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Dear Caregivers,
Welcome to another edition of the Caregiver Courier.
It’s my honor to highlight Social Work Month – a time to celebrate the great profession of social work. This year’s theme is Social Work Breaks Barriers.
Social Work Month, observed throughout March, uplifts social workers, and celebrates their constant contributions to our society. Our Clark County Department of Family Services (DFS) employees and social workers from across the nation have entered the social work profession because they have a strong desire to help empower caregivers, individuals, families, and communities to overcome issues that prevent them from reaching their full potential.
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Daily, DFS team members collaborate with caregivers and community partners utilizing psychology and sociology to solve social issues and improve individual lives. Despite the challenges the social work profession can bring, our employees strive every day to push for change and advocate on the behalf of children and their families.
Additionally, this month marks an important time for DFS to inform the public, policymakers, and legislators about how social workers have always broken barriers when it comes to the services they provide in an array of sectors, including hospitals and mental health centers, federal, state, and local government, schools, community centers, and social service agencies.
During Social Work Month, I urge you to educate yourselves about our amazing profession and thank the social workers in your life for all the great things they do!
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Sincerely,
Tim Burch
Clark County Administrator of Human Services
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SPRING EGG HUNT & FOSTER FAMILY RESOURCE FAIR
presented by Commissioner William McCurdy II
Friday April 7, 2023 | 11am-2pm
Clark County Government Center | 500 S. Grand Central Pkwy
Hop over to the SPRING EGG HUNT & RESOURCE FAIR sponsored by Commissioner William McCurdy II. Food, games, egg hunt, resources, and tons of fun! FREE event open to all Foster/Relative families, baskets for children under DFS care only. Space is limited to the first 400 who register.
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NOW HIRING FOSTER PARENTS
Department of Family Services is looking to expand our team of Foster Parent Champions. These are flexible part-time positions for current or recent foster parents.
Empower other foster parents by sharing your experience!
If you are interested in providing resources and support to foster families, recruiting at community events for new foster families, or helping out at Peggy's Attic, we encourage you to apply!
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Meet Kimberly!
Kimberly is a fun and creative 5th grader who dreams of becoming a surgeon.
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If you are interested in adopting a specific child or sibling group from Clark County, please email DFSadoptions@clarkcountynv.gov. Please note we cannot answer questions about children who are not in the custody of DFS. | |
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FIND FABULOUS FORMAL WEAR AT BEYOND THE ATTIC BOUTIQUE
Prom season is right around the corner, and the Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada wanted foster teens to feel fantastic at the dance! The Girl Scouts collected hundreds of dresses, gowns, suits, ties, and shoes and donated them to Peggy's Attic.
Please call
(702) 455-5424
to schedule your appointment!
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SPRING FLING for FOSTER FAMILIES
Saturday March 25
1pm-3pm
Aaron Taylor, The Real Estate Guy invites DFS Foster Families to a free event on March 25th from 1pm-3pm at Lone Mountain Regional Park.
Space is limited and registration is required.
*Please note, this is an event hosted by a community partner, not Department of Family Services.
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FOSTER PARENT CHAMPIONS
Monday – Friday / 9am – 7pm
Call (702) 455-1149
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RESPITE CARE
Parenting can be stressful, and respite care allows the caregiver time to rest.
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FOSTER PARENT INFO SESSION
Do you know someone interested in becoming a foster family? Share our info session sign-up with them.
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FOSTER & ADOPTION SUBSIDY
Please keep your Licensing/Adoption Specialist informed of any changes in your contact information.
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HEALTH SCREENINGS
Department of Family Services requires routine medical, dental, and vision exams/screenings.
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OMBUDSMAN FOR DISPUTE RESOLUTION
If you have a complaint or dispute that we cannot solve, please contact the Ombudsman.
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CPR & FIRST AID CERTIFICATION
CPR/First Aid certification is required for all licensed foster caregivers. Sign-Up for CPR AED 1st Aid Training. Trainings are held at Child Haven *Red Rock Room. RSVP required and entrance is on the front side of Child Haven.
