Posts Tagged: ‘las vegas’

Las Vegas Summer Camps, Childcare and Activities for Children

May 22, 2013 Posted by Ali

Summer is almost here, and with it, more time with your children! For some, this can be difficult, as you have to re-balance childcare needs and find activities for the family. It can also be expensive! But there are ways to meet childcare needs on a budget and have some fun too!

Foster Kinship has pulled together some information on local childcare and summer activities. All the information is taken directly from the organizations website and consolidated here for your convenience. Please contact the organization directly for applications and questions. Many places will offer discounts or free childcare depending upon your financial circumstances.

Clark County Library (http://www.lvccld.org/):

The library is a great place to take the kids. Check for storytimes and other free activities offered by your local branch.

Get the kids reading all summer long by signing them up for Club Read: Registration for Club Read, our free program designed for kids and teens to read, earn prizes and have fun, begins Saturday, June 1 and continues through Saturday, August 3. Stop by any library branch to pick up a reading log or register online.

Children from birth to 11 years of age have one log, and teens in grades six and up have a different log just for them. Kids and teens can earn prizes by keeping track of their reading. Every child who signs up for Club Read will get a membership card and a special wallet to put it in!

All participants earn a Book Buck for every five books that are read aloud to them or they read on their own. They can exchange the Book Buck at any Library District Foundation Used Bookstore for a book of their choice. After they read 20 books, they’ll earn a special prize!

Entertaining programs throughout the District will help toddlers, children and teens enjoy the summer, such as a theatrical adaptation of The Secret Garden, a Fratello Marionettes performance of Aladdin, Tony Daniels magic show, storyteller Jim Cogan, storytimes, music, yoga and more.

Call (702) 734-READ to find your local branch and for more information.

Las Vegas Urban League Child Care Subsidy Program (http://www.lvul.org/childcare.html):

The Las Vegas Urban League’s Child Care Subsidy Program provides financial assistance to income eligible families who struggle with the high cost of child care.  We work to empower parents to make the choices that will lead to self-sufficiency.  Our program is contracted through the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS) with the purpose of connecting our families to a variety of quality child care programs at an affordable cost.

Administrative Offices:
2470 N. Decatur
Suite 150
Las Vegas, NV  89108
(702) 473-9400

For your convenience, we have provided an application for child care subsidy.

Application for Childcare Subsidy Program (.doc)

Application for Childcare Subsidy Program (.pdf)

YMCA (http://www.lasvegasymca.org/):

Sizzling Summer Pass: Enjoy everything the Y has to offer for 4 full months!

  • $99 for individuals, only $199 for families
  • Access to pools, water parks, wellness centers, group classes and more
  • Full member benefits at all four Y locations
  • Good for 4 full months from date of purchase

OFFER EXPIRES JUNE 30, 2013

Summer Day Camps: It’s the Summer to Shine! Registration is now open for all of the Y’s Summer Day Camps.

  • June 10-August 23, 9am-4pm
  • FREE CAMPER CARE 7-9am & 4-6pm
  • Traditional camp and tons of speciality camps and field trips
  • Financial assistance available

For Summer Day Camp information and schedules, select from the location below:

Heinrich YMCA Day Camp Schedule
Durango Hills Community Center YMCA Day Camp Schedule
Centennial Hills Community Center YMCA Day Camp Schedule
SkyView YMCA Day Camp Schedule

 

Boys and Girls Clubs (http://www.bgclv.org/):

Join the fun! Becoming a Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas member is easy. The Club offers more than 100 fun-filled, value-based programs that include arts and crafts, games, team sports, homework help, and so much more. Visit your local Clubhouse for a tour and to pick up a membership application.

1. Find a Club that is near your home, school, or place of employment.
2. Download a membership form click here. You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the PDF file. Download it free here.

3. Bring this membership form along with your membership fee to the Club and you are ready to have fun and learn new skills.

For more information about hours and fees please call (702) 367-2582 or email at info@bgclv.org

 

Child Care Assistance (CCA): No child is ever turned away for economic reasons. Free Child Care Assistance is available at all Clubhouses for all fee-based programs. Your Program Administrative Assistant will be happy to provide the necessary paperwork.

 

If you would like your child to join a Club, please complete a Membership Application and submit the application and membership fee  of $20 (*5-12) or $10 (Teens) to the Clubhouse nearest you upon registration.

