Happy New Year, Caregivers!
Dear Caregivers,

Best wishes to you! I hope that your new year is off to a healthy and positive start. On behalf of all of us at DFS, we’re looking forward to teaming up with you in 2022 to continue to support our valley’s children and their families.

As we move into a new year, I’m excited to share with you something we recently created agency-wide called DFS Belief Statements. These declarations are our commitment to you and the community to continuously improve our organization’s culture to promote positive change. Here are our six belief statements:

Communication Culture
I offer and accept transparent feedback by interacting with positive intention.
Optimally Equipped
I provide shared knowledge, support, and tools to maximize resources.
I Count
I own the impact that my influence and actions have on children, families, my organization and my community.
Empowerment Unified
I cultivate an environment of value, respect and support through communication and collaboration.
Keep Growing
I pursue learning experiences to promote growth and advance practice.
Achieving Together
I belong to one team working with synergy producing results.

The positive results we achieve today, tomorrow and in the future are influenced by our daily actions and interactions with each other. And those actions are driven by the beliefs we hold. Our clear vision for where we’re headed takes amazing people like you to help us get there. Let’s continue to strive to do everything we can to ensure that our children in care are safely placed with family whenever possible; leave the child welfare system quickly and safely; and receive adequate services to meet their mental health, physical health, and educational needs.

Thank you for everything that you do for our families every day. We’re incredibly grateful to you.

Happy New Year!

Sincerely,
Tim Burch
Clark County Administrator of Human Services
2022 Payment Calendars - Foster/Adoption - AB350
New Nevada car seat law goes into effect Jan 1, 2022
Angel Tree 2021
Angel tree distribution and holiday lane was a huge success. We served approximately 800 children on December 11, 2021 and a total of 3,000 through out the holiday season,
A huge shout out to our community partners, donors and volunteers who made this holiday so special for each child and family.
Foster Kinship serves 800 children and families on December 21, 2021. Special thank you to our donors, community partners, and volunteers. Seeing the excitement on the families faces was amazing.
As 2021 comes to a close, we look back at the past twelve months at Raise the Future with gratitude. Our staff connected numerous youth with their caring adults, hosted four successful family connection camps, and welcomed a new CEO. It's been a year of change, connection, and continued hope — and we can't wait to see what 2022 brings!
Webinar:
The Hierarchy of Racial and Cultural Needs of Transracial Adoptees and Fosterees Part 1 & 2
Tuesday, January 18th and January 25th, 10:30 am- 11:30 am PST. 
Meet Kyler Age: 7

If spicy foods are your thing, then you will find Kyler is a kindred spirit! Popcorn is one of his favorite things to put hot sauce on, and he also enjoys cheese and ramen.
Kyler is a music fiend and especially appreciates drums.
He may just be part Tigger with his love for bouncing and playtime.
Playing ball is always a top pick for Kyler, and he also delights in the clean-up song when he is picking up.
Red and stuffed animals are well-enjoyed by him.
Kyler is in seventh heaven when watching movies or playing on the tablet with his siblings.
When he is with trusted adults, this kiddo is kind, loving, and helpful towards others.
Kyler is now in the first grade.

Emotional/Behavioral Level: Moderate to Severe.
Grade(s): 2nd grade 2021-2022 School year.
Interests: Kyler loves music, bouncing, drums, the IPAD, playing ball, watching movies, and stuffed animals.
Legal Status: Legally Free

Recruiter: Becky Robinson ROBINSBJ@ClarkCountyNV.gov
What type of training is required to become a
CASA volunteer?

CASA volunteers are sworn officers of the Court who advocate for the best interest of a child (or children) in foster care. CASA volunteers are required to complete 30 hours of training before they are sworn in and assigned a case. The training curriculum is a blended approach to training that combines in-person and online delivery of information. The in-person portion of training occurs in five sessions.

Each session contains approximately 3 hours of self-guided work that participants complete online and a 3-hour in-person class where participants attend as a group.
 
The online sessions introduce the participants to the key elements for CASA work, allows interaction with others, explore new ideas, and obtain tools for effective child advocacy. The in-person sessions use case studies to introduce participants to a variety of dynamics including poverty, mental health issues, substance abuse, domestic violence, etc. By using this method, volunteers not only obtain experience with different types of cases but also in how to complete a thorough review of a case. The facilitator is also able to ascertain volunteer readiness and competency. 

