General Overview of Child Welfare Network
In April 2004, the Ritter Charitable Trust, in partnership with the Nevada Community Foundation, created the Child Welfare Network (formerly known as the Foster Care Task Force) to promote reform within the foster care system.
Initially, the focus was on better preparing late adolescents to live independently when they age out of the system at the age of 18. During the last several years, the Network has evolved as our community’s challenges surrounding foster care have grown and changed.
Since the Network’s inception, great strides have been made on a number of different fronts. Some of these accomplishments include:
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Based on the need identified by the Foster Care Task Force, the Ritter Charitable Trust produced Into the World: A Life Book, a resource manual for young adults aging out of the foster care system.
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Based on feedback from the Task Force, members implemented mentorship programs at their respective organizations.
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The Foster Care Fund for Youth was established at the Nevada Community Foundation.
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A member organization provided funding to Clark County to secure a part-time staff position dedicated to diligent search (searching for extended family members and relatives in whose care a youth might go instead of ever being placed in foster care).
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Completion of a broad scan of foster care issues and services in Clark County. Click here to view this report.
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Completion of research regarding various child welfare-related public and private task forces/coalitia; this information will assist the group in future planning and collaborations. Click here to view this research. |
In the fall of 2007, the following vision and mission were agreed upon by members of the Child Welfare Network:
VISION
The Child Welfare Network has at its core the interests of every child in Nevada’s child welfare system: we seek to create public accountability and better outcomes for the children and their families that it exists to serve.
MISSION
The Child Welfare Network’s mission is to:
- Support information-sharing by providing a forum where individuals and organizations concerned about children in Nevada’s child welfare system can exchange resources, ideas problems and solutions through learning from one another and providing all members an opportunity to be heard;
- Promote collaboration among service providers, county and state administrators, educators, parents and foster parents, youth, private funders and concerned citizens with the collective focus on the best interests of children who are fundamentally our constituents; and,
- Take action that leads to real results by advocating with a united voice on child welfare issues to improve services that respond to the needs of (improve the lives of) children and families in Nevada.
The Child Welfare Network is comprised of a variety of public sector officials, private nonprofit providers, philanthropists, former foster youth, foster parents and concerned citizens who have used their respective strengths, knowledge and resources to positively impact the foster care system.
The Network meets at minimum bi-annually, and its smaller work groups meet more frequently to address specific topical issues and to further their respective agendas and action plans.
To be invited to upcoming meetings of the Child Welfare Network, click here.
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Child Welfare Network