**Check with your local Boys & Girls Club for hours of operation

Lied Memorial Clubhouse

2850 Lindell Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89146
(702) 368-0317 | Fax (702) 367-9522

Cross Roads: Sahara & Decatur

 

Donald W. Reynolds Clubhouse

2980 Robindale Rd.
Henderson, NV 89014
(702) 614-8550 | Fax (702) 614-8553

Cross Roads: Eastern & Robindale 

 

Andre Agassi Clubhouse

800 N. Martin Luther King Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89106
(702) 638-1120 | Fax (702) 638-0190

Cross Roads: Washington & Martin Luther King

 

John D. “Jackie” Gaughan Clubhouse

920 Cottage Grove Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89119
(702) 731-6658 | Fax (702) 731-6682

Cross Roads: Flamingo & Maryland Pkwy.

 

Downtown Clubhouse

2801 E. Stewart Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89101
(702) 388-2828 | Fax (702) 388-1326

Cross Roads: Stewart & 28th Street

 

James Clubhouse

2530 E. Carey Ave.
North Las Vegas, NV 89030
(702) 399-3172 | Fax (702) 649-1952

Cross Roads: North Las Vegas Blvd. & Carey

 

Ralph and Betty Engelstad Clubhouse

3540 Cambridge St.
Las Vegas, NV 89169
(702) 792-1388 | Fax (702) 792-0505

Cross Roads: Maryland Pkwy. & Dumont

Wet ‘N Wild: http(//www.wetnwildlasvegas.com/):

New this summer! Wet’n'Wild Las Vegas is located in southwest Las Vegas, near I-215 between Sunset Road and W. Warm Springs Road on Fort Apache Road- 7055 S. Fort Apache Road.

There are two great passes on sale at Wet’n'Wild now including the Season Pass and the Gold Pass. Both passes offer you unlimited entry to the park during the season’s public operating days and times, and the Gold Pass provides you with VIP benefits, including FREE parking and discounts inside the park. Passes are assigned to a specific person and are non-transferable.

2013 Pass Pricing (ages 3+)
Season Passes and Gold Passes are both great value and offer you an entire season of unlimited fun. Right now you can save even more with the Family & Friends Deal when you purchase 4 or more passes. This Friends & Family discount is only available when you purchase 4 or more of the same pass type (Season Pass or Gold Pass). Gold Pass and Season Pass combinations are not eligible for the Family & Friends discount. Season Passes can be upgraded individually to Gold Passes at Guest Services, once the park is open for the season. The price to upgrade may vary depending on the price paid for the Season Pass and the advertised Gold Pass price at time of the upgrade.

Fees for parking, food, merchandise, tube and locker rentals, games, special concerts or events are not included in Season Pass or Gold Pass prices, unless otherwise stated.

City of Las Vegas Summer Camps (http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/find/21337.htm) :

Kids Kamp (ages 6-11)
Teen Kamp (ages 12-15)
Summer Kids Kamp offers children and teens fun, fitness and adventure with age-appropriate activities, including arts & crafts, games, sports, special events and/or field trips, all in a safe, supervised environment.

Camp hours are Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Some camps have extended weeks through August.
Fees are $75 per child per week, $70 each additional child.

Not all camps are held at all locations. Call the individual facility for details.

Cimarron Rose Community Center, 5591 N. Cimarron Road, (702) 229-1607
Doolittle Community Center, 1950 N. J St., (702) 229-6374
Stupak Community Center, 300 N. Boston St., (702) 229-2488
Rafael Rivera Community Center, 2900 E. Stewart Ave., (702) 229-4600

Specialty Camps
$100 per child per week, $90 each additional child

Mirabelli Community Center, 6200 Elton Avenue, (702) 229-6359
Veterans Memorial Leisure Services Center, 101 N. Pavilion Center Drive, (702) 229-1100

Clark County Summer Camps (http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/depts/parks/pages/day-camp.aspx):

(702) 455-8251 – CCParks@ClarkCountyNV.gov

Day Camp is extremely popular and available space in the program fills quickly. Priority for registration will be given on a first come, first serve basis. Mail in registration that is postmarked before the mail in date will be returned. Drop in registration is accepted if space is available.

 

What parents need to know?

  • Day Camp is for children ages 6 – 12 (may be age 5 and have completed kindergarten)
  • Hours: Monday – Friday from 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on designated dates
  • Participants are required to bring a lunch and two snacks that do not need heating or refrigeration.
  • All day camp participants will be required to take a swim test prior to participating in any swim activities or field trips where swimming is included. Swim dates and times will be announced in advance at each location. Parents may escort their child to any Clark County pool in order to obtain a swim test certificate.
 What can my child do at Day Camp?

  • Paint, draw, make crafts and do special theme projects.
  • Play sports, games, take field trips, and have free time in the gymnasium.
  • Enjoy skits, drama, movies, and science projects.
  • Have fun with friends.How do I reserve a spot for my child?

