Foster Change is the official Foster, Kinship and Adoptive Family Association of Southern Nevada.
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Hey y'all! I'm Cindy, the Program Manager for Foster Change! I am now a little over 2 months into my role and I am LOVING getting to know you all! It is my desire to make life easier for you so that you can focus on the hard work at hand, making sure your families & the children in your care are thriving. If you need any help or have any questions or just need to vent, I am here for you! My family & I have been foster care providers on and off since 2009 so I know what it feels like to be where you are. I hope you feel like you can trust me with the hard things! Let's meet soon - things are getting real fun at Foster Change! Don't miss out!
P.S. I know you LOVE Sandy and Audrey and all they have done for you! They haven't gone too far, don't worry! They will still be around and you will still see they're beautiful faces when you participate with us as an active part of this community!
P.P.S. I recently saw this graphic about growth while on social media. It really spoke to me and I wanted to share it with you all. Not only for ourselves, but for the children in our care. This month, let me encourage you to remember that growth and healing look different for each person. Please don't get discouraged or give up if growth and healing seem to have stalled out in your home.
Perhaps we are just in a season of rooting.
Allow those roots to focus on spreading deeper and creating a network of strength with others within this community.
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There are 2 coins hidden in the graphics of this newsletter! Pay close attention and, if you find them, email cindy@fosterchangecc.org, with a screenshot of the pennies or a detailed description of their locations to be entered into a raffle to win a gift card. This month is a little more difficult!
Our winner from April is Lourdes Rio!!
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For a lot of people, becoming involved with foster care can seem overwhelming and they are left to think that if they can't become a foster parent, they have nothing else to offer. NOT TRUE!
Everyone can Do Something!
A short list of ways to be involved, taken from the Lilliput Families blog, share that there are 5 ways to participate in Foster Care Awareness Month:
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FOSTER CHANGE
SUPPORT GROUPS & UPCOMING EVENTS:
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May 11th, May 12th, May 13th
May 18th, May 19th, May 20th | 9am-12:30pm
Raise the Future is proud to present the Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI®) Caregiver Training Series:
About this event:
Parenting is challenging, particularly when you are parenting a child from trauma. Children from trauma include children who were born prematurely, have been abused and neglected, have been adopted internationally, and have special needs.
Introduction: This training will focus on understanding the meaning of child behaviors, the brain chemistry of a child from a hard place, and how to help these children (and your family) heal and connect. Participants will learn tools they can put into action with their children immediately.
Connecting Principles: This training will provide an in-depth look at Connection and Attachment and how to help these children (and your family) heal. Participants will learn tools they can put into action with their children immediately.
Empowering Principles: This training will provide an in-depth look at ways to Empower your children physiologically, with sensory processing tools and information. As well as ecological strategies with self-regulation tools and ideas.
Correcting Principles: This training will provide an in-depth look at Correction and discipline techniques that are effective with children from hard places.
The training will take place during 6 different sessions that build on each other.
Attendance is required at all sessions to complete the series.
Each class will be on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
from 9 am-12:30 pm
May 11th, May 12th, May 13th
May 18th, May 19th, May 20th
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May 25th | 6pm-7pm
NV Webinar: Embracing Religion and Spirituality of Youth
In partnership with the Department of Family Services (DFS), Raise the Future has developed supplemental curriculum for families seeking to foster children in Clark County Nevada. Religion and culture are a huge part of the identity of children in foster care. This workshop will focus on how caregivers can create and maintain a welcoming environment for children entering their home. We will briefly discuss the most common types of religion in the United States. Collectively, we will analyze the differences and similarities of each practice. The training will end with the creation of an action plan and review of support. Each workshop will carry the Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) lens. We anticipate seeing your faces so please prepare to have your cameras turned on for this Zoom workshop. This workshop is pending approval for 1 CEU credit for live attendees from the Nevada Social Work Board.
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For more info, email
nvfamilysupport@raisethefuture.org.
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Raise the Future offers a HUGE library of on-demand trainings!
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SAFY of Nevada and Foster Change, spend countless hours compiling monthly newsletters for foster families in Clark County and greater Nevada. Both seek to ensure that families are presented with as much valuable parenting information, as well as local and organizational support as possible, but in 2021, an email newsletter can start to feel like white noise in an inbox full of accidental subscriptions. Because of this, we wanted to create something more novel, something that would catch our families' eyes!
Thus, the Foster Parent Gazette was born!
We will work to mail these out quarterly to foster and kinship families across Las Vegas! We hope you enjoy flipping through these pages as much as we enjoyed putting them together!
To get on the mailing list, register your info below!!
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From The Department of Family Services: |
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QPI (Quality Parenting Initiative)
STANDARDS for Foster Homes:
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CURRENT LICENSING REQUIREMENTS: |
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April was a BIG month for CASA Las Vegas!
For the first time since early 2020, they were able to hold an In-Person swearing in ceremony for the newest CASAs!
On April 13th, 23 new CASA volunteers wore sworn in and now, 58 more children in foster care have a CASA to represent them!
