| Group Name |
Purpose |
Member Composition |
Date Established |
| Nevada Youth Care Providers |
This group provides services that will keep children in their homes with their families. The group is dedicated to serving the children of Nevada and meeting the needs of our community by continuously evolving their respective programs. |
Service providers, government representatives, and other advocates who share a concern for improving the services available to Nevada's at-risk children, youth and families. |
Established in March of 1996. |
| Child Abuse Prevention Forum |
This newly formed group engages the community in ongoing dialogs to examine ways to develop a comprehensive continuum of child abuse and neglect prevention services. The main focus is primary prevention (with some secondary prevention included). Its next planning/policy forum will be on December 11th and will focus on legislation. |
Local and state policy makers, community leaders, parents, child advocates, service providers and community members. |
Established in fall of 2006 by the Area Health Education Center's Prevent Child Abuse Chapter. |
| Foster Care Task Force |
Originally, the group focused on foster youth aging out of the system and transitioning to independence. Currently, the Task Force is exploring its next direction/area(s) of focus related to foster care. The Task Force also serves to encourage collaboration and communication among those in the foster care and child welfare system while avoiding duplication. |
Public, private and nonprofit sectors, including former foster youth, foster parents and funders. |
Established in spring of 2004 by the Nevada Community Foundation. |
| Nevada Children's Behavioral Workgroup |
One of this workgroup's primary goals is to coordinate the work of the regional mental health consortia at a statewide level. |
Broad, representative group of stakeholders. |
Established in October of 2006. |
| Clark County Children's Mental Health Consortium |
This group is responsible to the legislature to oversee the Division of Child and Family Services in Clark County. Families and children in child welfare custody are a big concern for the group. The group was established to study, assess and help meet the needs of Clark County children with mental health issues and to develop recommendations for service delivery reform. The Consortium is required to conduct a needs assessment and submit an annual plan to the NV Department of Health and Human Services. All three consortia (Clark, Washoe and rural Nevada) assess the need for behavioral health (mental health and substance abuse) services for children in each jurisdiction, assess how well the current system is meeting this need, develop an annual plan on how the need can be better met, and report this info. to the Legislative Committee on Children and Youth on a regular basis. |
Representatives from Clark County's public child-serving agencies such as the school district, child welfare services, and children's mental health services. Parents, providers, members of the judiciary and local advocates also serve on the Consortium. |
Established in 2001 by NV legislature; this legislation also created consortia in Washoe County and rural Nevada. |
| Children's Justice Act (CJA) Task Force |
This Task Force oversees Child Protective Services (CPS) with focus on child sexual assault and prosecution of cases on it. They look at the system from a policy and procedural standpoint as well as a judicial standpoint. |
Individuals representing law enforcement; judges; attorneys involved in both civil and criminal court proceedings related to child abuse and neglect; and child advocates, including attorneys for children and, where such programs are in operation, court appointed special advocates. |
Established in 1994 by NV Division of Child and Family Services. |
| Nevada Citizen Review Panel |
The statewide panel currently operates as a committee of the Children's Justice Act (CJA) Task Force. Its purpose is to focus on the front-end of the CPS system and look at policies/procedures. The panel participates in quality improvement case reviews, examines policy and practice areas related to the Governor's assurances, and makes recommendations for improving the child protection system. The panel's recommendations are summarized in an Annual Report that is submitted each year with the Child and Family Services Annual Progress Report. During CJA's planning meeting for 2006 activities, staff presented a proposal for expansion of the panel in order to comply with the CAPTA grant increase for NV. In response, CJA recommended that DCFS invite the existing Northern and Southern Child Welfare Citizens Advisory Committees (CACs) to serve as the second and third Citizen Review Panels for the state. |
Volunteer members who are broadly representative of the community in which such panel is established, including members who have expertise in the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect. |
Created in 1999 as a mandate of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). |
| Clark County Citizen's Advisory Committee (CAC) |
This committee is responsible to the NV Department of Family Services and advises on the integration of child welfare services in Clark County. In their advisory role, they have been consulted about what is working, what is needed, and challenges that are encountered. Their specific duties include: 1.) Offer the opinions and recommendations of the residents of Clark County to the Clark County DFSPolicy and Fiscal Affairs Board concerning the facilities, services and resources provided by DFS; 2.) With the authorization of the Board, review and report on programs provided or funded by DFS, programs and agencies that provide info. or services related to abuse or neglect of children to either DFS or the family division of the district court, needs and programs for the child population to encourage healthy, safe and permanent environments for children and families in the county; 3.) Review and approve, at the direction of the Board of the County Commissioners, policies and procedures for programs funded by grants or third-party sources. |