How do I reserve a spot for my child?

  • Payment in full is required to reserve a spot.
What does it cost to join Day Camp?

  • $15 per day or $70 per week, per child
  • There is a 50% discount for the third child if enrolling three children for the entire week (from the same family)
  • We accept Las Vegas Urban League CCAP
  • Field trips may be offered at an additional fee. Field trip shirts are mandatory for participants attending the field trip. Shirts may be purchased for $4 prior to the trip.
  • A late fee will be assessed for children picked up after 6:01 p.m.
  • Refunds for Day Camp will be issued if notice is given by Wednesday of the prior week
 That’s a lot of money up front.  Do I have any payment options if my child will be attending for several weeks?

  • Yes, if your child will be attending more than two full weeks consecutively, you can reserve your spot by paying for the first two weeks. The remaining payments will be due by 6:00 p.m. each Wednesday for the upcoming week. Your spot will not be held if payment is not received by the deadline. Remember: this optional payment plan is for consecutive full weeks only. Breaks in attendance, or partial weeks, do not qualify for this payment plan.

 

We provide free breakfast and lunch for all registered participants in our summer camps.
Clark County Parks and Recreation assures the Nevada Department of Education that meals will be served to all children without charge. Acceptance and participation requirements for the program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

There is no Summer Food Program on June 6 & 7, 2013
The Summer Food Program will start June 10 and go through August 23, 2013

Where is the nearest program?

Bob Price Recreation Center
2050 Bonnie Lane 89156
Nellis & Lake Mead
(702) 455-7600		 Cambridge Recreation Center
3930 Cambridge St. 89119
Maryland & Flamingo
(702) 455-7169		 Helen Meyer Community Center
4525 New Forest Dr., 89147
Rainbow & Tenaya
(702) 455-7723
Hollywood Recreation
& Community Services Center
1650 S. Hollywood, 89142
Hollywood & Sahara
(702) 455-0566		 Paradise Recreation Center
4775 McLeod, 89121
McLeod & Tropicana
(702) 455-7513		 Walnut Recreation Center
3075 N. Walnut 89115
Las Vegas Blvd. & Cheyenne
(702) 455-8402

 

Springs Preserve Summer Camps (http://www.springspreserve.org/education/summercamps.html):

Let your kids run wild here! Springs Preserve Summer Adventure Camps offer something for every young explorer, with 11 full-day (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), week-long camps June 10 to Aug. 23 for children ages 6 to 12.

Campers experience new activities each week. Get face-to-face with a Gila monster, make eco-friendly crafts, go on a nature walk or scavenger hunt, explore our museums, climb a 9-foot kapok tree and explore a gorilla’s nest in our exclusive summer Rainforest Adventure exhibit. Ready for more? Act out and get silly (or serious!) with drama pros on our stage and even go for a swim at the nearby Y. Kids have fun and come home knowing more about the world around them, but we won’t let on! Educational experts lead the fun, so skip the day-care and explore more this summer.

Enrollment is $200 per week ($180 for Springs Preserve members). After-hours care is available from 6:30 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6:30 p.m. for an additional $25 weekly fee. Register online, at the Springs Preserve ticket office, or by calling (702) 822-7700.

 

Discovery Children’s Museum Summer Camp (http://www.discoverykidslv.org/summer-camp-july-1-august-2-2013/) :

Come play and learn with us this summer! Bring your curiosity and sense of wonder as you join Museum educators for fun activities that focus on science, art and more. There’s something for everyone at DISCOVERY Children’s Museum!

Sessions will be offered in the morning (8 a.m. to 12 p.m.) and afternoon (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.) Weekly camp sessions are offered for two age groups: 6 to 9 years, and 10 to 12 years.

PRICES: $180.00 per camp session (1/2 day) per week; Museum members receive a 20% discount per camp, per week. Between Care is FREE with purchase of both morning and afternoon camps in the same week (same children); $25 per week with half day camp registration only. Additionally, an add-on lunch (provided daily) option is available for $75.00 per week, per child.

SPACE IS LIMITED, call the museum reservationist at 382-KIDS (5437).

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Foster Kinship’s Easter Picnic a Success!

April 1, 2013 Posted by Ali

April 1, 2013 – LAS VEGAS, NV: Local 501c3 nonprofit Foster Kinship held an Easter egg hunt and picnic for kinship families Saturday March 30th at Children’s Memorial Park. Over 260 individual who are raising their relative’s children were signed up to attend, and over 40 people volunteered to assist.

