The Division of Child and Family Services is holding a foster parent information night Wednesday Feb. 7, at Carson Middle School from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
The idea is for community members to learn about how to become a foster parent and why Carson City and its foster youth are in desperate need of more foster families. Attendees will also learn about what The Division of Child and Family Services does, its role in the community, and its partnership with other local agencies that serve children and families.
The panel includes DCFS Staff, AFC Program Manager, the Carson City District Attorney's Office, CASA and foster parents. Foster parents will lend insight into what it's really like to foster children affected by abuse and neglect and the joys and pitfalls of providing unconditional love and support to children in the “system."
A second information night is scheduled for March 7 at Fremont Elementary School, also from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
The following is from Buffy Jo Okuma, Deputy District Attorney:
Having adequate numbers of well-trained foster homes in Carson City is vital for our community. When a child must be removed from his/her home, we need to reduce the amount of trauma to the child as much as possible.
While the common perception is that a child might feel relief from being removed from an unsafe situation, often that is the only home they know and the removal from that home, while providing safety, also adds trauma.
The child is then further traumatized if he/she must be placed outside of the community they are familiar with, because there are not enough foster homes in the Carson City community.
Such a move also requires the children to change schools — another source of trauma. Such a move requires that they spend long periods of time traveling for visitation with family. Placing a child far from their parent also reduces the likelihood of the primary desired outcome of safely reunifying that child with their parent. Studies have demonstrated that frequent, quality visitation between parent and child increases the likelihood of successful reunification.
Finally, placing a child outside of the community impacts the resources of the child welfare system. Social workers and agency staff must transport the child for visitation and court proceedings, spending hours in the car. The child’s attorney and CASA advocate are limited in their ability to be in contact with the child.
Increasing the available foster homes in Carson City has a direct positive impact on the children and the system as a whole.
“Carson City presents as one of the most challenging areas to find potential foster parents,” said Lori Nichols, a Foster Care Recruiter with the Division of Child and Family Services. "Whether it is the result of our rapidly-growing aging population or the fact that we are far too busy raising our own children, working and making ends meet, the need for foster homes only increases as the days go by.”
According to the Division of Child and Family Services, the growing opioid epidemic, as well as the use of methamphetamine and other drugs in Carson City the demand will only increase for quality homes that can care for children affected by neglect and abuse as the result.
If you would like more information about the licensing process to foster in Carson City and Rural Nevada, please call Lori Nichols at (775) 684-1967 or toll-free at 888-423-2659.