (5) potential foster parents confirmed to attend.
Do you want to be next!? See this
flyer
for more information.
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Foster Care Information Sessions!
There is always a need for more foster families in Clark County. The first step is to attend one of the many information sessions offered all across Clark County.
If you know someone who has been thinking of becoming a foster resource, click on the picture to see the full schedule of information sessions and help them take that first step.
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Caring for a child is one of the most important things a person can do. Caring for a child who is not your own requires a special kind of dedication. There are many children in Southern Nevada who are unable to remain in their homes. Families who open their homes and hearts to these children are committed to improving their lives and their futures. Foster Change is committed to those families.
We are proud to be the foster and adoptive family association in Southern Nevada. For just $20/year, we offer monthly community connection groups, parents' nights out, family events, educational opportunities, play dates, and free car seat and CPR/first aid training. Many of our events include free childcare and meals. We also work together to advocate for support for all foster and adoptive families in Nevada. We look forward to meeting your family!
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10 Ways to Support Foster Children in Clark County
We are so appreciative of all the amazing people who have opened their homes to become foster parents.
However, becoming a foster parent is not the only way to help a child in need.
We have compiled a list of 10 ways you can support foster children in Clark County. Check out the full list:
English/
Spanish
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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?
Building quality relationships through support and partnership for the well-being and support of our children.
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 Clark County Values
- Children do best in families
- Engaging our community
- Supporting & strengthening families
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121 S. Martin Luther King Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89106
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