Kinship caregivers and their entire families enjoyed free BBQ, Shave Ice from Real Kine Shave Ice, an Easter egg hunt with over 900 eggs, egg decorating, pictures with the Easter bunny, face painting, games and prizes. 150 children received Easter Baskets at the conclusion of the event. Foster Kinship also announced the expansion of services to caregivers at the event.

The event was made possible by the community outreach volunteers from the Las Vegas Center for Spiritual Living and generous donations from CareMore, American West Development, Ebunny, and Real Kine Shave Ice.

Foster Kinship was founded in December 2011 to help relatives who have taken on the difficult job of creating safe, loving homes for vulnerable children when the parents are no longer able or willing to do so. It is the only organization in NV dedicated to providing support and resources to the over 19,000 kinship caregivers raising 35,000 children in Clark County.

Event Photos:

Reg_Julie VolunteerRally EasterBaskets BBQ EggHunt Eggs EasterBunny EasterBasketsGiving RealKine_2 EggDecorating

 

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Family Las Vegas Easter Events 2013

March 26, 2013 Posted by Ali

Foster Kinship is working hard to prepare for our Easter Egg Hunt and Picnic March 3oth for kinship families. While our picnic is only open to individuals raising relatives and their families, there are a number of other exciting egg hunt and Easter events around the valley!

Kinship Families, please RSVP here: www.fosterkinship.org/rsvp

Free Souper Spring Egg Hunt (ages walking-13)
Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. to noon.
Dula Gym, 441 E. Bonanza Road, (702) 229-6307.
Bring a canned good or non-perishable food item and receive an extra ticket to win a prize egg.
Donations will be delivered to Three Square Food Bank. Children will be released at listed times in
designated areas of Dula Gym to search for eggs filled with treats and discoveries. Tots ages walking-4,
gym floor 9:30 a.m.; ages 5-6, dance room 9:50 a.m.; ages 7-8, fitness room 10 a.m.; ages 8-9,
computer lab 10:10 a.m.; and ages 10-13, gymnasium floor 10:20 a.m.

Ward 2 Spring Egg Hunt Eggstravaganza (all ages)
Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. to noon.
Free and open to the public.
Veterans Memorial Leisure Services Center, 101 N. Pavilion Center Drive, (702) 229-1100.
Bring the family to enjoy DJ music, photos with Easter Bunny, egg hunts, craft projects, games, face
painting, jump houses and raffle drawings.

Eggstravaganza 2013: A FREE Easter Celebration
Saturday, March 30, 10 am – 12 pm
Keller Middle School, 301 Fogg St., Las Vegas
Come and Join us for FREE games, food, music and much more!
This will be our 6th annual Community Egg Hunt. Egg hunts are separated by age group so that kids of
all ages can enjoy the festivities. We hope that you can come out and join us for the fun! Pre-
registration is available up until March 25th at gracebaptistlv.org. We recommend registering
beforehand so you can spend more time enjoying the fun! Don’t forget your Easter Basket and see you
there!

View more here: http://www.vegas4locals.com/lasvegasevents.html

Town Square Park Hop & Shop Easter Egg Hunt and Family Festival – Easter egg hunt
Town Square Park, 6605 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89119. Phone: (702) 269-5000. Event date and time: Saturday, March 30, 2013, from 10 am to 5 pm.  Families can visit Town Square Park for a free Hop & Shop Easter event with a variety of activities for children to enjoy. Free Easter egg hunts take place every 20 minutes during morning and afternoon sessions for children ages one to 10 years old. Egg hunts will be divided by age groups 1-3 years, 4-6 years and 7-10 years. Registration will be located in Town Square Park and is required for participation. Egg hunts will be limited to 80 kids per hunt. The Easter Bunny will be on hand for photos. Please have children bring their own baskets to carry their treats. See their website for the morning and afternoon Egg Hunt Schedules.

First Henderson United Methodist Church Easter Egg Hunt – Easter egg hunt
First Henderson United Methodist Church, 609 E. Horizon Drive, Henderson, NV 89015. Phone: (702) 565-6049. Email: hendumc@aol.com. Event date and time: Saturday, MArch 30, 2013, at 11 . The church will host an Easter egg hunt Event date and time: See their website for the 2013 date. There will be a special toddler area for children ages 0 to 5th grade. The egg hunt will have more than 1,000 eggs.

Picture 5

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First Kinship Family Fun Night A Success!

November 10, 2012 Posted by Ali

Foster Kinship, in partnership with The Las Vegas Center for Spiritual Living, hosted our first Kinship Family Fun Night Friday November 9th. The event brought 194 kinship caregivers and their families out for pizza and cupcakes, activities for the kids, resources for the adults.

Kids activities included face-painting, games, art projects and a pretty incredible drum circle.

