Nevada Foster and Adoption Guidelines

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

• Contact Information
  The Adoption Exchange
  Contact: Kathleen Fischer
  Email: Kathleen@adoptex.org
  Phone: 702-436-6335
• Para información en español
  Contacte: Ari Medecki
  Correo Electrónico: ari@adoptex.org
  Teléfono: 702-436-6335
   

Things You Should Know

• Foster and Adoption Licensing Requirements
• Costs to Foster and Adopt
• Agency Contact and Orientation Information
• Parent Support Groups
• Information on Nevada's Waiting Children

Foster and Adoption Licensing Requirements

Qualifications:

• Have sufficient income to cover your financial needs
• You must be a legal resident
• You must have a landline phone
• Ability 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, married, divorced, or widowed
• Must be of good character (i.e., Record of arrests and convictions may prevent licensing. Please ask us about this.)

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

Homestudy requirements are as follows:

• 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
• Physical examination for applicant and household members
• Discussion on types of children available and applicant’s preferences

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

• Orientation:
  If you are brand new to the adoption process, it is highly recommended that you attend The Adoption Exchange’s adoption information class, which is offered the second Tuesday of every month.
• Agencies:
  Please view list of licensed private placement agencies in Nevada.
• Foster and Adoption Services Through County Agencies
  Each county or area has their own orientation schedule so please check with the appropriate county or area for information.
  
  Below is a list of agency contacts:
• Clark County
  Department of Family Services
  Phone: 702-455-0181
  Address: 701K N. Pecos, Las Vegas, NV 89101
• Washoe County
  Department of Social Services
  Child Care Services
  Phone: 775-337-4470
  Address: 350 South Center St., Reno, NV 89520
• State of Nevada (all other counties)
  Department of Health and Human Services
  The Division of Child and Family Services
  Contact: Dixie Jeffers
  Phone: 775-687-4943, Ext. 233
  Address: 1572 E. College Parkway, Suite 16, Carson City, NV 89705

Parent Support Groups

Please view list of parent support groups in Nevada.

Information on Nevada's Waiting Children

Nevada has 4,748 children in foster care as of Nov. 30, 2011.  Currently, we are actively recruiting families for approximately 100 children.