First Judicial Court Juvenile Division judge addresses foster shortage in Carson City

There are not enough foster families in Carson City to meet the need, forcing children to be displaced into other communities — possibly causing further trauma. Information meetings this Wednesday and in March will address the shortage and ways to recruit families wanting to help.

"We continually struggle to find foster homes here and the situation is at a critical level,” said Lori Nichols, from Foster Care Recruitment and Licensing at the Division of Child and Family Services. “There is no lull in the child welfare system and no reprieve from the routine task of finding local homes that can care for children and their siblings of varying ages.”  

The Division of Child and Family Services is hosting 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 it’s 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 Kimberlie Okezie, Special Master, First Judicial Court - Juvenile Division:

Foster care families in Carson City provide a foundation for the youngest and most vulnerable citizens of this community. Safe and good community based foster care is critical to ensuring that children are properly cared for.

There are not enough foster families in Carson City to meet the needs of these children which means they are displaced into other communities. Displacing them can cause further trauma.

As a Judge, the best interest of a child is paramount when making the decision to remove a child from their home. When a child is removed from their home their sense of normalcy is turned upside down.

Community based foster homes allow a child to stay in their own community to maintain some normalcy with surroundings, schooling, friends and family. This increases opportunities for visitation with the child and parent and assists with reducing the time the child is in foster care.

With your help, children will have the opportunity to remain in their community and have their friends and family still be a part of their lives during this time.

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. 

“These are children that go to school with yours, children on your son’s basketball team, in your daughter’s dance class and the teen that brushes past you in the supermarket,” said Nichols. “These aren’t ‘wards of the state’ or ‘troubled’ kids that no one lets their children around.  These are kids that like to snuggle up on the couch and watch a movie – just like your kids.”

Foster Parent Information Nights:
— Wednesday Feb. 7, at Carson Middle School from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
— Wednesday March 7, at Fremont Elementary from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

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.