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CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY TRAINING
2-Part Training for Foster Caregivers
A Foster Parent is REQUIRED to learn the best practices to keep your child riding safely in your vehicle and complete the successful installation of a Child Passenger Safety Seat for a foster child ages 0-6 years old (or 60 pounds).
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Every family needs support sometimes and that is okay. Seeking support creates and sustains positive well-being for our youth, families, and ourselves. Raise the Future provide a range of services designed to meet your varying needs. | |
NV March TBRI® Caregiver Training: Introduction & Overview
March 9 | 3pm-9pm
Register Here
NV Webinar-Strengthening Quality Attachments through Increased Attunement
March 1 and 8
10am-11am PST
Register Here
NV Family Support Workshop- “Empowering”
March 23
9am-10am- (In person)
2pm-3pm- (Virtual)
6pm-7pm- (Virtual)
Register Here
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Foster Change membership is available to any foster, adoptive, or kinship family in Clark County, NV. Family membership covers all members of the household and is good for one year from the date of purchase. We can’t wait to welcome you to our family!
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Foster Change Book Club | "What Happened to You?" by Oprah Winfrey
Foster Change will be hosting a book club for the first half of the year, leading all the way through June. It will be on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday nights at 8pm and hosted on zoom. Join the book club on Tuesday March 7 and 21.
Participants will not HAVE to read the book in order to participate and the sessions are not built upon each other, so you can join at any time. No guilt, no stress, no falling behind. It is open to all foster, kinship and adoptive families, whether they are members of Foster Change or not, and also, any professionals in the field that would like to join in.
Email Cindy to register at cindy@fosterchangecc.org or use the button below to join the Book Club on Zoom.
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ADD YOUR FAVORITE MEDICAID PROVIDERS
Foster Change is creating a peer-built list of Medicaid Medical Providers. Upload your providers, as well as personal feedback. This will help other foster families answer questions like, "who do you use for...?" or "I need recommendations for a great..."
Please bookmark this and come back to it at anytime you have more information you can share with our community of caregivers.
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SUPPORT FOR THOSE RAISING RELATIVE'S CHILDREN
Join Foster Kinship for one of their monthly groups to gain support and share strength with others who are raising their relative's children. All details regarding groups such as log in information and locations, can be found in our closed 24/7 Facebook support group. All in-person groups offer complimentary child care.
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Caregiver Corner Market
at Marcie's Heart
Kinship caregivers can shop for household items, teen/adult clothing and shoes, jewelry/accessories, books, gently used toys, and seasonal/specialty items. Everything is free and there is no limit. Items provided for kinship families at the Market can not be sold. Kinship families must have an account with Foster Kinship to shop.
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Canyon Ridge Christian Church is hosting a Foster Parent Night Out March 17 from 6pm-9pm.
Register before March 13.
Ages birth- 5th grade.
Snacks provided, but please feed children dinner before the event.
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Additional support offered at
Canyon Ridge Christian Church:
Foster Parent Support Group
4th Friday of the month / 6:30pm - 8:45pm
Please contact Foster Connect with any questions.
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Foster Kinship Support Group
For parents and group for teens
2nd Tuesday of the month / 6pm - 7:30pm
Please contact Foster Kinship with any questions.
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NEW! FREE MEMBERSHIP
FOR HANNAH'S CLOSET
Here is what you need to know for now: Next time you come into Hannah’s you need to bring your placement letter and/or adoption decree and we’ll take it from there. Just don’t forget to sign up for an appointment!!
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You and your child are almost halfway through the 2nd Semester. Woo hoo! Congratulations on making it this far! The 3rd Quarter ends this month. This is the time to check on your child’s grades and make a plan to ensure your child’s success!
IMPORTANT DATES
• Friday March 10 - End of Third Grading Period (47 days)
• Monday March 13 – Friday March 17 – Spring Break – No School
• Monday March 20 - Classes Resume
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Otto A. Huth Scholarship
Application Due April 15, 2023
The Otto Huth Scholarship fund is established to provide support for youths who are about to age out of foster are or have already aged out of foster care in the state of Nevada who are seeking support for post-high school education at universities, community colleges, business schools, and trade schools in the US.
