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Caregiver Courier -
August 2022
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August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness Month!
Dear Caregivers,
Can you believe the new school year is already here? Last month, we had just as much fun as the kids as we teamed up with community partners and volunteers to host a back-to-school carnival! In addition to lots of food and fun, we provided our kids with hundreds of backpacks, uniforms, shoes, and fun give-a-ways.
As we prepare our children for another great year of learning, growing and comradery, let’s also remember to tend to their eye health. Since it’s not always possible for kids to understand when their eyes aren’t healthy, parents and caregivers must stay on top of vision issues. The American Academy of Ophthalmology has proclaimed August as Children’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness Month to raise awareness of children’s eye health. This month also aims to educate parents and caregivers on the steps that should be taken to ensure that kids are provided with the best opportunity to have a successful school year through a healthy vision.
Common refractive abnormalities in children are myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. A pediatric optometrist can not only detect them, but also other severe eye conditions such as amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (crossed eyes), ptosis (drooping of the eyelid), and color deficiency or color blindness. Most childhood learning occurs visually; therefore, good vision is critical for a child’s physical and intellectual well-being.
Let’s prioritize children’s eye health this month because it’s crucial for our children’s development and learning process. On behalf of Clark County management and the Department of Family Services, thank you for making this school year a special time for our children and their families!
Sincerely,
Tim Burch
Clark County Administrator of Human Services
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For the Kinship Excellence Awards please Click Here to sign up.
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On July 24th 2022, the 11th Annual Back-to-School Bash was held with over 800 in attendance. In preparation for schools return on August 8th distribution of backpacks and shoes continued the following week. Over 1500 children so far have received supplies to return to school in style.
The Department of Family Services must acknowledge our sponsors who supported this event. CASA program, Foster Kinship, Foster Change, Eagle Quest, Square and Atelier Salons, Children's Service Guild, Toll Brothers, Canyon Ridge, Smith Foundation, Children Advocacy Alliance, and the numerous volunteers that made this event such a success.
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CAREGIVER TRAINING CORNER
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Age: 12
· Jayden is a cool 7th grader who loves animals, specifically dogs!
· Jayden’s favorite food is sushi and loves AYCE.
· He is kind and artistic.
· Jayden likes to play video games and watch YouTube.
· Jayden loves to be active and wishes he could be outdoors all the time.
Legal Status: Legal free
Recruiter: Melissa Salazer - Salazarm@clarkcountynv.gov
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Other DFS profiles - click here
Clark County website:
https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/residents/family_services/divisions/adoption_program/index.php
Raise the future website:
https://www.raisethefuture.org/
Click children we serve, Click meet waiting children-search Nevada
ADOPTUSKIDS website:
https://adoptuskids.org/
-search Nevada
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In-Person TBRI® Caregiver Training: Introduction and Overview
August 6th | 9:00am-3:00pm
Register Here
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Quick Q&A with the CASA program
Q: Can CASA volunteers also be the placement for their assigned child(ren)
A: Not concurrently. Although CASA volunteers can be a licensed caregiver/foster parent, a CASA volunteer cannot be the foster parent for child or sibling group for whom they are assigned.
Q: Why do some CASA volunteers transport their children while others do not?
A: Transporting children is not a requirement to become a CASA volunteer. The CASA program allows each CASA volunteer to decide if he/she would like to transport their assigned child(ren), after meeting program requirements to transport. This includes having the appropriate insurance coverage, providing a DMV history printout and signing an Intent to Transport form with the CASA program.
Q: Are there any restrictions for CASA volunteers?
A: Yes. Below is a short list of CASA volunteer restrictions?
CASA volunteers cannot:
- Bring children to their personal home
- Supervise their assigned CASA children at any type of water activity (pool, water park, water skiing, etcetera)
- Supervise parental visits. However, CASA volunteers can be present during parent/child visits so they can observe the interactions.
Please contact the CASA office at casa@clarkcountycourts.us with specific questions about the CASA volunteer assignment process.
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**Our 47th Annual Holiday Craft Boutique and Raffle
will be Saturday, November 12, 2022 10am – 3pm**
**NEW LOCATION**
Desert Springs United Methodist Church, 120 N. Pavilion Center Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89144.
Click here to read more about Children's Service Guild
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Independent Living Corner
The Independent Living Program is designed to assist and prepare foster and former foster youth in making the transition from foster care to adulthood by providing opportunities to obtain life skills for self-sufficiency and independence. Program services are available to youth 14 and older who are currently in foster care and to former foster care youth who aged-out of the foster care system at age 18. Independent Living services are also available to youth who were adopted from foster care on or after their 16th birthday. Some of the services provided through the Independent Living
Program include:
· Daily living skills
· Money management
· Decision making
· Housing assistance
Substance abuse prevention, nutrition education, smoking prevention, and pregnancy prevention
· Preparation for postsecondary training and education
https://nshe.nevada.edu/initiatives/foster-youth/
· Mentors and permanent connections
· Financial assistance with college or vocational schools ETV@ClarkCountyNV.gov
· Medical insurance
· Counseling
· Assistance in obtaining the GED and higher education
For more information on transitioning out of care:
https://www.fosterclub.com/foster-parent-training/course/using-fosterclub-transition-toolkit
For information on STEM training programs for career preparation:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W5fSCe1sRF3-u0opmHdQC7xZmrhU2W1S/view?usp=sharing
For information on job readiness program, paid internships, monetary assistance with work clothes, training and assistance with job placement click on the following links;
One Stop Career Center
onestopyouth@nvcareercenter.org; Employ NV Youth Hub www.employnvyouthhub.org
IL Upcoming Events
Money Madness workshop will be held on July 26, 2022. If you would like to register for this fun and interactive workshop that teaches financial skills please
email DFSIndependentLiving@ClarkCountyNV.gov or call Nicole Smith 702-455-0602. You can also ask your IL worker to register you!
