Jill Marano

Director

Clark County Department of Family Services

The Kinship Training Institute is proud to present:

Stronger Together Conference and Resource Fair

with Key Note Speaker Josh Shipp

at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino

September 30, 2023

9:30am-5pm

Stronger Together Conference & Resource brings together families, youth, professionals, and resources in the same room to gain support and learn from experts on kinship care and adoption. Lunch & refreshments provided.

We welcome all kinship, traditional foster parent, adoptive parents, child welfare/social service professionals AND teens/youth ages 13-22. Please note this event does not have child care available for children younger than 12.

Kinship Caregiver, Adoptive Parent , Foster Parent, and Professional Topics & Speakers:

• The Art & Science of Being that One Caring Adult with Josh Shipp, Renowned Inspirational Speaker, Teen Expert, & Author
• Blocked Trust & Parenting with Melissa Corkum, Author of Reclaim Compassion: The Adoptive Parent's Guide to Overcoming Blocked Care with Neuroscience and Faith
• Self-Care with Madyson Wier & Carly Aldis from Revival Therapy
• Advocacy for Thriving Children with Dr. Ali Caliendo, Founder & Executive Director of Foster Kinship & Adoptive Parent
• Rebuilding Burnt Bridges and Family Relationships after Permanency
• Panel Discussions including Q&A with Josh Shipp & Other Experts!

Teen Topics & Speakers:

• Speak Up! Advocating for ourselves and Others with Trista Miller, Youth & Kinship Advocate
• Safety for Teens with Joy & Phil Hoover, Advocates, Entrepreneurs, and Motivational Speakers
• Motivation, Success, and Leadership with Brandon Marshall, Founder of William-Marshall Cares

If you are needing a scholarship to attend the event,

please contact Sasha Ritchie at Sasha@fosterkinship.org

On the Child Haven campus, many sibling groups are waiting for a loving and caring foster home. We know that children do better when they are in homes, versus congregate care. These children have spent months on campus and desperately need your help.

It is traumatic for children to be split up from their siblings while in foster care, and we need foster parents who will help these kids stay together.

CRITICAL NEED: FOSTERING TEENS

"Let's focus on my future, not my past," shared a teen in Clark County foster care. "It's ok to check in, but please don't keep talking about what brought me into care."

When we truly listen to our teens in foster care, we can learn so much about how to give them the care and attention they need during this crucial developmental time in their lives.

There are so many teens in foster care that need your love and care. Consider how your family can welcome a teen into your lives.

Contact your licensing worker when you decide that fostering a teen is the right thing to do!

LAST CHANCE FOR

LAS VEGAS LIGHTS TICKETS

On behalf of Clark County Department of Family Services & Las Vegas Lights FC professional soccer, we want to thank each of our local families, employees & community supporters involved with foster care.

Please enjoy up to four (4) tickets to one of the following Lights FC Home Matches at Cashman Field:

• Saturday, September 2nd 

Additional details:

• All of your requested tickets through this submission will be seated together.
• All tickets will be e-mailed to you no later than two business days after submitting.
• This on-line form expires at 4pm the day of each match. 
• If you have any questions, email Tickets@LasVegasLightsFC.com

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!



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.

Adopting children from foster care is a rewarding way to grow your family, while empowering children and teens in need to reach their full potential. When you choose to foster and adopt through Clark County Department of Family Services, together, we can help children Find My Forever.

If you are interested in adopting a child featured in a Find My Forever profile like Paul, please email dfsfindmyforever@clarkcountynv.gov. Our team will work with your family to ensure that a child, teen, or sibling group featured in our Find My Forever program will be a good fit for your family. A Family Services Adoption Social Worker will walk you through the steps needed to adopt specific children featured in Find My Forever. 

A family interested in adopting children, teens, or sibling groups featured in Find My Forever will go through a prescreening process. If determined to be an appropriate fit for the child, teen, or sibling group, the family will receive an individualized plan to help them through the adoption process. 

SUPERVISED VISITATION

The Therapeutic Solution is the new supervised visitation provider for Clark County Department of Family Services. Supervised visitation is to help families in separation remain connected, continue or develop bonds, and remain hopeful for reuniting. 