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
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Foster Children Education Scholarship
Application Due April 30, 2023
The Foster Children Education Foundation Scholarship supports youths who are or have been in foster care (never legally adopted or expected to be adopted) in Nevada who have received a high school diploma and desire to purse higher education with at least a 3.0 GPA
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
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SPRING BREAK STRESS MANAGEMENT & VISION PLANNING WORSHOP
MARCH 16 | 12pm-3pm
Independent Living invites all foster youth ages 14+ to take part in a free and fun workshop on March 16 from 12pm-3pm. All attendees will receive a gift card for participating and enjoy some drinks and snacks during the event.
Ensure your foster child is ready to transition out of foster care with Independent Living!
Call Ms. Smith at 702-455-0602 to register.
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CURIOUS ABOUT CULINARY ARTS
MARCH 15 | 9am-10am
Learn about the Culinary Arts Academy, a nonprofit hospitality training institute
offering 15 different programs in hospitality work, digital and employability skills
training, and language instruction.
Get your start in a career such as:
- Hotel / Housekeeping
- Food & Beverage / Bus Person / Barista
- Kitchen / Baker's Helper / Cook
Contact your IL Worker or Ms. Smith at 702-455-0602
dfsindependentliving@clarkcountynv.gov
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For over 50 years, we have been very busy working on making the children’s lives happier in the Clark County Family Court system. We know they are going through difficult situations, and it breaks our hearts. They are our mission, and we love “Our Kids”. 100% of fundraiser proceeds and donations go to them and their many needs. We will continue to do all that we can for them for many years to come.
We thank you all again who assisted the high school seniors on submitting their college scholarship applications to us. We have reviewed them and have quite a few recipients, new and returning. We are so excited to help the seniors get a head start on their future.
On February 11, 2023, we had our Annual Valentine’s Cupcake Party for the kids at Child Haven. They all got homemade cupcakes to decorate made by our members, Linda Keigley, Pat Douglas, Marci Beard and Paula Schafer. Plus, homemade frosting made by Patty Dorogi which was so scrumptious. The kids had a great time as well as all of us who helped with the party. Melonie Maxwell, Marci Beard and Marsha Whitehead did the facepainting which the kids always love! Janet Taylor and Safelite donated boxes of conversation hearts for each child, thank you!
The kids with their yummy cupcakes and the group who helped with the party. Those who helped are Marci Beard, Susan King, Toni Babbish, Karen Ziegler, Melonie Maxwell, Elise Rigatuso, Child Haven’s Naomi, Janet Taylor, Marsha Whitehead, Patty Dorogi, Paula Schafer and Child Haven Supervisor Renetta! Thank you ladies!
If you or anyone you know, would like to join Children's Service Guild, please contact Marsha Manning, Vice President and Membership Committee Chairwoman.
manning.marsha@yahoo.com or 210-862-5493
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The CASA Program Bids a Fond Farewell to the Beloved Judge Sullivan
Honorable Frank P. Sullivan retired on February 3, 2023, his 70th birthday. After serving the Family Court for more than 32 years, Judge Sullivan has been a longstanding supporter to the CASA program. As the previous judicial liaison for the Court Appointed Special Advocate Program, Judge Sullivan could be considered a fixture with the CASA program staff and volunteers supporting hundreds of abused, neglected and abandoned children in the foster care system. Whether Judge Sullivan is swearing in new CASA volunteers, leading a discussion during CASA Day In trainings or participating in a special event, Judge Sullivan’s knowledge, compassion, and quick wit will be his legacy.
Judge Sullivan has touched the lives of thousands of children and families in the child welfare system and is well-loved throughout the Las Vegas community. For the judge who was respected by all, he will be missed by many!
To learn more about the CASA program, visit them online at CasaLasVegas.org or call 702.455.CASA(2272)
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