DEPT. OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES NEWS RELEASE
CARSON CITY — The U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently awarded $995,455 toNevada’s Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) for increasing the number of children adopted from foster care. DCFS will use these funds to improve child welfare programs. Last year’s award amount was $467,665. This year’s award is based on 652 finalized adoptions statewide. “The grant award will enhance our progress towards finalizing adoptions for older youth, medically fragile children and also assist in our ability to keep the momentum moving forward,”Diane Comeaux, Administrator for DCFS said.
“All children deserve loving, safe and permanent homes,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “It is gratifying that most states continue to excel in promoting the adoption of children from foster care. I sincerely thank every adoptive family that has welcomed a child into their home.”
States receive $4,000 for every child adopted beyond their best year’s total, plus a payment of $8,000 for every child age 9 and older and $4,000 for every special needs child adopted above the respective baselines. The award is based on activity during October 2009 thru September 2010.
“The significant increase in the size of this year’s award is attributed to the partnerships between Clark County Department of Family Services, the Family Court, the Children’s Attorney Project and the District’s Attorney office to break down the barriers associated with moving children to achieve permanency through Adoption. Clark County Department of Family Services finalized over 100 more adoptions as compared to the previous year while Washoe County Department of Family Services showed an increase in finalized adoptions as well. I am proud of the efforts of our state and local agencies to help find homes for deserving children, and equally proud of the dedicated and loving individuals who bring adopted children into their homes,” DCFS Administrator Diane Comeauxsaid. “The saying ‘every child deserves a home’ rings true, and generous families are a living testament to the power of individual people to change the lives of children in need of a helping hand.”
As a state, Nevada will continue to focus efforts towards finding adoptive homes for children in foster care and continue to partner with key stakeholders that have a critical role in helping to achieve this permanency goal for children. Nevada hopes to continue the increase in finalized adoptions not only to increase the amount of federal dollars awarded to the local child welfare agencies to assist in the efforts, but more importantly to increase the number of permanent families for children.
For more information on children waiting adoptions in a specific geographical area, please call Clark County Department of Family Services adoption recruitment at (702) 455-0181, Washoe County Department of Social Services at (775) 337-4400, and DCFS at (775) 687-4943. Additional information may also be found by linking to:
http://www.dcfs.state.nv.us/DCFS_Adoption.htm.