Advocate for the Foster Care Tax Credit Act

The National Foster Parent Association has partnered with the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) and Upbring, a child welfare service provider in Texas, to advocate for the Foster Care Tax Credit Act. This proposed bill would provide a one-time per year tax credit to families that provide short-term care for foster children.

As you know, there is a nationwide shortage of foster families, especially those providing short-term or emergency care (6 months or less). Additionally, while there are some benefits in place for foster families, those providing short-term care are not able to claim the child as a dependent and, therefore, cannot take advantage of certain tax benefits for caring for the child, such as the Child Tax Credit, that are available for long-term foster families. A Foster Care Tax Credit for short-term foster families would provide additional support for foster children and these families that are otherwise left out when it comes to federal tax benefits and would help states to recruit and retain foster parents.

We are distributing this short survey because we are seeking data and input from foster parents around the nation to help us demonstrate the need for this tax credit. The information collected will remain confidential and no identifying information will be shared.

If you have any questions, please contact us at info@nfpaonline.org.

Thank you for your time and help in this effort! Be sure to reply by September 7th, 2023.

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).

Schedule an appointment with:

Laura Steeps, Senior Family Services Specialist

702-455-1211 Laura.Steeps@ClarkCountyNV.gov

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.

Register for upcoming events with Raise the Future!

TBRI Pop-In

Raise the Future’s Family Support Team is offering “TBRI® Pop-Ins.”

These are an opportunity to meet with our TBRI® Practitioner In-Home Coaches for an individualized 30-minute virtual meeting to ask questions and problem solve together!

Register Here

TBRI® Caregiver Training: Introduction & Overview

Thursday September 21 | 9am-3pm

2500 N Buffalo Dr. Ste 140 | Las Vegas, NV 89128

Register Here

Parenting is challenging, particularly when you are parenting a child from a hard place. Children from hard places include children who were born prematurely, have been abused and neglected, have been adopted internationally, and have special needs. 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.

TBRI TIP OF THE MONTH:

ROUTINES & TRANSITIONS

Provide your family some structure and predictability when you develop strong routines.

READ MORE ABOUT ROUTINES

Foster Change membership is now free and includes ANY family with a current and/or ongoing relationship with child welfare. This includes currently licensed families and formerly licensed families who have achieved permanency through adoption.

Foster Change

Peer Built Provider List

This list is peer-built and includes peer feedback for their experiences with all child service providers. For example, the list may include: Medical, Therapy, Dental, Vision, Residential Treatment, Specialists, Childcare Centers that accept children with Higher Level Needs, etc.

This list will serve as a master list for our community of foster parents, kinship families, guardianship and adoptive families. Foster Change maintains the list but does not personally review, account for factuality of feedback, or endorse anyone on this list. As a reminder, this list is Peer Built. Please use the list and add your own experiences to it, as well!  

ONE VOICE - Feedback Forum

to elevate the voices of those who are: licensed caregivers in Clark County, including post-permanency families.

This Review/Feedback Collection System has been designed by Foster Change and responses will be collected by Foster Change. Responses will be shared with the Clark County Department of Family Services, in order to elevate the voices of licensed caregivers in Clark County, including post-permanency families.

FOSTER KINSHIP

childcare@fosterkinship.org

www.fosterkinship.org

(702) 546-9988

Click below to join

Facebook for Nevada Kinship Caregivers

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.

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. 

Canyon Ridge Christian Church

Foster Parent Night Out

September 15 | 6pm-9pm

Register before September 11.

Ages birth- 5th grade.



Snacks provided, but please feed children dinner before the event.

Additional support offered at Canyon Ridge Christian Church | 6200 W. Lone Mountain Rd.

Foster Parent Support Group

4th Friday of the month

6:30pm - 8:45pm

Please email questions to hannahsclosetlv@gmail.com



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 by emailing familyadvocate@fosterkinship.org

FREE MEMBERSHIP FOR HANNAH'S CLOSET SOUTH

Here is what you need to know for now: Next time you come into Hannah’s Closet, 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!! 

Hannah's Closet North is a resource center for foster and adoptive families to receive clothing, toys, and other items that are needed for children. Families may "shop" free of charge once a month. Please provide adoption decree, placement letter, or Foster Kinship referral.