This committee is a diverse group of individuals representing a broad spectrum in the community, including parents, former recipients of services and community providers. |
Established in January, 2002. |
| Kinship Subcommittee |
This is a sub-committee of the Clark County Citizens Advisory Committee and is the decision-making body for the Caring Communities Kinship Project, funded by a federal grant. This committee provides support for relative caregivers who have children in their care through the child welfare system. |
Comprised of 7-12 partners on the grant, including NV P.E.P., UNLV, CASA, DCFS, local researchers, relative care givers, and other advocates. |
Established in early 2004. |
| Washoe Citizens Advisory Committee |
This committee is responsible to the NV Department of Family Services and advises on child welfare services in Washoe County. In their advisory role, they have been consulted about what is working, what is needed, and challenges that are encountered. |
Comprised of a diverse group of individuals representing a broad spectrum in the community, including parents, former recipients of service, and community providers. |
Established in January, 2002. |
| Child Death Review (CDR) Regional Teams |
The purpose, organization and functions of the CDR teams are mandated by NV Legislature. Each team reviews all child deaths within their region with the exception of the Clark County Team, which reviews state-mandated cases along with a selection of additional cases because of high caseload. There are five regional CDR Teams (Clark County, Washoe County, Carson City, Elko and Fallon). Landmark legislation passed during the 2003 NV State Legislature that allows regional teams to review child death and make recommendations for the improvement of laws, policies and procedures; support the safety of children; and prevent future deaths. Other provisions of the legislation establish the confidentiality of info. obtained and reviewed by the regional teams. This legislation gives the 5 regional teams a mechanism to channel recommendations to appropriate agencies and maximize community resources so that future child deaths can be prevented. |
Government officials (DFS, District Attorney's Office, Coroner's Office, Health District), police department(s), service providers, and hospital or medical representatives. |
Established in 2003 by the NV Legislature. |
| Child Death Review (CDR) Administrative Team |
This is one of two statewide oversight committees. The Admin. Team reviews reports and recommendations from the regional CDR teams and makes decisions regarding the recommendations for improvements to laws, policies and practices. They also make recommendations about funding for improvements, initiatives, and public education requiring expenditures. |
Members of child welfare agencies. |
Established in 2003 by the NV Legislature. |
| Child Death Review (CDR) Executive Committee |
This is one of two statewide oversight committees (see above). The Exec. Comm. makes decisions about funding initiatives to prevent child maltreatment and death, which may be based on recommendations from the Admin. Team. Additionally, the Exec. Comm. adopts statewide protocols for the review of the death of children; designates the members of the Admin. Team; oversees training and development for the regional CDR teams; and compiles and distributes a statewide annual report, which includes statistics and recommendations for regulatory and policy changes. |
Members of child welfare agencies. |
Established in 2003 by the NV Legislature. |
| Neighborhood Care Center Administrative Team |
Interagency coordinating mechanism-- this team coordinates and collaborates on the services that cross over for families. The NV Neighborhood Care Center Project is assisting the Division of Child and Family Services-Southern Region to enhance the existing local interagency service system for children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbances in Clark County by the development of interagency case management teams at neighborhood sites. |
The "Neighborhood Care Councils" include reps from Clark County DFS, DCFS, NV Division of Health, Clark County Juvenile Justice, CCSD as well as parent mentors. Neighborhood Care Centers implement a wraparound or "individualized" strategy to facilitate early identification and service planning to reduce the need for out-of-home care. |
Established in July, 2004. |
| Title IV-B Steering Committee |
This committee has served as the advisory body for the Nevada Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program. Currently, the committee provides advice and makes recommendations to DCFS re: child welfare programs and services. Members of the committee served as proposal reviewer during the grant funding process. |
Stakeholders from many aspects of child welfare, including state and county agencies as well as community organizations serving youth and families. |
Established as a result of federal legislation. |
| Assistance League of So. California Community Advisory Council |
This local group is an advisory body to the Assistance League of So. CA, which has contact with Clark County DFS to provide intensive case management to families with children five years old and younger, who have had repeated interaction with the child welfare system. |
