As Nye County grapples with a scarcity of foster homes, the State Division of Child and Family Services is stepping up to educate potential foster parents about the opportunity to provide care for children in need. In an effort to address this pressing issue, a free Q&A event is scheduled to help residents understand the process and benefits of becoming a foster parent.
With a mere 11 licensed foster homes in Pahrump, most of which are at capacity, finding placements for children, especially keeping siblings together, is a tough call. "Foster families provide a safe and temporary home to children whose parents or caregivers may be struggling. They help keep children in their own community, close to their friends, adults they know, and in familiar schools," Shelby Riley, LSW, a rural foster care recruiter for the division, explained in a statement obtained by the Official State of Nevada website. They not only offer safety and stability but also enable children to stay within their original community, which facilitates easier visits with biological parents and a smoother process toward reunification.
The upcoming Q&A will take place on September 18 from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Pahrump Chamber of Commerce and will feature foster parents, social workers, and State officials. This event offers an invaluable opportunity for community members to learn from those with firsthand experience, without any commitment to becoming foster parents themselves.
Potential foster parents from all walks of life are encouraged to attend since individuals who are single or married, employed full-time or part-time, and those who rent or own a home can become foster parents. Incentives such as a stipend to cover the costs associated with food, housing, clothing, and educational supplies are available to support foster parents in providing care. For those who can't make it to the in-person event, virtual orientations are held every first Thursday of the month, with more information found on RuralNVFosterCare.com, where registration details are also available.
Interested attendees can get more information about the licensing process by calling 1-888-423-2659, and further details about the event are available on the aforementioned website. This initiative represents a collaborative effort to address the shortage of foster homes and ensure that children in need receive the care and support they deserve within their own communities.