Hannah's Closet North operates separately from Hannah's Closet South.

Save a Life by Recognizing the Suicide Warnings

by Richard Egan

Office of Suicide Prevention Nevada Dept. of Health and Human Services

September is designated as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. In the State of Nevada we are 9th in the nation in the Suicide Rate, 8 other states have a higher rate than us. 1999 and prior Nevada was #1 for 66 years in the nation when it came to suicides. 2000-2010 we fluctuated between #1 and #5. 2011-2019 we fluctuated between #6 and 13th. During the pandemic of year 2020 we were at 13th in the “Crude Rate”. Nevada was the only state in the united states to reduce its suicide rate between 2000 and 2016. We are reducing our suicide rate slowly, but we are reducing it!

The Suicide Rate among our youth is midline, we as a state have been historically proficient in this area as we are 13th in the suicide rate among our youth 17 years old and under. We know our foster youth are most at risk for thoughts of suicide, but in addition they are our most protected when in the care of DFS, DCFS, and our amazing Foster Parents. The higher risk comes when our foster youth leave the protection of the system and their thoughts of suicide were not addressed. In other words we physically protect them without addressing their thoughts of suicide. When we look at suicides for youth age 18 to 24, currently 8th in the nation, but we see many were in foster care during their childhood.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

You made it through the first few weeks of school! Way to go!

Thank you for all you do for your child(ren)!

School Based Foster Care Advocates (FCAs)are assigned on each school campus to help families and children involved in foster care to navigate school services. They are sometimes called Children in Transition Specialists.

• To find out who your FCA is and get their contact information, ask your child’s school office or principal
• Introduce yourself to your child’s FCA. Let them know if there are anything that helps your child get through the school day, how to contact you, and how you might be able to help the school in your role as caregiver. Proactively reaching out to your FCA will help your child tremendously to get the right supports and to ensure your child has a familiar, friendly face on campus to go to for any struggles. 
•  CCSD also maintains a Foster Care Department to assist schools and help families with foster care related educational issues that schools may not be able to solve or for issues families are having with schools
• To contact CCSD’s Foster Care Department, please email fostercaretransrequest@nv.ccsd.net or call 702-799-1196. 

For schools outside of CCSD, contact your child’s school office or principal to find out who the Foster Care Liaison is.  

IMPORTANT DATES

• Monday September 4, 2023 NO SCHOOL | LABOR DAY
• Monday September 11, 2023 NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS | Staff Development Day
• To plan ahead for the 2023-2024 school year, download the 2023-24 school calendar

Please read all of the education updates for information on the new "Let's Talk" portal for parent concerns, how to work with your child's Educational Decision Maker and more!

CLARK COUNTY PRESCHOOL STARTS in SEPTEMBER

Helen Meyer Nevada State Licensed preschool program offers a nurturing and safe environment where children can engage in various educational and social activities. Our experienced teachers are committed to your child's growth and development, ensuring that they receive the best possible care. The program emphasizes early childhood education, helping children acquire valuable skills such as problem-solving, communication, and cognitive abilities.

Moreover, Helen Meyer fosters creativity and imagination while encouraging healthy social interactions. Additionally, their comprehensive curriculum allows for exploration and play, creating lifetime learners with arithmetic and reading comprehension to prepare them for kindergarten and beyond. By enrolling in this program, you are providing your child with an exceptional foundation for future academic success while promoting their overall development in a joyful setting.

Did you know UNLV has a dedicated support program for students who experienced foster care?

The UNLV Fostering Scholars Program was launched in 2021 to support students in foster care after age 13 in achieving their higher education at UNLV. Fostering Scholars will support students in applying to UNLV, obtaining the Foster Youth Fee Waiver, completing the FAFSA, and continues to support students throughout their undergraduate degree until they obtain their degree. Students involved with Fostering Scholars are eligible for a $1,000 scholarship! Caregivers and students can contact the Program Coordinator, Heather Richardson, to get more information or click here to join the Fostering Scholars mailing list. 

LOW COST EARLY EDUCATION WITH EARLY HEAD START

The Early Head Start and Nevada Ready programs at Sunrise Children's Foundation offer comprehensive child development and family support services to low-income and underserved populations including expecting mothers, infants, toddlers and their families.