Information about available resources for kinship caregivers were provided from Foster Kinship, Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, Fostering Southern Nevada, Innovation Behavioral Health Solutions, Boys Town Nevada Common Sense Parenting Classes, East Valley Services Senior Respite program, Social Services Kinship Care Program (TANF) and the Kinship Licensing at Department of Family Services.

Each family left with non-perishable food items and a grocery voucher to help prepare Thanksgiving meal.

The Las Vegas Center for Spiritual Living provided space and volunteers to pull the event off smoothly, including people who helped transport families to the location.

Channel 8 did a short news piece on the event that can be viewed here: http://youtu.be/gowDz3d1rq4

To be notified of future events, please add yourself to our newsletter.

Donate to Foster Kinship.

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Las Vegas Kinship Caregiver Support Groups

July 8, 2012 Posted by Ali

Our next support group meeting is this Saturday- July 14th from 2:00-3:00 at 5030 South Paradise Road, Las Vegas, NV 89119. We meet in the conference room of Building A.  Parking is free anywhere in the Airport Center Parking lot.

Come and meet with other individuals who are taking care of their relative’s children in the Las Vegas area. We will discuss the joys and challenges of raising your grandchild, niece or nephew, or other relative. We will also share best practices and resources for kinship caregivers.

Foster Kinship will provide free printed resource guides for relative caregivers in Clark County.

Drinks and snacks will be provided. Meetings are held in the conference room of Building A- next to the Foster Kinship office.

Meetings are free and open to anyone in Clark County, NV who is caring for a relative, formally or informally. No restriction on caregiver age or the custody status of the child.

http://www.meetup.com/Kinship-Caregivers-Support-Group/events/70432152/

We hope to see you there! Have a great week! -Ali

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Support Gap in Kinship Care

July 8, 2012 Posted by Ali

Happy Sunday! Every week or so I browse the web to gather kinship news from across the US and post it in our news section here. This week I came across a well written blog post that calls out the benefits of kinship care for children and the lacking governmental and financial support for kinship carers by John Oliver Santiago for the New American Media Entho Blog that I would like to highlight.

Support Gap in Kinship Care

“There are currently 2.7 million kids in the U.S. who are under kinship care. And according to a recent report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, this number has increased 18% from 2001 to 2010. There are many ways children can end up in kinship care including parental death, incarceration, abuse, or service in the military.

Kinship care includes children who are currently under the care of non-parental relatives: grandparents, uncles, aunts, or family friends, and can be broken down into two types: private or public. Private kinship is an informal arrangement made within the family, while public kinship is made through the foster care system.

Since one in every four foster kids are already living with relatives, it’s surprising that more aren’t placed under public kinship care. The foster system is a highly bureaucratic process meant to ensure the utter safety of these kids, but has this produced an oversight where kinship care is leapfrogged and kids in the foster system are placed with strangers?

For example, a longtime friend has been trying to gain custody of her two younger sisters for the past few years. Though she and her father live together and show a capacity to provide for the two sisters, they’ve only succeeded in gaining visitation rights and time spent with the girls. The many legalities that the family has to go through to gain custody has only brought further emotional toll on all parties involved.

According to the study, placing kids in kinship care eases the emotional toll of parental removal. But kinship care is also burdened with many problems, namely a lack of government support.”…to read the complete post, visit the blog here.

If you have any personal stories of experience with kinship care you would like to share here, please contact ali@fosterkinship.org.

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Guardianship Resources in Nevada

June 12, 2012 Posted by Ali

If you are caring for your relative and foresee it will be longer than a few weeks, you may want to establish legal standing so that you are able to protect the child, provide some stability and be able to make medical and educational decisions for the child. One way relatives can pursue legal standing is through guardianship, depending on the specific circumstances of your situation*.

In Clark County, guardianship cases are handled by Family Court- a division of the Eighth Judicial District. The laws governing guardianship are covered in Chapter 159 of the Nevada Revised Statues.

What is guardianship? A guardian is one person agreeing to be responsible for another person, another person and their estate, or another person’s estate. A guardianship of the person allows the legal guardian the ability to make legal decisions regarding schooling, medical care, religion and other aspects of day-to-day life.

Outside of adoption, guardianship is the safest, most stable arrangement for a relative raising a child. It provides legal and physical custody. It is the legal transfer of custody to someone other than a parent.

Guardianship does not terminate parental rights, but it does suspend them. The advantage to guardianship is control. It grants the guardian the legal authority to enroll the child in school, consent to medical treatment, living situations (within the state), and make many other decisions.

