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The Caregiver Courier
September 2019
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September is Kinship Care Month!
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For the third year in a row, Nevada has proclaimed September as Kinship Care Month!
Kinship care refers to caregiver grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, adult siblings and even family friends who step up to raise children when parents are not able or willing to do so. Nevada has more than 33,000 children living full time with kin, and nearly 25,000 of these children reside in Clark County. Research on child permanency and well-being shows that kinship care may provide the best option for children who can’t live safely with their parents.
Most children in kinship care are cared for outside the child welfare system, but did you know that kin also make up a plurality of caregivers for children in foster care? DFS ensures that when children must enter foster care, family options are explored first. About 41% of children in foster care in Clark County live with their family in kinship homes.
Kinship care isn’t easy – it’s a labor of love from dedicated caregivers that requires incredible sacrifice. So, join us in recognizing kinship caregivers this month and celebrating their critical role in the child welfare system. To all kinship caregivers, we extend our deepest gratitude.
To learn more about what services exist for kin or how you can help support kinship families, please visit
www.FosterKinship.org
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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 nearly 7,000 children and 3,500 kinship families across Southern Nevada.
Foster Kinship also advocates for all kinship families to receive access to services and improved care-giving 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 call 702-546-9988.
You can also learn more about the services Foster Kinship provides
here.
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2019 Back to School Party!
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The CASA/Square Colour Salon & Spa 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 services before the school year.
More than 1,100 children received backpacks, haircuts and brand name shoes at the event! In the week following the event an additional 750 children received new backpacks through Peggy's Attic!
We are so grateful to all who donated and volunteered at this event!
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Save the Date:
Annual Halloween Carnival
Looking for a great, safe trick-or-treat experience for your children? Through the Eyes of a Child Foundation, Foster Change and Foster Kinship will once again be hosting its annual Halloween Carnival. There will be games, prizes, and food. There will also be a costume giveaway on a first come, first served basis (children must be present to receive a costume).
What: Through the Eyes of a Child Foundation Halloween Carnival
When: Saturday, Oct. 19, 2018
Where: Juvenile Justice Gym
601 N. Pecos Rd
Las Vegas, NV, 89101
11 am - 1 pm
This event is open to all children with an open DFS case.
Register now
!
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Save the Date:
2019 Angel Tree Celebration
The start of the holiday season seems to come sooner every year. While it might seem too early to be thinking about it; 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 2019 CASA Angel Tree Celebration!
What: 2019 CASA Angel Tree Celebration
When: Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019
This event is open to all children with an open DFS case. Registration will open on October 1, 2019. You will receive an email once registration is open.
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Through the Eyes of a Child Foundation Scholarships
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Through the Eyes of a Child Foundation provides cultural, athletic and educational scholarships to abused, abandoned and neglected children who are currently or former wards of the state (foster children), to encourage them to reach their potential and to provide hope for a successful future.
You can learn more about the scholarships and apply for them
here.
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New Training:
Caregiver Retention Panel
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In an effort to improve retention for newly licensed foster parents, the Clark County Department of Family Services' Resource Development and Support unit is adding a new mandatory training for newly licensed foster parents. If this training pertains to you, you should have received an email and/or letter in the mail about it.
The purpose of this Caregiver Retention Panel is to allow new foster parents an opportunity to learn about the roles of the different workers they will work with while caring for a child and gain a better understanding about how each worker fits into the child's team.
The next two (2) upcoming classes are:
- September 25, 2019 (6pm-8pm)
- October 23, 2019 (6pm - 8pm)
To register for one of these classes or to learn more, please call (702) 455-0181.
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Family Support Groups
Did you know there are a
variety of support groups available monthly for foster, kinship and adoptive families?
Foster Change has compiled all these wonderful resources into one useful guide.
You can view the list
here
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We know that being a caregiver can come with a lot of different paperwork and resources to keep track of, which is why DFS developed this caregiver resource list! You can save it to your phone or stick on your fridge to reference when you need it.
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Have you ever considered becoming an Advanced Foster Care resource? Advanced Foster Care is an enhanced program for children who require additional services and support.
Click here to learn more about this program!
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Peggy's Attic Open Select Saturdays This Fall!
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Peggy's Attic will be open on select Saturdays this fall to help caregivers who are not able to make it in during the normal hours of operation.
Peggy's Attic will be open the following Saturdays from
10 am - 2pm:
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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. There are many resources available to help us all recognize the warning signs of suicide, which might just allow us to save a life. Additionally, there is an a growing understanding that promoting social connectedness and supports are key elements to a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention.
Learn more about resources
here.
Learn more about promoting social "connectiveness"
here.
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Update from CSG!
The Children's Service Guild (CSG) helped guarantee some amazing summer experience for children in care, including sponsoring youth to able to attend Potosi Pines Camp and Camp to Belong. Read more about their busy summer
here.
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CCSD Important Dates!
Here are important CCSD dates this month, along with a link to the full calendar for the 2019-2020 school year!
Labor Day - NO SCHOOL
For more CCSD calendar information, click
here.
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Quality Parenting Standards for Foster Homes: Child Care and Respite
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The next highlighted section of the Quality Parenting Standards addresses daycare and respite care.
This section addresses questions such as how to set up daycare for your foster children, how to apply for a daycare subsidy through Urban League, and the proper reasons and ways to use respite care.
If you want to read more, you can do so by clicking
here and going to the section titled "Child Care and Respite".
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Foster Parent Training Calendar
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Foster parents are required to complete 12 hours of training in 2019. 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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Online Training Spotlight:
Recognizing and Report Child Abuse and Neglect*
Did you know that you can take “Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect” training online at no cost? This training provides detailed information for Mandated Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect.
Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect
Sponsor:
University of Nevada Cooperative Extension - Las Vegas
Type of Training:
Internet Course
Contact Info:
Cathryn Peshlakai
Phone
: (702) 257-5561
No Charge
Hours:
2
Registration Info:
Visit
https://campus.extension.org
and create an account. After your account is established, search by title of the course. Content in this course is designed to simulate a two-hour face to face training. All sections and videos must be viewed completely and in sequential order to meet The Nevada Registry course requirement. Upon successful completion, a certificate will be available for printing.
Core Knowledge Area:
Health, Nutrition & Safety
Training Summary:
This online training will teach child care providers the definitions and indicators of child abuse and neglect. Topics include: How to recognize and report abuse, how to respond to a disclosure, what happens when you report and child care program policies that help keep children safe and dealing with stress.
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A new way to podcast. Part music. Part talk show. ALL entertainment. Welcome to The Daily JAM! Jamole Callahan, Adrian McLemore and Michael Sanders join forces to take on a roller coaster ride of understanding one of the most misunderstood populations in our society: Teenagers! A special focus is given to foster parents to help you understand and better connect with your teens. You can listen NOW at
www.the220exp.com or on your favorite podcast platform! You can also follow the podcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @dailyJam.
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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 6, 2019
Where: Grace Point Church
3794 W. Ann Rd., North Las Vegas
Who: All foster caregivers (licensed, unlicensed, relative, fictive kin)
(Registration closes two days before the event and opens the Saturday after each event for the following month's event.)
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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 20, 2019
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).
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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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