BECOME A FOSTER PARENT

Supportive caregivers are willing to work alongside biological families and Family Services to reunify children with their families. As you prepare to open your heart and your home to babies, children, teens, and siblings in foster care, Clark County Family Services will support you every step of the way. Learn more by reading our Foster Care Tri-fold Brochure or Spanish Trifold Brochure.

STEPS TO BECOME A FOSTER PARENT

STEP 1: Attend an Information Session

• Gain knowledge about foster care and ask your questions. Complete your fingerprints, background check*, and start your caregiver profile using our online foster care application.*Note that background checks can take up to 6-8 weeks.
  • Foster Care Information Session Packet in English or Spanish
  • Foster Care Information Slide Deck in English or Spanish

STEP 2: Complete the Foster Parent Application

• Our online foster care application makes it easy to upload your documents directly from your phone, computer, or other device.

STEP 3: Complete Foster Parent Training

• Training will prepare you for recognizing the effects of trauma and how to help children heal from the abuse, neglect, and trauma they have experienced. Traditional training is offered as an 8-week course, meeting once a week for 8 weeks. Locations vary throughout Clark County. Children may not participate in foster care training; however, some locations may offer childcare.
• Some applicants may qualify for expedited training, offered quarterly. This is a fast-paced training covering the same material as our traditional 8-week course but presented as full-day workshops over a series of 2-3 weekends. To qualify for expedited training, applicants must have all required documentation completed and be ready for home inspection. The goal of the expedited training is to license applicants who are fully ready to welcome children home upon completion of the training and licensure.

STEP 4: Prepare Your Home to Meet Safety Requirements and for Home Study

• Homes must meet the Nevada Revised Statues 424 (NRS) and Nevada Administrative Code 424 (NAC) regarding Foster Homes. Refer to these codes for a full explanation.

Foster parents come from a variety of backgrounds including:

• Clark County Residents
• Married Couples / Non-Married Couples
• Single Females / Single Males
• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender individuals and couples
• Must be 21 years of age and older: A ten-year age difference between child & caregiver
• Individuals with Disabilities
• Homeowners / Renters
• Working Parents / Stay-at-Home Parents

TYPES OF FOSTER CAREGIVERS

REGULAR LICENSED FOSTER CAREGIVER
Regular Licensed Foster Caregivers provide a safe environment and supportive care for babies, children, teens, and sibling groups who have an open foster care case. They provide for the everyday needs of the children, like taking children to school or daycare, to the doctor, dentist, or therapist, and to visitation with their biological families.

RELATIVE OR FICTIVE KIN CAREGIVER
Relative or Fictive Kin Caregivers have an existing relationship with the children in their care. They can be relatives, family friends, or a person that is familiar to the children in care.

INTERIM FOSTER CARE
Interim Care Homes or ICare Homes are family based homes that are licensed to provide emergency interim care for children from birth to five years of age, or children over the age of five and under the age of 18, or a mix of older and younger children in cases involving sibling groups. A monthly retainer fee will be paid to the ICare parent to maintain openings in their home for emergency placements.
Download the ICare flyer.

ADVANCED FOSTER CARE (AFC)
AFC serves children who need extra services and supports. This is achieved by providing caregivers with the supports and additional resources they need to be successful in caring for these children. Every time a child in foster care has a placement disrupted, it creates additional trauma. By providing additional resources, AFC works towards sustainable placements that are best for the child. For more information on advanced foster care, click here.

RESPITE CAREGIVERS
Respite caregivers provide short-term support for licensed caregivers.