Guardianship has some downsides as well. The cost to petition the court for guardianship, especially if you are using a lawyer, and/or your petition is contested, can be expensive. In addition there are emotional risks. You must prove that it is in the child’s best interest to be with you, which means you are building a case against the parent.

In Nevada there are two guardianship options to consider:

  • Six Month Temporary Guardianship: NV law allows for an informal type of guardianship that does not require court approval. The parents of the minor child can fill out this form which appoints a temporary guardian. Temporary guardianships can be used for school and medical purposes. They can be renewed after the six months, and are renewal and terminable at will of the parent. Click here to download a Short-Term Guardianship form and instructions from the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada. This type of guardianship works if you have a good relationship with the child’s parents, if the child’s parents consent, and if it is a short term situation.
  • Court Ordered Guardianship: A legal guardianship requires a court order and it is a more complex legal process best done with the support of a lawyer. If you don’t follow the correct process of filing and notifying the right individuals your petition will not be granted.  However, it is possible to do it yourself, provided you have the right information. The Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada has free classes and resources.  Once appointed, a guardian must do what is necessary to provide the ward (child in care) with proper care, maintenance, education and support. This includes food, clothing, shelter, necessities, seeking child support from the parents, authorizing medical care, and ensuring proper education and training. The guardians must file an annual report with the court. Guardianship is terminated upon the death of the ward, 18th birthday or high school graduation, if the court feels the guardian is no longer necessary, if the ward moves to a different state, or if a parent petitions the court for termination of guardianship and the court decides to terminate.

GUARDIANSHIP RESOURCES

Clark County:

Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada

*Guardianship options may not apply if you are caring for the child after Child Protective Services became involved. If you are working with the Clark County Department of Family Services, you are considered a foster parent, and will not be able to pursue guardianship on your own timeline (although it may be something pursued by DFS). Please review information for relative foster parenting. For information on licensing and kinship foster parenting, you should contact the DFS social worker assigned to your case.

For guardianship questions, please contact the appropriate resources above, or email or call Foster Kinship at (702) KIN-9988 for assistance and additional resources.

Foster Kinship offers free support groups for people who are raising their relative’s children. We understand the multifaceted legal, emotional, and financial difficulties that come with the role. Please join us July 14th from 2:00-3:00 in Conference Room A at 5030 South Paradise Road, Las Vegas 89119.

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Categories: Guardianship, Kinship Caregiver Resources, Kinship Empowerment, Laws in Nevada, Support Groups

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): What Nevada Kinship Caregivers Need to Know

June 5, 2012 Posted by Ali

According to recent reports[1], less than 12% of kinship families receive TANF support, even though nearly 100% of the children in these families are eligible.

Most children living apart from their parents- including those living with family members- are eligible for cash assistance through TANF, even if the family member they are living with is not eligible.

Full-time relative caregivers do not need legal custody or guardianship to apply for assistance on the child’s behalf.

If caregivers also meet certain income requirements, they may also be eligible for cash grants.

There is great confusion out there about how grandparents and other relatives apply for aid for the children in their care and how that aid is determined. If your relative is eligible for assistance, don’t let misinformation deprive him/her of it.

As a non-parent relative, you may apply for assistance for your child only OR for your child and yourself. Before beginning to apply for any of the TANF programs, it is wise to obtain a copy of the application and the requirements to qualify.

Nevada TANF Benefits are managed by the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services: Division of Welfare and Supportive Services:https://dwss.nv.gov/

PLEASE NOTE: This information is from the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services Division of Welfare and Supportive Services. Foster Kinship is not associated with the welfare department and encourages all relative caregivers to speak to a caseworker at the closest welfare office for specific answers to their particular situation.

Status you may qualify for include:

Needy Caretaker- a relative, other than a legal parent, requesting assistance for themselves and a child. A relative’s INCOME and RESOURCES are used to determine eligibility when applying as a Needy Caretaker.

Non-Needy Caretaker-  a relative, other than a legal parent, requesting assistance for the child only. INCOME is used to determine eligibility when applying as a non-needy caretaker.  However, your income should not count. You are filling out the application for your relative, not yourself. It shouldn’t matter what your income and circumstances are- if the state offers child-only grants (NV does), the relative should be eligible for assistance. This is true even if you are the legal guardian. Always double check with several sources before taking no as an answer, even eligibility experts can give you the wrong information.

Nevada Kinship Care Program- To be eligible for a Kinship Care payment, you must:

● be age 62 or older;

● be a non-parent, non-needy relative caregiver (not requesting assistance for yourself.);

● be caring for and residing with a child who is related by blood, adoption or marriage for at least six months;

● file for and obtain Nevada court approval of legal guardianship;

● comply with court imposed requirements;

● relative household members (the child you are requesting assistance for) must have combined income below 275% federal poverty level.

