Chad Lundquist/Nevada Appeal Chrystal Main pauses for a moment outside of her office in Carson City on Monday. Main is the chief systems advocate for Nevada's Department of Human Resources Division of Child and Family Services.
Throughout rural Nevada, the Division of Child and Family Services needs temporary and permanent homes for children who have been abused or neglected. The agency is always recruiting new families to meet the needs of children coming into the foster care system. Chrystal Main, systems advocate for the Division of Child and Family Services, answers some frequently asked questions.
How many foster families are available to children in need in Northern Nevada?
There are only about 100 foster families throughout Nevada's 15 rural counties, of which Carson City, Douglas, Lyon and Storey counties are a part.
Why would someone become a foster family, and what is their purpose?
Foster and adoptive parenting is extremely challenging, exciting and rewarding. Foster and adoptive families make a difference in the lives of children. Foster care provides a family-life experience in a licensed household for children who temporarily cannot remain in their homes and whose needs can best be met in a foster family setting. The basic purpose of foster care is to provide a safe, nurturing environment which promotes the child's maximum growth and development.
What sort of people become foster families?
Foster parents come from a variety of backgrounds, cultures and marital status. They serve as a member of a child welfare service-delivery team along with the child's social worker and other service providers.
What are the criteria to become a foster parent?
To become a foster parent:
• one must be at least 21 years of age
• can be married, single, widowed or divorced
• must complete a required training program
• must submit to law enforcement check
• need to be in good physical, mental and emotional health
• must maintain a clean home that is free from hazards
• must have a stable income to support family needs
• must be willing to embrace a challenge.
Because children have different needs, there are specialized types of foster care.
What are the different types of foster families?
Regular foster care - Foster parents provide a safe, family environment for children temporarily removed from their homes. Age range is birth to 18 years.
Medically fragile -Ð The Department of Child and Family Services has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of children in foster care who have conditions including drug exposure, low birth weights, neurological conditions, physical impairments or other medical conditions.
Emergency short-term care - Short-term care is provided for a child in need of protection until long-range plans can be made.
How long will a child stay in my home?
It is DCFS's goal to minimize the number of moves a child will make when removed from their home. Once a child is placed in a foster home, the goal is he/she will remain in that home until placed back with his/her parent(s), relatives or adopted. Should a child's needs outweigh the skill level of the family, a request can be made to the child's social worker for additional support/training or removal of the child from the home.
Am I expected to take every child I am contacted about?
DCFS understands how important this decision is, and the need to feel comfortable with the placement of a child in your home. The selection of a foster home involves the matching of the child's individual needs to the capabilities of the foster family. The decision to place a child in a foster home is jointly made by the child's worker and the foster parents.
Do I have to have a lot of money?
No. However, you need to demonstrate the ability to meet your financial obligations independent of a foster care payment. The foster care payment is a reimbursement for expenses the foster home incurs while caring for foster children. Becoming a licensed foster home is not intended to be a business or a means to supplement your income.
Can I adopt my foster child?
Whenever possible, reunification with birth parents or blood relatives is always the primary goal. However, sometimes that isn't possible, and some of our most successful adoptive homes start out as foster parents. There is an approval process you will need to go through should your role as a foster parent switch to that of an adoptive parent.
Who do I contact for more information?
Call toll-free 1-888-423-2659. E-mail contact.fosteradoption@dcfs.state.nv.us
The Division of Child and Family Services will send a packet out explaining the program and answer any other questions you may have.