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Caregiver Courier -
November 2022
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National Adoption Awareness Month
Small Steps Open Doors
Dear Caregivers,
Thank you for everything that you do to help our children thrive and achieve great things in life. On behalf of Clark County management and DFS leadership we appreciate all the love and support you offer to our children in foster care every day.
Welcome to National Adoption Awareness Month – a time dedicated to increasing awareness of adoption issues and the need for adoptive families. This year’s national theme is “Small Steps Open Doors.”
In recent years, a strong focus has been placed on the importance of adopting teenagers because teens in foster care often wait longer for permanency than younger children and are at a higher risk of aging out. Our youth need understanding, support, and a sense of belonging. Securing lifelong connections for adolescents, both legally and emotionally, is a critical factor in determining their future achievement, health, and well-being.
Taking small steps to help our teens achieve permanency can make all the difference in the world. Thank you for stepping up for our children by taking the time listen to them. It’s important for us to urge our adolescents to be highly engaged in their own permanency planning because they are the experts of their own lives.
In 2021, the Clark County Department of Family Services celebrated the adoptions of 600 children and youth from foster care. By the end of this month, we expect to pay homage to additional loving families who will adopt more than 500 kids!
We can’t do this life-changing work without you. Please share our
DFS Adoption Profiles website with your family and friends. Let’s continue to support our children in every way possible!
Sincerely,
Tim Burch
Clark County Administrator of Human Services
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Isaiah- Age: 12
· Isaiah is in the 5th grade. He loves playing every sport possible and loves winning trophies!
· Isaiah enjoys hiking, drawing, and eating Burger King.
· He loves watching movies, swimming, and going to the beach.
· He is very bright and creative. Isaiah often exchanges drawings with his peers.
· Isaiah would like to be professional basketball player when he grows up.
Legal Status: Legal Free
Recruiter: Gabriela Garcia - Gabriela.Garcia@clarkcountynv.gov
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Raise the Future Recognizes November as
National Adoption Month
Raise the Future believes every young person deserves to go through life knowing they have a caring adult by their side, which is why we exist to connect youth waiting in foster care with the adults who become stable forces in their lives, and to support those relationships so that they last for a lifetime.
Using evidence-based recruitment and family support services, Raise the Future increases the chances of adoption for the longest-waiting youth in Nevada’s foster care system by up to three times and equips families and professionals with trauma-healing tools to help their children return to a healthy developmental trajectory.
Since 1983, Raise the Future has remained committed to working with State and local partners to fill gaps in the child welfare system so that all waiting youth and families have the support they need to achieve and maintain lifelong permanency. Since expanding recruitment and family support services in Nevada in 2019, the State of Nevada has recognized Raise the Future as a leader in the Child Welfare field and has increased support for our programs to ensure all of Nevada’s waiting youth and their families have access to services that improve their long-term health and wellbeing.
During the month of November, Raise the Future, along with other nationally recognized organizations, partner in celebration of National Adoption Month. The National Adoption Month campaign seeks to increase national awareness of adoption issues, bring attention to the need for adoptive families for teens in the foster care system, and emphasize the value of youth engagement. National Adoption Month is a chance for all – individuals, families, businesses, organizations, communities, states, and government to support families who have grown through adoption as well as support the thousands of youth who are still waiting in foster care for a permanent home.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH
Attend events in your community
· There are many events organized being held across the country during National Adoption Month. Attend local events being organized in your town or city and educate yourself about adoption procedures, laws, and history.
Volunteer with an adoption organization
· Help at your local foster care organizations during your free time. Even your tiniest efforts can make a huge difference in all these children’s lives. You can even mentor a child who is aging out of the foster care system.
Share information
· Spread awareness about adoption with your friends and family. Encourage your neighborhoods, communities, cities, and states to take a stand on adoption. You can even spread the word via social media by sharing adoption-positive articles and links.
For more information on how to adopt from foster care & ways to help or get involved, please go to Raise the Future’s website at www.raisethefuture.org.
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Title: The Importance of Proper Haircare and Cultural Considerations
Date of Training: Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at 5 pm-6pm PST
Register Here
Description:
Caring for children is not an easy task; there are so many variations and factors to consider. What happens when there’s a gap in education related to hair types and styles? This training will outline the importance of proper haircare and cultural considerations to help bridge the gap between parents and “Black hair”. This training will provide education about hair types, cultural considerations, mental health effects, and resources to help improve and empower parents/guardians to make necessary changes to support healthy haircare habits.