   AND

The child(ren) must meet the age, citizenship, and resource eligibility  requirements for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)  program.

The Division can help you qualify for Kinship Care by:

● assisting you in the application and verification process;

● referring you to legal counsel, contracted with the state of Nevada, who will assist you in pursuing guardianship at little or no cost to you; or

● reimburse the relative caregiver up to $600 for legal counsel sought independently, to obtain guardianship.

Application Process

Apply online- You can apply on line at;
ACCESS NEVADA English
ACCESS NEVADA En Español

Or apply at the office closest to you- if you do not go to the right district office staff will inform you of the correct office location- so call first to confirm. If you ask, staff will accept your application and forward it to the correct office.

Belrose District Office
700 Belrose Street
Las Vegas, NV 89107
(702) 486-1646 – (702) 486-1628 (fax)

Flamingo District Office
3330 Flamingo Road, Suite 55
Las Vegas, NV 89121
(702) 486-9400 (main) – (702) 486-9401 (fax)
(702) 486-9540 (fax)

Henderson District Office
520 Boulder Highway
Henderson, NV 89015
(702) 486-5000 – (702) 486-1270 (fax)

Nellis District Office
611 N Nellis Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89110
(702) 486-4828 – (702) 486-4737 (fax)

Owens District Office
1040 W Owens Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89106
(702) 486-1899 – (702) 486-1802 (fax)

Pahrump District Office
1840 Pahrump Valley Road
Pahrump, NV 89048
(775) 751-7400 – (775) 751-7404 (fax)

Documents Needed for Application: You need proof of the information provided, so it’s very helpful to bring as many of the following items as you can:

  1. Proof of residency (lease agreement, rent receipt, mortgage, utility bills).
  2. A Nevada driver’s license or other identification (ID).
  3. A social security card or proof you have applied for one.
  4. Proof of birth for all persons applying for assistance.
  5. Proof of citizenship for all household members.
  6. Marriage and/or divorce decree.
  7. Proof of school attendance for school age children.
  8. Proof of income received, such as pay stubs or a statement from your employer, Social Security Administration, child support payments, loans, etc.
  9. Latest bank statements and proof of other assets such as vehicles, property.
  10. Verification of household composition (who lives in the home and their relationship to the child(ren)).
  11. Verification of subsidized housing assistance.

Child Support Enforcement: All cases for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and medical programs where the adult and child(ren) receive Medicaid must be referred for Child Support Enforcement. : The responsible relative caregiver who is applying for or receiving TANF NEON or Child Only cash assistance must cooperate with the  Child Support Enforcement Program (CSEP) requirements by:

  1. Surrendering and endorsing all support and/or medical support payments to the state after TANF NEON or Child Only cash benefits are approved.
  2. Providing information on the non-custodial parent (NCP);
  3. Participating in efforts to locate the NCP (absent parent);
  4. Establishing paternity when necessary;
  5. Establishing a child support order;

Failure to cooperate without good cause, will result in the denial or termination of TANF NEON, Child ONLY and/or TANF-Related Medicaid (TRM) for all household members. Medicaid from another program will be considered for the child(ren). If the responsible adult is a pregnant woman, she will continue to receive pregnancy related Medicaid coverage during her pregnancy.

The relative caregiver has the right to claim “good cause”, and request a determination of its validity, for not cooperating with CSEP.

PLEASE NOTE: This information is from the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services Division of Welfare and Supportive Services. Foster Kinship does not claim to be a welfare representative or expert encourages all relative caregivers to speak to a caseworker at the closest welfare office for specific answers to their particular situation.

[1] Annie E. Casey Foundation, Kids Count Policy Report: Stepping Up For Kids, 2012.

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Categories: Kinship Caregiver Resources, Kinship Empowerment

New Report Highlights Strengths, Needs of Kinship Caregivers

May 29, 2012 Posted by Ali

The Annie E. Casey Foundation KIDS COUNT policy report “Stepping Up for Kids: What Government and Communities Should Do to Support Kinship Families” was released last week, and shines a bright light on the strengths of kinship caregivers as well as the needs of kinship families.

Kinship care refers to private care without child protective services involvement as well as public kinship care in which families care for children who are involved with the child welfare system. There also is kinship foster care, which describes the subset of children who are placed with relatives but remain in the legal custody of the state.

According to the report, 1 in 11 US children lives in kinship care at some point before the age of 18. Nationally, these 2.7 million children are being raised by grandparents, aunts, and other relatives who step in when parents are unable to raise their children.