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Faith Based Support Groups: |
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Vegas Strong Academy with Parks and Recreation
- Accepts Urban League- Library locations only
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Community centers- have a separate application for financial aide https://registration.lasvegasnevada.gov/NV/las-vegas-nv/catalog
- Bring financial request to the community center directly
- Call for openings
- Yes, for children with special needs, have to toilet and feed themselves.
- Dula community center, 702-229-6307 assist with the financial assistance process and criteria to qualify
SMUNA- Southern Nevada Urban Micro Academy
Boys and Girls Club
YMCA
- https://www.lasvegasymca.org/y-cares/
- Enrolling Full/Half Day preschool ages 3-5
- Preschool accepts Urban League assistance
- Enrichment Program
- Open M-F Full Day ages 5-15
- Financial Assistance available
- Accepts children with special needs. Must toilet on their own and able to self-feed
Battle Born Las Vegas Kids and Teens
Lifetime
- https://my.lifetime.life/lp/distance-learning-camp.html
- Learning camps
- 2 locations:
- Life Time Athletic Green Valley
- 121 Carnegie St, Henderson, NV 89074
- Life Time Summerlin
- 10721 W Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89135
- Ages 5-12
- Call for financial information and acceptance of children with special needs
Boys Town
Scholarship Opportunities for former/current foster youth:
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Contact - D’Acra Perry
Founder & Executive Director
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Youth Led 501(3)(c) - is structured as an after-school reading program designed for students to learn phonics and reading strategies for comprehension. Our purpose is to teach our youth strategies on letter and sound recognition, phonics/phonograms, sight words and fluency building for comprehension. Currently, we are serving our after-school program at Democracy Prep the Agassi Campus. We are also serving the community with free small group tutoring services in reading on Saturdays at the West Las Vegas Library.
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You're Invited:
A Bridal Gown Fashion Show
featuring USOA Mrs. Nevada, TrinaMarie Shaw, a former foster youth!
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La'Toria Kern, with Whaler's Creation, an organization that supports foster and adopted youth by teaching job training in the fields of the Arts, recently met up with Foster Change Program Manager, Cindy.
Click here to watch their interview:
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Hannah's Closet is a free clothing resource for foster families in the Las Vegas Valley. It offers clothes and shoes for ages 0-17, toys, and limited hygiene items, depending on availability. To shop, you will need to bring your placement letter, guardianship papers, or adoption decree. There are two locations, one north and one south, and both are available for once a month visits, as needed. For more information and hours of operation, see location specific contact information below. Business hours vary, as this is a volunteer-run resource.
Hannah's Closet North -
Hannah's Closet South - Appointments Required - find on website:
Crisis Support Resources Through Clark County School District
Safe-Voice: 1-833-216-SAFE (7233) for anonymous reporting
CCSD Police: 702-799-5411
Mobile Crisis Response Team: 702-486-7865
National Suicide Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
or
Nevada Crisis Line: 775-784-8090
If someone is having thoughts of self-harm,
please call 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Please call 911 for an immediate emergency situation.
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Food Banks
There are many locations in Nevada where families can get free and reduced food.
Three Square offers an interactive website which matches your zip code to food banks and provides the food bank’s days and times of operation.
Phone: (702) 644-3663
Just One Project offers free groceries for individuals and groups. Below is a quick snapshot of what they offer and a link to their site.
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The Mobile Food Market is: A mobile community market in Southern Nevada called Pop Up & Give at various locations. There are no requirements to be served.
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The Senior Food Market is: Open weekly on Monday's and Friday's BY APPOINTMENT ONLY to serve seniors 60+ in need of food. To make an appointment call the office. The pantry is stocked with specialized foods for proper senior nutrition. The Just One Project welcomes all senior individuals and groups. There are no requirements to receive groceries and no lines to wait in. Seniors are welcome to attend the pantry once a month for grocery needs.
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The Senior Grocery Delivery is: Grocery delivery made available for seniors Monday through Friday. Schedule BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.
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Emergency Assistance is: FREE Groceries for Families. The Just One Project pantry is open weekly BY APPOINTMENT ONLY to serve families in need of emergency food assistance. To make an appointment call the office. They welcome all individuals and families in need. There are no requirements to receive groceries and no lines to wait in.
Phone: 702-462-2253
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Family and Children Craft Time!
It is the month of May and that means we are starting to see the flowers bloom! Take a family walk to gather inspiration and then follow these plans to make flowers and a vase, to remember your walk! You'll need to gather the following supplies:
- construction paper
- scissors
- glue or glue sticks
- wooden skewers (old pencils or pipe cleaners can work, too!)
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Want to Join Foster Change? |
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Foster Change has an online
T-Shirt Store Now!
There are MANY styles to choose from...go get yours now!!!
As an organization, we are honored to serve you but - we also ARE you! Together, as a community of families, we are proud to BELONG to each other. Grab your shirt and wear it with pride! #youbelonghere #bettertogether #fosterchange
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Want to Support Foster Change? |
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SUSPECT CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT? |
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Thanks to the following organizations for serving on our Board of Directors!
Click on each to learn more:
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