It’s amazing what a life-changing moment it is for you and a child when you choose to open your  heart to a young person in need of a temporary home!  There are approximately 3,000 children in Clark County foster care, from toddlers to teenagers.  Most of the children simply need a place to reside temporarily before they are returned to their biological families.  For those children who can’t return home, adoption provides them with a permanent family to call their own.  Foster and adoptive parents are a valuable resource for children, their biological families and the entire community.

What is Foster Care? 

Foster parenting is about believing and investing in the future of a child and their biological family. Our foster and adoptive program is designed to provide temporary care of children who are unable to reside with their biological families. Children in foster care need strong and supportive caretakers who are willing to work with their biological families and the Department of Family Services to reunify them with their families. Foster care provides education and training to individuals and/or families interested in becoming foster parents.  The process begins with an Information Session, which describes the foster care system.  Next is a pre-screening of the prospective foster parent or parents’ background.  Once approved, then fingerprints are checked.  Approved families then attend a 30-hour training course, complete a home study and fill out an application.  A home study is a document that describes you and your family and the reasons why you would like to foster or adopt a child.  After successfully finishing these requirements, families are licensed to provide foster care.

How does the adoption process differ from the foster care program?

Adoption is a procedure by which people legally assume the role of parents for a child who is not their biological child. Being a foster parent may lead to providing a permanent home through adoption for a child. Adopted children become full members of the adoptive household, commonly referred to as Forever Families. All potential adoptive resource parents must meet the same licensing requirements that are set by the State of Nevada for foster parents. There are some additional requirements for an adoption to finalize. Being an adoptive parent means making a lifetime commitment to a child, while providing a positive resolution to a challenging situation.          

To learn more about Clark County’s foster care program, we invite you to attend one of our foster care Information Sessions.  The free orientations are held at the following Department of Family Services locations:

-2nd and 4th Saturday of each month from 9am - 10:30am at 701 N. Pecos Rd., Building K
* The Info Session to occur on Saturday, November 24 (the Saturday after Thanksgiving) will be held at its regular date,  time and location.

-1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month from 6:00pm - 7:30pm at 701 N. Pecos Rd., Building K
* Due to Holiday schedule there WILL NOT be an Info Session on Tuesday, January 1st at Child Haven

The Information Session is designed to provide you with what you need to know to assist you in making an informed decision about becoming a foster parent.  Additionally, upon your request we’ll gladly mail to you an information booklet that provides an overview of the county’s foster care program.

For more information, you can log on at www.clarkcountyfostercare.org, send us an e-mail or call us at (702) 455-0181. 

**Throughout the year and especially during the holidays, please call our office first before arriving to our facility to attend an orientation.  This will allow you to confirm that our class days and times have not changed.

Fast Facts 

Who Can Foster or Adopt a Child?

• Clark County residents
• Married couples
• Non-married couples, but only one parent may adopt a child
• Single females
• Single males
• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender individuals and couples (only one parent may adopt, per Nevada State law, unless the couple are registered domestic partners)
• Individuals 21 years of age and older:   
• A ten-year age difference between the child and the adopting parent is required for adoption.
• Individuals with disabilities  

Foster and Adoptive Parents Needed: 

• Those able to foster/adopt teenagers
• Those able to foster/adopt sibling groups
• Those able to foster/adopt infants/toddlers
• Those able to foster/adopt newborns
• Those able to foster/adopt drug and alcohol exposed infants
• Those able to foster/adopt children with special health care needs and developmental needs
• Those able to foster teen moms and their children
• Those able to provide short term care for other foster families as respite providers
• Those able to accept immediate placements 24 hours a day

Minimum Licensing Requirements which Include, but are Not Limited to the Following:  

• Completed Department of Family Services foster care and adoption program application
• Approved background check
• Approved fingerprinting
• Complete 30 training hours
• Telephone
• Transportation
• Housing (can be a rental)
• Financial stability (we do not run credit checks)
• Home and car Insurance
• Lifestyle free from drug/alcohol or law enforcement difficulties
• TB Testing
• CPR Training if you have a swimming pool or body of water in your housing development
• First Aid Training
• Five (5) satisfactory references
• A home inspection
• Note: Additional documentation is required for an adoption approval