 For additional information, contact the CASA program at:
 
·        Website: casalasvegas.org
Phone: 702.455.4306
Independent Living Corner
WE HOPE YOU HAD A HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND WISHING YOU A VERY SPECIAL NEW YEAR FROM ALL OF US IN INDEPENDENT LIVING!

The ETV program is now being managed by Social Services- Step Up program. For more information, please email ETV at the address provided:
Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada announces the launch of RISE, a free mobile app to provide up-to-date information and resources for young adults in Clark County, in particular youth who are transitioning out of foster care or have already transitioned, homeless youth, and youth on the brink of homelessness. RISE is an easy-to-use mobile app with links to housing information, food assistance, employment resources, education and more in the Clark County area. The app is available on and the App Store.
 
Nevada Partners STEM program is launching in November 2021. If you reside in North Las Vegas, you are eligible to participate. 24 seats are ready to be filled. 8 -week community training courses are offered in the areas of Solar Energy, Hydroponics, 3D printing and Drones. A certificate of skills training will be provided upon completion. For more information, please contact your IL worker. Below is a link to a video about the program.

The Children’s Service Guild scholarships are available to youth. Six (6) $2,500 scholarships can be awarded to high school seniors who are going to attend a trade school or college. They must apply before their 18th birthday!! Applications can be filled out on-line starting October 1, 2021 thru January 31. 2022 with the Public Education Foundation Scholarship program. To find the scholarship information and application go online to https://thepef.org/scholarships and locate the Children's Service Guild Scholarship.
 
Family Services currently has a partnership with MGM. There are more opportunities for employment with MGM for youth who are18 and over. MGM also offers the program to interested youth ages 16 and up who are interested in working at MGM. Please ask your IL worker for more details and a referral.
 
For youth attending college please be informed of the following deadlines for filing your FAFSA. The earlier youth apply the better access you will have to the most funding resources.
 
Academic year FAFSA open date Federal FAFSA deadline
2021-22 Oct. 1, 2020 June 30, 2022
2022-23 Oct. 1, 2021 June 30, 2023
 


Happy New Year to all!

It's a new year and lots of great things are coming from CSG! Our mission is and always will be the children and their many needs whom are touched by the family and Juvenile Justice courts. Ciick link below review a few of our accomplishments

DFS Education Corner
Hi Everyone. 

Happy 2022 and 2nd Semester of the
2021-2022 School Year!

Click below for important educational updates from DFS - January 2022

NORMALCY RESPITE REIMBURSEMENT
We received funding to reimburse normalcy respite providers that are identified by foster parents. Funding will be available starting today and will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis, until the funds are depleted. This funding will ONLY be offered for normalcy respite to strongly encourage the use of familiar caregivers or peer-to-peer support versus stranger care. 
Click HERE for more information.
Canyon Ridge Supports Caregivers

Open to all foster caregivers (licensed, unlicensed, relative, fictive kin) Please make sure to register your register yourself and each child that will be participating. Registration closes once all slots are filled. Must register no later than Monday, January 17, 2022. Night out is Friday, January 21, 2022

Click here to register

What Do You Get Out of it?
Foster Parent Night Out -
Friday January 21,2022

Being a Foster Parent is a tremendous responsibility and help to our community. We understand that with the increased responsibility it is difficult to find regular respite care. In the third Friday of every month, from 6p - 9p. Canyon Ridge Christian Church would like to serve the foster parents of our community by providing free respite care. During that time, we will provide your children and your foster children a fun, safe and nurturing environment so that you can take some time to rest, catch a movie, go out with your spouse and more! Space is limited to a first come, first serve basis. Please drop off your children between 6:00p - 6:30p as the doors will closed after that time for safety purposes. Fill out the registration form to sign-up today!

Please note - feed your children before drop-off (we will provide snacks, but not dinner).

Open for children ages birth - 5th grade.
Canyon Ridge
Support Groups


  • Foster Kinship Support Group
  • 2nd Tuesdays of the month
  • 6 pm - 7:30 pm
  • Room C110
  • Childcare Provided for 0 - 5th grade


  • Foster Support Groups
  • 1st, 2nd, 4th Fridays of the month
  • 6:30 pm - 8:45 pm
  • Childcare Provided for 0 - 5th grade

Family Support Groups

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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OMBUDSMAN SERVICES

The Mission of the Clark County Ombudsman for the Department of Family Services and Clark County Social Service is to review, resolve, track and report complaints in an effort to add increased accountability and facilitate systemic improvements to the local child welfare and Social Service systems.

For more information, call

702.455.1046.
What is Quality Parenting Initiative?
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