This program is designed for families who want to provide a loving environment for children in need of temporary out-of-home care. Children available to be placed in family foster care homes can have a variety of permanency plans, meaning, they could be legally free for adoption, have a plan of reunification with their biological parents, or awaiting emancipation from Department of Family Services custody.

The children available for fostering have come into the system for a variety of reasons.  The age range can be anywhere between 0 and 18.  Many come into the system needing to be placed with their siblings who were also removed from the home.  These children could have the following special needs:

Drug and/or alcohol exposure.

Victims of physical, emotional or sexual abuse and neglect.

Mixed developmental delays (speech, motor skills, cognitive etc.)

Parents who suffer from mental health disorders.

Children with medical needs.

Combinations of all of the above.

Foster parents who provide family foster care will always be given the opportunity to learn more about the children they accept into their homes. The Department of Family Services Placement Team will work to make appropriate matches for your home, and will provide each foster parent with a complete disclosure before making a placement.

Specialized Programs:

The family foster care program has several specialized programs. Families who become licensed family foster parents can elect to participate in any one, or more, programs identified to meet the needs of Nevada’s waiting children. Some of these options include:

Respite Only Program:

Often times families want to step slowly into the foster parenting arena. Being a respite provider is an ideal way to get to know some of the children in DFS custody. Respite providers accept children into their home on an as-needed basis. They receive a call from the DFS Placement Team requesting their services. They are paid a daily rate to provide care for the children. Full time foster parents provide all transportation to and from the respite provider’s home.

Medically Fragile Program:

There are many children in DFS custody who have special medical conditions that require individualized and tailored plans of care. Family foster homes that elect to accept medically fragile children in their homes will need to take (if they have not already) specialized training to care for the particular issues the identified child is facing. Examples of a medically fragile child might be a child with: HIV/AIDS, G-Tube, Breathing, or other life support systems, or other conditions that require specialized care by a knowledgeable caregiver. Persons electing to provide medically fragile care will be reimbursed at a higher rate than regular family foster care.

Behavioral Rate Set Program:

There are numerous children in DFS custody who have behavioral issues that might require additional care and/or supervision by the foster parent. These behaviors do not warrant treatment-level care, but can require additional skills on the part of the foster family. Examples of some of these issues might include post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression, anger outbursts, and poor school performance. Again, foster parents would need to demonstrate willingness and ability to care for behaviorally challenged children, and would receive a higher rate than regular family foster care.

Sibling Care:

One of the biggest issues facing children in DFS custody today is the lack of homes available to accept an entire sibling group. Recent changes in Nevada State law requires that children in a sibling group are placed together whenever possible. DFS is currently recruiting for homes that are willing to accept sibling groups of 3 to 6 children.

Relative/Kinship Program:

Classes for relative caregivers include Orientation, Teamwork, Discipline and Kinship. When a child must be removed from the family home because it is not safe, there is a preference to consider placement with relatives (kin). An increasing number of children in the legal custody and care of Southern Nevada are being placed with grandparents and other relatives. Family boundaries and roles change when a child is placed in kinship care and the child welfare agency is involved. Some of the unique circumstances involved in kinship care will be discussed in the Kinship session"  to "...When a child must be removed from the family home because it is not safe, there is a preference to consider placement with relatives (kin). Relative caregivers are required to complete orientation and (3) classes totaling 12 hours of Pre-Service training. In addition to orientation, the classes for relative caregivers include Teamwork, Discipline and Kinship. An increasing number of children in the legal custody and care of Southern Nevada are being placed with grandparents and other relatives. Family boundaries and roles change when a child is placed in kinship care and the child welfare agency is involved. Some of the unique circumstances involved in kinship care will be discussed in the Kinship session.
Registration is required for all classes. Please call 455-5295 to register for classes.