Friday, Aug. 19, 2005 | 9:01 a.m.
Editor's note: In August the Where I Stand column is turned over to guest writers. Today's columnist is Susan Klein-Rothschild, director of the Clark County Department of Family Services.
WHEN WE LOOK at why so many are moving into this community, we quickly realize that it is because of the work and career options, weather and environmental conditions, and aspects of everyday life that are unique to Southern Nevada that provide us a better quality of life. We came here because we could grow and thrive in new ways.
But, unfortunately, the reality is there are some in our community who are not thriving. Instead, they are experiencing great distress. There are also some people who were born and raised here who need help, too.
Every child needs someone who they can reach out to for nurturing, safety and care. For the vast majority of children, that someone is their parent(s) and extended family.
But for children who are the victims of abuse or neglect, often that someone needs to be from outside of the family unit. These family homes become dangerous and present a risk of harm to the children. Often, the culprit is substance abuse, domestic violence or unmet mental health needs of the parent.
The result is that too many children do not have their most basic safety and security needs met. They are in trouble and need our help.
In the world of child protection services, we are seeing a significant growth in the number of children and families in need. For example, in 2003, over 3,500 children needed emergency placement at Child Haven or an alternate emergency shelter location because they were not safe at home. In 2004 that number grew 29 percent to more than 4,500 children.
In just the first half of this year, our monthly statistics are averaging 22 percent above last year. These numbers are growing more rapidly than the population growth in our community.
In addition to children in emergency shelter care, there are more than 2,000 children in foster care in Clark County. These children are in local government custody and care because they are not safe at home. They have parents who love them, but there is a major barrier within these families that prevents the parent(s) from providing their children safe care.
It is typically government agencies that respond to the needs of children in trouble. Government and additional funding are a part of the solution. Yet, government is not enough. These children need and deserve more than government to care for them.
The heart of the solution is a caring person, a personal relationship and a connection with an adult who can provide safety and nurturing for each of our children in need. They need safe and nurturing foster or adoptive families.
In May of this year, Clark County initiated a campaign to recruit more foster and adoptive parents. Community leaders such as Gladys Knight, MGM/Mirage, the Chamber of Commerce, the Interfaith Council and the Culinary Union have joined the initiative with county commissioners to seek families for children.
An Interfaith Roundtable has been convened to discuss the needs and strategies to reach families. The public and private sectors are reaching out together to find families to keep our children safe.
The initial response is encouraging, but more families are needed. There are children from three days to 18 years of age who need a safe and caring family. Just as children are individually different, so are foster and adoptive families. Singles, married and non-traditional couples can all provide nurturing homes for children in need.
I hope more people consider becoming a foster or adoptive parent. You can learn more about what to expect by calling 1-888-423-2659. The process involves attending classes, completing a background check and participating in a home study. It takes about three to six months to become licensed and ready to care for a child. There are children who are waiting for parents.
Most parents would agree that raising a child is challenging in ways that compare to nothing else in life. We also know that parenting is one of the most rewarding experiences of our lives. Hundreds of our children are in crisis and need a home now. As the slogan for the campaign to recruit more foster and adoptive parents reminds us, "You don't have to be perfect to be a perfect parent."
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