Currently, there are about 3,000 children in the great Clark County area in need of a foster home. These children range in age from toddlers to teenagers and are constantly in search of a place to stay before there is reunification with their biological family or are adopted out to caring families in search of a child.
To help make the transition into the foster care system easier on these children, Nevada has installed a foster program that helps to invest in the future of the children. The program provides temporary care with families that provide strength and support. Nevada provides education and training to families who are interested in helping a child and want to become a foster family.
How do I qualify for Foster Care in Nevada?
To participate in the program, the individual or family must either be:
- Clark County residents
- Married couple
- Non-married couple but only one of the parents may adopt the child
- Single female
- Single male
- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender individuals and couples
- Individuals 21 years of age or older
- A ten-year age difference between the child and the adopting parent is required for adoption ·
- Individuals with disabilities
The training to become a foster parent begins with an information session that describes the foster system as a whole. From there, the process shifts to the screening of the prospective foster parent, including home visits by social workers. If approved, the potential foster family will attend a 30-hour training course on mental health, avoiding child abuse, providing a loving home, being a caregiver, etc. The completion of the class will yield a license to provide foster care.
Nevada’s state welfare system is obligated by federal law to provide payments to foster parents to cover the basic needs of children in their foster care, which includes food, shelter, clothing, and school supplies. Currently, Nevada provides the following payments depending on the age of the children in foster care:
Age 0 – 12 Years: $682.94 a month
Age 13 & Older: $773.17 a month
Also see our article on Nevada adoption laws.
Helpful Resources
- Nevada Department of Health and Human Services Agency (DHHS)
- Nevada Foster Care Program (NCFS)
- Foster Care Information (NCFS)
- Special Needs in Foster Care (NCFS)
- Nevada Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS)
- Clark County Department of Family Services (Las Vegas, NV)
- Washoe County Home Study (Reno, NV)