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Nevada foster and adoption guidelines

Thank you for considering becoming a foster parent or adopting from foster care in the state of Nevada.

On this page:

State contact information

Raise the Future
Jayda Partlow: Jayda.Partlow@Raisethefuture.org
702-436-6335, ext. 119

Para información en español, contacte:
Raise the Future
Jayda Partlow: Jayda.Partlow@Raisethefuture.org 

Foster and adoption licensing requirements


 

Qualifications:

  • You must have sufficient income to cover your financial needs.
  • You must be able to provide a loving, supportive environment for children.
  • You must be 21 years of age (for adoption you must also be 10 years older than the child).
  • You may be single, a same-sex couple, married, divorced, or widowed.
  • You must be of good character (i.e., record of arrests and convictions may prevent licensing. Please ask about this.)
  • You must attend approximately 30 hours of pre-service training.

Read more about qualifications on the Nevada Division of Child and Family Services website.

Homestudy process:

  • Complete application
  • References from people who know you well
  • Law enforcement, child abuse, and neglect screenings and fingerprint clearances
  • Interviews and home visits with a case worker
  • Discussion on types of children available and applicant’s preferences

If you have a spouse or partner, they are also required to participate in the home-study process and attend all trainings.

Read more about the home study process and requirements on the Nevada Division of Child and Family Services website or search on the Child Welfare Information Gateway site.

Costs to foster and adopt

If you work with your local county, there is no fee to foster and adopt except $50 per person towards the cost of fingerprint clearances.

If you work with your local county and adopt a child from another state, there may be a fee, but you can talk to the child’s state to see if they will reimburse you.

Private agencies provide adoption licensing services for a fee of $4,200 to $13,000.

Agency contact and orientation information

If you are brand new to the adoption process, it is highly recommended that you attend Raise the Future’s recorded webinar Adoption Options: An Informational Webinar | Raise The Future.

Agencies – by county

Clark County
Clark County Department of Family Services
Phone: 702-455-0800
Address: 701K N. Pecos, Las Vegas, NV 89101

Washoe County
Washoe County Human Services Agency
Child Care Services
Phone: 775-337-4470
Address: 350 South Center St., Reno, NV 89520

State of Nevada (all other counties)
Nevada Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child & Family Services

You can also search Child Welfare Information Gateway’s list of licensed private placement agencies.

Post-adoption support services

See a comprehensive list of post-adoption and guardianship support services and support groups available to families who live in Nevada.

Information on Nevada's children

89% of children enter foster care in Nevada due to neglect.

In 2019, there were 4, 541 children in care in Nevada; 1,667 were waiting to be adopted. Their average age was 7 years old.

Race and Ethnicity: 41% Hispanic or Latino;  35% White; 10% African American; 6% Asian; 1% American Indian/Alaska Native; 1% Pacific Islander; 7% multiple races.

Outcomes of children exiting foster care:

  • 57% Reunify with biological family
  • 25% Are adopted
  • 10% Are living with relative or guardian
  • 5% Emancipate
  • 2% Other