COVID-19 impacts adoption, foster care process in Clark County

COVID-19 has impacted the adoption and foster care process in Clark County, according to local advocates.

BRACING FOR AN INCREASE IN THENUMBER OF CHILDREN.....NEEDING SAFE FOSTER HOMES...AS THE STATE OPENS UP..13 ACTION NEWS REPORTER ASTRIDMENDEZ SHOWS YOU THE STEPSBEING TAKEN IN THE SEARCH FORMORE FOSTER PARENTS..VCOVID-19 HAS IMPACTED THEADOPTION AND FOSTER CAREPROCESS, BUT AT THE END, THESAFETY OF CHILDREN IN NEED OF AHOME, IS WHAT MATTERS THE MOST." CHILD WELFARE DOESN'T STOP.THIS PANDEMIC HASN'T CAUSEDTHINGS TO CEASE TOTALLY" DR.SHAREN FORD WORKS WITH FOSTERFAMILIES AND CHILDREN.DURING THIS PANDEMIC, SHE SAYSTHERE'S EVEN MORE FOCUS ONMAKING SURE THE HOME IS SAFEBEFORE A CHILD IS BROUGHT IN." IT IS MORE COMPLICATED;FAMILIES WANT TO MAKE SURETHEIR OWN HOMES ARE PROTECTEDBUT THEY ALSO WANT TO BEAVAILABLE FOR THOSE KIDS THATARE IN NEED.SO, THE FOSTER PARENT IS DOINGTHE SAFETY PIECE TOO.THERE'S NOBODY IN OUR HOME THATHAS IT BECAUSE NO FOSTER PARENTWANTS TO BE FOUND NEGLIGENT BYGIVING A CHILD AN INFECTIONEITHER, SO THEY'RE WIPING THEIRHOME, TAKING THEIR TEMPERATURE,THEY'RE WIPING DOWN THAT ROOMTHAT THE YOUNG PERSON IS GOINGTO SLEEP IN.SO, ITS SAFETY PRECAUTION OFTHE PARENT'S SIDE AND THEAGENCY SIDE BEFORE THAT CHILDCOMES INTO THAT HOME.HERE IN CLARK COUNTY, THEDEPARTMENT OF FAMILY SERVICESHAS NOTICED DURING THISPANDEMIC MORE ADULTS ARESHOWING AN INCREASED INTERESTIN BECOMING FOSTER PARENTS." THE AVERAGE FAMILY TAKES UPTO 2 YEARS TO EVEN THINKTHROUGH BECOMING A FOSTERPARENT.SO WE HAVE A MULTITUDE OF WAYSTO GET ENGAGE, DONATE TO THESYSTEM, VOLUNTEER, MENTOR,BECOME A CASA.THERE ARE VERY DIFFERENT WAYSTHAT YOU CAN BECOME INVOLVED INTHE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM ANDSUPPORT THESE CHILDREN, NOTACTUALLY OPEN UP YOUR DOORS,ALTHOUGH WE HOPE YOU DO THAT ASWELL"THE TRAINING FOR FOSTER PARENTSHAS NOW GONE DIGITAL.IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BECOME AFOSTER PARENT, YOU CAN VISITWWW.COUNTMEIN.NEVADA.THEY'RE SEVERAL VIRTUALMEETINGS IN THE FOLLOWING DAYSWITH MORE INFORMATION ABOUTTHIS.GERBER IS MAKING HISTORY WITHITS NEW SPOKES-BABY..MAGNOLIA IS THE FIRST ADOPTEDSPOKESBABY IN THE COMPANY'S