Title: Representation for Young Black Children
Date of Training: Wednesday November 9, 2022 at 5 pm-6pm PST
Description: There are so many ways for our children to be affected by what they watch. By increasing a parent’s understanding of representation through media sources, we can help guide our children towards shows that include positive images of them. This training will discuss the importance of representation through media sources, identify the mental health benefits of representation, and provide available resources to encourage, educate, and empower parents to incorporate media options that align with representation.
Register Here
Title: Virtual TBRI Caregiver Full Series
Date of Training: Wednesday November 14th-18th, 2022 at 10:00 am - 2:30 pm PST
Register Here
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WE SEE YOU !
We had such a great week thanking Child Welfare Workers during the We see you event! See the pictures taken during the drop off featuring SAFY, Awaken Church, Fostering Hope, and Raise the Future. Thank you to these Partners as well as the partners not featured. (Foster Kinship, East Valley Bible Church, Canyon Ridge, Fervent Church and Foster Connect.
We could not have pulled this off without all of you! -Fostering Hope Team
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2022 HOLLY JOLLY HOLIDAY
GIFT REGISTRATION
· Registration is open for the 2022 Holiday Gifts.
· Please register your child(ren) for gifts that will be provided December 2022.
· Registration is only for children in protective custody/foster care or through Foster Kinship referrals.
· Children who were adopted on or after July 1, 2022, can also be registered.
· Wish list deadline is Friday November 18, 2022, General registration deadline is December 9, 2022.
Click here to Register
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Click here
to read rest of article. by Anne-Marie Abruscato, LCSW University of Nevada
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November 1st - Virtual Coffee Date at 8pm (must be a Foster Change member to attend)
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November 15th - Zoom Virtual Support Group at 8pm, this month's focus is Finding thankfulness in difficult seasons (all are welcome! email Cindy@fosterchangecc.org for link | | |
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The Children's Service Guild's 47th Annual Holiday Craft Boutique & Raffle is only 6 weeks away:
**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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The CASA program is honored to have the Champions for CASA as the new auxiliary for the Eighth Judicial District Court, CASA program. The mission of the Champions for CASA is to promote and support the work of the CASA Las Vegas Program through the recruitment, training, recognition, and retention of CASA Las Vegas volunteers. As six members of Champions for CASA are current or past CASA volunteers, we move forward knowing that volunteerism is in the foundation of this board. To learn more about the Champions for CASA, visit them online at championsforcasa.org |  | |
Picture from the official launch of the Champions for CASA on Thursday, October 6, 2022.
Dr. Michelle Giddings-White, Debra Gallo (Secretary), Keith Wingate, Jenifer Page (President), Kelly Gaines, Michael Samuel, Shelia Parks (Ex Officio Board Member), Adam Campbell (Treasurer), absent Kimberly Coats
Eighth Judicial District Court CASA program is honored to have nearly 400 CASA volunteers. Many more are needed to support the over 3,000 children in protective custody. To learn more, visit CASALasVegas.org or call 702.455.CASAQuick Q&A with the CASA program
Please contact the CASA office at casa@clarkcountycourts.us with specific questions about the CASA volunteer assignment process.
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INDEPENDENT LIVING CORNER | |
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Click here for Community Driven Policies & Practices,
(compensation for attendance)
Click here for Food Handler Training
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CAREGIVER TRAINING CORNER | |
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DFS CPR/FIRST AID TRAINING
CPR/AED & First Aid Certification
4 hour In-Person Training
Registration Link: Click here
Various Date(s)/Times Available: current – December 31, 2022
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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, November 14, 2022.
Click here to register
What Do You Get Out of it?
Foster Parent Night Out -
Friday November 18, 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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There will be no Foster Parents Night Out in November and December.
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.
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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 meets every Wednesday from 6:00-8:00pm at Hope Church 850 E Cactus Ave. Childcare is provided just please email to RSVP for child care 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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HANNAH'S CLOSET SOUTH
Hannah’s Closet South is open to shop go www.fosteringhopelv.com to Sign up for a shopping slot
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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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