August 2018
Your monthly news & updates
Greetings Foster Change Members! We are now at the heart of summer. The heat outside might be intense but guess what parents? Relief is but a couple weeks away. Why do I say that? In two more weeks we will be seeing our children off to the first day of the 2018-2019 school year. It was so great to see so many of you at the Back to School event last week!

While we wait for that day to come, remember to stay cool and put on sunscreen. Most neighborhoods have recreation centers with outdoor water parks or you always enjoy a day at the park with splash pads.
Respite Opportunities
1st Friday Respite
Grace Point Church Church provides free respite care every first Friday of the month. Grace Point Church appreciates the opportunity to help Foster Parents take a little break to catch a movie or go do something fun with their significant other. For more information please contact:702-942-1775.

3rd Friday of the Month Respite
Canyon Ridge Christian Church hosts Parents Night Out every third Friday of the month from
6-9 pm. For safety purposes, the door closes at 6:30 pm. Please make sure your children are fed before they are dropped off. Please click below to create an account if you are interested.

Upcoming Events
Meet Greet and Eat Sweets Mixer
Are you an existing member but not quite sure what your membership perks are or do you have friends that would like to join but are not sure what Foster Change is all about? Meet, greet and eat some desserts while getting to know more about our program.  Limited childcare will be available.

August 21st 6:00 -7:30 PM

Please email sandy@fosterchangecc.org to sign up or call 702-970-4546.
Community Connections Meeting
The next Community Connections Meeting will be on September 18, 2018 at 6 PM. Our Speaker for the night will be Amy Connell an Education Advocacy Paralegal from Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, and attorney Kelly Venci, Esq. It is a meeting that will be packed with information on how to advocate for your kids in the school district you do not want to miss.

Dinner and childcare is provided for this event, please make reservations by emailing sandy@fosterchangecc.org or call 702-970-4546
Have Your Kids Connect with SAFY
Free Family Event
Back to School
Meet the beautiful ladies of Foster Change. Passionate Advocates For children. Pictured from left to right. Ali Caliendo, Audrey Rosenstin, Jessica Roe and Margaret Couchman.
The Department of Family Services and Foster Change hosted the annual back pack event last week. It was a great success. This event is one of the biggest perks of being a Foster Change member. Not only do your children with open cases get back packs but your biological children were able to register as well as children with closed cases.
Parents Night Out
We missed you at the last Parent's Night Out-Paint Night event. It was very fun and we hope to do it again soon.
Everyone needs self-care. As you can see in these pictures, parents got a chance to make new friends and enjoy some much needed me time.
Connect with Training
Car Seat Safety is a required certificate for foster parents who care for children ages 0-6. Foster Change members may register by calling 702- 970-4546 .

Tue - Aug 28, 2018
6:00-9:00 pm

Fri - Oct 19, 2018
1:30 – 4:30 pm

Do you need to be recertified for CPR /First Aid/AED? To register for the next class contact 702-970-4546.

Tue
Sep 25, 2018
5:00-9:00 pm
Did you already take your required QPI Training for licensing or renewal? Here is what you need to know:

New Online Training Requirement for Licensing: ALL caregivers also have to complete two online trainings BEFORE they can be licensed:



Required Training for Renewal Licensing:  All caregivers need to take 12 hours of training to maintain their license after the first 12 months. There are some classes that are required. Here are the classes. If you haven't taken the two above ALSO include those:




*Part 2 is within part 1. Once they finish watching part 1 you will click on part 2 & watch that one & then they take the quiz that appears at the en

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Desert Regional Center

During our last Community Connections Meeting we had an opportunity to learn about the resources at Desert Regional Center.

Desert Regional Center provides services for adults and children in Nevada who have a diagnosis of intellectual disabilities or closely related developmental disabilities.

Available services include, Family Support, employment/Vocational Training/Day Training and Community Living Arrangements.

For more information please contact the intake phone number at 702-486-7850
They are located at 5550 W. Flamingo Road, Ste. B5


Child Find

If you suspect your child may have a learning disorder, please reach out to Child Find. They can assist with assessments for developmental delays for children ages 3-21. The best part about Child Find is that they will provide transportation services to and from the home and your child will have an IEP in place while they are in the program but depending on circumstances, this IEP could continue beyond. Please click on the website link below for contact information.


Summer Fun at Boys & Girls Club

Boys & Girls Club was established so that kids would have a safe place for recreational activities where they could develop and grow. This is a place where children can feel like they belong. This is also a great way for kids to interact with other kids and make new friends. Boys & Girls Club hosts events such as Boys Night Out, Girls Day and they have athletic activities. If you are interested in joining please visit your nearest Boys & Girls Club for pricing and member information.


Survey
Your Opinion Matters
Please take a moment to fill out this quick survey to let us know what types of activities you would like to see in the future.

Give Back
Peggy's Attic is a place where children who have recently gone into care receive some much needed clothing items. Peggy's Attic is an amazing asset to the community and is always in need of donations.

The most needed items are brand new under garments for children or teenagers or gently used clothing, toys or baby items.

Foster Change is looking for passionate volunteers who would like to run the helpline/phone, light data entry, put together a resource lists, help plan events or run the Foster Change Newsletter and Support Groups.

If you are interested please call today
702-970-4546 or email sandy@fosterchangecc.org.
You shop. Amazon gives.
  • Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Foster Change when you select us from their list of charities.
  • AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service.
  • Support Foster Change by starting your shopping at smile.amazon.com.
Smith’s Inspiring Donations will donate 0.5% of every eligible purchase made by you to Girls on the Run Las Vegas once you link your rewards card. 

Signing up is free and easy: 
  • Visit www.smithsfoodanddrug/inspire.com Click Sign in. Enter your email address and password. 
  • Click on your name under Welcome back! To View Account Summary. 
  • In Account Summary – the last option is Smith’s Inspiring Donations. 
  • Click on Enroll 
  • Enter our NPO (Non-Profit Organization) number KD677 or a few letters of our name then 
  • Select us from the list and click 
  • To verify you are enrolled correctly, you will see our name on the Account Summary page
Sandy Vargas - Program Manager | Foster Change | 702-970-4546 | sandy@fosterchangecc.org| www.fosterchangecc.org