The report estimates that in Nevada, 19,000 children are in kinship care with no parents present. Foster Kinship, a Clark County nonprofit supporting individuals caring for their relative’s children, estimates the number of relatives supporting children as much higher when you add in the individuals who are heads of the household and responsible for children other than their own. The 2010 US Census for Clark County, NV shows 19,000 grandparents who are in some way caring for their grandchildren, and the number of children in Clark County, NV living in grandparent-headed homes today (35,451) is up by 5,000 from 2008 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010; Las Vegas Junior League, 2008).

“A growing body of research confirms that, in most circumstances, kinship care is the best option when children cannot live with their own parents,” the report states.  Placement frequency, attachment disorders, caregiver perception of the child and community connection are all more favorable in kinship care than unfamiliar foster care.

However, kinship caregivers are often unprepared for the challenges of “second time parenting” and the multiple systems they will encounter as they raise the child. The caregiver often lacks the necessary legal authority to enroll a child for school or give medical consent.

Caregivers may also be unfamiliar with available government support programs or struggle to access them, including the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the federal financial aid program for low-income families. Less than 12% of kinship families receive TANF payments, although nearly 100% of the children in these families are eligible.

“Kinship caregivers, whether they obtain assistance from foster care or TANF, receive much less financial support that what the USDA estimates it costs to raise a child,” the report explains.  As an example, a kinship caregiver raising two children outside of the foster care system, TANF benefits would only provide $344 per month, just 17% of the estimated $1,980 needed monthly.

Most families who receive TANF payments still need support, as the caregivers are likely to be poor, single, older, less-educated and unemployed, which makes taking on child care and health insurance costs an extra burden.

The report states private health insurance usually covers only biological and adoptive children, not children in kinship care, and caregivers are often unaware of children’s eligibility for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

“An advocate for the kinship caregiver is extremely important,” says Ali O’Donnell, founder and executive director of Foster Kinship, “that is why we focus our resources and support exclusively on kinship caregivers. Informing and supporting kinship caregivers strengthens the families and increases the children’s chances for long-term success.”

“Kinship care helps protect children and maintains strong family, community and cultural connections. When children cannot remain safely with their parents, other family and friends can provide a sense of security, positive identity and belonging,” the report summarizes. Foster Kinship’s services aim to “stand in the gap” for caregivers and provide the support and resources to care for their relatives, and help keep home in the family for vulnerable children. Where services are not already available in the community or fall short of the needs of the family, Foster Kinship will work to provide assistance to this population through kinship caregiver support groups, resource direction, family days and financial support.

For more information on kinship caregiver assistance in Clark County, NV, or to find out how you can help, please visit www.fosterkinship.org or call (702) KIN-9988.

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Categories: Foster Kinship News, Kinship Caregiver Resources, Kinship Empowerment, Kinship Research, Support Groups

Parenting Your Relative: Dealing with Misbehavior

May 13, 2012 Posted by Ali

Children misbehave for several reasons, but we can categorize them into three main buckets:

  1. They don’t know the rules.
  2. They know the rules but break them anyway. This can happen when they are frustrated, angry, in need of attention or unable to control their desires.
  3. They feel tired, sick, hungry or upset and don’t know how to express their needs.

When a child misbehaves, there are three tasks to handle:

  1. Responding to the child so that he/she stops behaving.
  2. Find out if the child needs something- a snack, a nap, a hug, or if they are sick.
  3. Teach the child to know and strive for good behavior.

Tips to Help Prevent Misbehavior:

  1. Set clear rules and routines for bedtimes, bathing, meals and getting to school/activities.
  2. Set clear expectations and outline age appropriate consequences.
  3. Be consistent with rules and stick with them.
  4. Be fair and firm when the child breaks the rules.
  5. Be encouraging when the child is behaving well. Notice and specifically point out how the good behavior is pleasing.  Never take good behavior for granted!

Setting Appropriate Consequences:

  1. Time-outs: Send your child to a safe quiet place aay from people and toys for a few minutes. A good rule of thumb is 1-2 minutes for each year of the child’s age.
  2. Tune-outs: For lesser misbehavior, let the child know you will not respond to them until they stop the undesired behavior.
  3. Remove Privileges: Take something temporarily away that the child values- a toy or game, playtime, etc.

*A note on physical punishment. Most professionals do not recommend spanking as punishment. It teaches that hitting is a method for solving problems and it can be very damaging for children. Please reconsider carefully the use of physical punishment to discipline your child.

What other tips do you have for dealing with misbehavior?

Source: Empowering Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

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Categories: Childcare Tips, Kinship Caregiver Resources
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