Many foster children will qualify for Early Head Start and Nevada Ready programs. We encourage families to take advantage of these early learning opportunities.

For more information about our Early Head Start or Nevada Ready programs, please call 702-631-7130 or email info@sunrisechildren.org

The Independent Living Program assists foster and former foster youth in transitioning to adulthood by providing opportunities to obtain life skills for self-sufficiency and independence. Services are available to youth ages 14+ who are currently in foster care, to former foster youth who aged-out of the system at age 18, and to youth who were adopted from foster care on or after their 16th birthday.

Click Here to learn how to support a youth transitioning out of care.

• Daily living skills
• Money management
• Decision making
• Housing assistance: youth ages 18+ apply for section 8 housing waitlist until March 27, 2023.
• Substance abuse prevention, nutrition education, smoking prevention, and pregnancy prevention
• Preparation for postsecondary training and education

• Mentors and permanent connections
• Financial assistance with college or vocational schools  
• Medical insurance
• Counseling
•  Assistance in obtaining the GED and higher education
• Workforce/Employment readiness 
• Food Handler’s Card 

Youth age 17 ½ and older are invited to learn about the New Nevada Forklift Training and Mentor program: nvforklifttraining@gmail.com; https://nevadaforklifttraining.com/home

Just One Project Community Market

Are you moving out once you transition out of foster care? Don’t forget to plan for groceries. Just One offers food boxes for youth exiting out of foster care and transitioning to their new home. They will prepare a box with nonperishable items so that youth can have food that will not spoil while youth orient themselves to their new neighborhood. This is to assist youth in the first week or two as they adjust to their new life as an adult.

Call for an appointment 702-462-2253 from 9am-1pm Monday through Friday. Drive-thru is located at 1401 N Decatur LV NV 89108

PAID JOB TRAINING WITH JOBCORPS.GOV

For over 50 years, Job Corps has helped young people achieve successful careers in the nation’s fastest-growing industries. Job Corps provides free career training and education for 16- through 24-year-olds. We have over 120 campuses across the U.S. where students gain the experience needed to begin a career or apprenticeship, advance to higher education, or join the military. The best part? It’s free.

Low-income 16- through 24-year-olds who are U.S. citizens, legal U.S. residents, or residents of a U.S. territory, and/or individuals who are authorized to work in the United States.

DRESS to IMPRESS!

If your teen in foster care has a job interview or just needs some professional or dress attire, come "SHOP" for free at Beyond the Attic! Beyond the ATTIC has beautiful clothes for men and women, shoes and accessories to get you to the Homecoming Dance!

Please call (702) 455-5424 to schedule your appointment

Children's Service Guild of Southern Nevada is enrolled in Smith's Food & Drug Inspiring Donations Program. Every time you make a purchase at any Smith's Food & Drug using your registered Rewards Card, Smith's will make a donation to the Children's Service Guild.

casalasvegas.org

casa@clarkcountycourts.us

702.455.2272

Vote for CASA Las Vegas in the Best of Las Vegas!

The Eighth Judicial District Court, CASA Las Vegas program was named 2022 Best of Las Vegas (BOLV) Bronze winner, in the category of best places to volunteer.

The ability to recruit, train, retain and support quality volunteers, who then advocate for children in foster care is the primary reason for this well-deserved recognition. The CASA program staff share this recognition with Court Administration staff, judicial leadership, and over 400 CASA volunteers.

BOLV 2023 voting started Monday, August 28 and ends September 21, 2023. Every vote matters so consider voting for the Eighth Judicial District Court, CASA Las Vegas program for 2023.  

The Center brings together programs, resources, and services to meet the needs of our community and the community around us. We function as the heart and home of the LGBTQIA+ community by making connections, delivering programs, and providing a safe space for health and wellness, social services, arts and culture, advocacy, and community building.

Henderson Equality Center, a community supported organization to engage, empower, enrich, and advance the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, allies and queer community of Henderson, NV by providing a safe space, pursue resources and providing courses focus on educational, social, support, skill building and job assistance classes for at-risk, low-income LGBTQ youth and adults.

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