College 101 for Nevada Students in Foster Care September 22, 2022, 3pm-5pm. Flyer will be sent out soon.
FAFSA workshop for Clark County Students in Foster Care October 13, 2022, 3pm-5pm. Flyer will be sent soon.
Money Management Workshop with SCE FCU on September 14, 2022, time to be determined soon. Flyer will be sent out soon.
For all upcoming events:
If you would like to register please email DFSIndependentLiving@ClarkCountyNV.gov or call Nicole Smith 702-455-0602. You can also ask your IL worker to register you!
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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, August 15, 2022.
Click here to register
What Do You Get Out of it?
Foster Parent Night Out -
Friday August 19, 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.
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Save the date
Foster Parents Night Out
August 5, 2022
Being a Foster Parent is Tremendous responsibility and help to our community. We understand that with the increased responsibility it is difficult to find regular respite care.
On the first Friday of every month, Grace Point church serves the foster parents in our community by providing free respite care from 6p to 9p.
Click here TO REGISTER
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RESPITE Opportunities for
Therapeutic Children
To better serve caregiver families providing foster care or placement for children through DFS, we have established an additional respite option with The Therapeutic Solution. This respite option provides therapeutic-focused respite services to our children and youth requiring a higher level of care during respite needs. And also, respite services for the standard level of care requests referred by DFS; a higher level of need for behavioral care is not necessary to utilize respite services through The Therapeutic Solution. Respite is available for both planned and emergency respite requests. Services are open from 10 am-10 pm Monday through Friday. Weekend respite is available upon request and is provided as needed.
To access this service please contact the DFS Case Manager with the requested respite timeframes. The DFS Case Manager will coordinate and ensure respite availability and provide you with confirmation and guidance.
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RESPITE REIMBURSEMENT -
We support you
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The Department of Family Services supports and encourages caregivers taking foster children in their care on family vacations and trips. We are committed to support quality care and to making these opportunities for the foster children a reality.
Respite is a tool that when used effectively can make foster children a priority and focuses on normalcy for the child. The message we don't want to give children is that "we need a break from you"
To further support children and families that care for them DFS is offering reimbursement to our caregivers who use normalcy respite, need support for safe key, spring break or summer camps.
for more information.
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FOSTERING HOPE SUPPORT GROUP
Fostering Hope support group is on a break for summer! Join us when we head back on Wednesday, August 17th 6:00-8:00pm. We will meet every Wednesday from 6:00-8:00pm at Hope Church 850 E Cactus Ave. Childcare is provided just please email carly@thehublv.com
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Support Groups
Foster Parent Support Group
4th Fri Friday of the month
6:30 pm - 8:45 pm
Foster Kinship Support Group
2nd Tuesday of the month
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
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After having gifted guitars and offered music lessons to foster children over the last year, The Tone Guild was encouraged and set up a formal organization. 501(c)(3) This service organization mission is dedicated to spreading music to foster children and at-risk youth.
To make it easier to identify and distribute musical instruments/lessons, A form was developed to nominate potential recipients.
Submit nominations using this form:
Tone Guild Student Nomination
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Comedy Magician Farrell Dillon Celebrates 100th Las Vegas Performance
with Ticket Giveaway to 100 Foster Families
Farrell Dillon reached a performance milestone as the comedy magician celebrated his 100th show on April 3rd at The Magic Attic inside Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. To commemorate this landmark occasion, Dillon is giving away show tickets to 100 Nevada foster families.
Dillon’s decision to distribute complimentary tickets to foster families came after the entertainer and his wife, Amanda, worked at a transitional home for young adults during the height of the COVID pandemic.
“While we waited for the Vegas entertainment industry to recover from pandemic-related shutdowns, my wife and I decided to devote our time to a transitional home for young adults. We didn’t know much about this type of work, but we both decided to give it a shot and we are so thankful we did. As my wife and I developed genuinely loving relationships with these young people, and became an enriching part of their daily lives, the experience at the home instilled in us a renewed sense of gratitude and appreciation for our own family,” Dillon said.
National Foster Care Month in May, Dillon decided to celebrate the 100th show of his Bally’s residency by treating 100 foster families to a complimentary performance.
To get your tickets call 702-455-5424
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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.
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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
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