Clark County Commissioner April Becker will welcome residents to “Evening With The Stars of Foster Care,” a free community event connecting prospective caregivers with information on licensing and support. The event is scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, at Mountain Crest Park, 4701 N. Durango Drive, Las Vegas.

The event will introduce attendees to experienced foster parents and Clark County Family Services staff to learn about foster parent licensing, training options and support systems available to those who open their homes to children in need.

“Every child in foster care deserves a stable, loving home, and that starts with recruiting more caring families,” said Commissioner Becker. “This event is a chance to thank the foster parents already doing this work and invite new families to join them.”

“We have made meaningful progress in expanding our foster caregiver network, but many children are still waiting for the stability and support they deserve,” said Stacie Dastrup, Director of Clark County Family Services. “We urgently need more foster parents who are willing to open their hearts and homes to help children heal, grow, and thrive.”

On an average day, about 95 children live at Child Haven, Clark County’s emergency shelter, while they wait for placement in supportive homes. Many are part of sibling groups, are very young or have medical or developmental needs, making it harder to find suitable caregivers. Family Services is seeking families and individuals who can commit to supporting the complex needs of children who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect. Foster caregivers often help children by taking them for medical or mental health services, or by actively participating in a child’s behavioral therapeutic plan.

Clark County has expanded its caregiver network, increasing licensed foster homes from 684 to 987—a 44% rise since 2022 that includes 425 regular, 314 relative and kinship and 248 specialized homes. Even with the growth, Family Services estimates the County needs at least 200 more regular licensed homes to meet demand. Currently, there are just over 3,600 children in foster care in Clark County.

Information on training options, including accelerated pathways, will be available on-site. The event is free and open to the public. To RSVP or learn more, visit clarkcountyfostercare.com.