Community professionals who represent public, private and governmental organizations. |
Established in summer of 2006. |
| Sierra Association of Foster Families |
Nonprofit org. that offers support services to foster and adoptive families. The Association works closely with the state and Washoe county agencies and other service providers to ensure training, case management and support services. |
Membership is open to foster/adoptive parents, group home parents licensed by State of NV and Washoe County. |
Established nearly 30 years ago by foster parents with the sole purpose of offering support. |
| Community and Resource Network for Adoption and Foster Care |
The group brings together service providers to talk about adoption issues, services that are available, gaps in services, and to generally just share info. with one another. The genesis of the group was the state's desire for adoption agencies to collaborate. |
Established by the Adoption Exchange through a grant from the NV DCFS/Dept. of Health and Human Services. Membership consists of representatives from DFS, CCSD, service providers and other adoption agencies. Generally, 10-12 people attend quarterly meetings. |
Established in June of 2005. |
| Program Improvement Plan (PIP) Decision Making Group |
This group holds final approval authority over policies developed for statewide implementation and supports productive interagency interaction. It also serves as the major vehicle for the three agencies to discuss other important issues related to child welfare and develop strategies. |
Heads of each of the three child welfare agencies. |
Established in 2004. |
| Program Improvement Plan (PIP) Progress Approval Review Team |
This team's purpose is to review the plans, work products, and policies developed by the benchmark task groups and to troubleshoot any barriers to the task group's work product prior to submission to the Decision Making Group. |
Second-level administrators at each of the three child welfare agencies. |
Established in 2004. |
| Independent Living Oversight Committee |
The committee reviews independent living programs in Clark County. Their primary focus has been addressing the needs of foster youth transitioning from care and the needs of former foster youth. |
The committee is chaired by the Director of Clark County's DFS and is comprised of representatives from public and private stakeholders, including the court, youth, former foster youth, and foster parents. |
Info. not available. |
| Child Protective Services Statewide Team |
The team develops and evaluates standardized policies and procedures, investigative practice, including safety and risk assessment, intake, case management, and service delivery in child protection that will improve the system. It also provides info. and participates in related activities of the NV CPS Citizen Review Panel and the NV Children's Justice Task Force. |
DCFS, Clark County, DFS, and Washoe County Dept. of Social Services. |
Info. not available. |
| Committee for the Protection of Children |
Committee's primary function is to make awards of money from the Children's Trust Fund to gov't. agencies, nonprofits, or educational institutions that provide services for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. |
Members are appointed by the Governor or the Director of the Dept. of Health & Human Services. The committee's membership is designed to represent a cross section of NV, including rural NV, school districts, local agencies providing services for abused or neglected children, community orgs involved with children, DCFS, and members of the general public with knowledge or experience in prevention services. |
Established in July of 2001 by Nevada Legislature. |
| Group Name |
Purpose |
Member Composition |
Date Established |
| Nevada Coalition Against Sexual Violence |
Statewide, multi-disciplinary coalition/membership org. that collectively works toward shared interests and concerns of direct service providers and victim issues. |
Agencies and programs throughout the state participate through membership, meetings, and professional education opportunities that strengthen services and resources. |
Began as a Task Force in 1998 and in spring of 1999 became an open coaltion. |
| So. NV Domestic Violence Task Force |
Their mission is to work to end domestic violence through a coordinated community response. The Task Force was established to reduce and prevent domestic violence in Clark County. One way it does this is by providing a working forum for inter-departmental info. sharing and interaction of agencies dealing with domestic violence victims and perpetrators. |
Law enforcement personnel, attorneys, medical personnel, social workers, domestic violence victims and members of the general public. |
Formed in June of 1990. |
| B.E.S.T. Coalition |
Nonprofit organization whose mission is to implement and facilitate school and community partnerships to promote a safe and drug-free lifestyle for the well-being of all Nevadans. |
Nonprofit service providers, gov't. agencies, Family Resource Centers, educational institutions, and general community members. |
Established in 1997. |
| Success by 6 Initiative |
Led by United Way of Southern Nevada, this community-wide, neighborhood based initiative, focuses on areas of improved health, safety and literacy for children ages 0 – 6. |
Schools, higher educational institutions, businesses, nonprofits and government representatives. |
Founded in 2003. |
| Ready for Life Initiative |
The Ready for Life Initiative is a community collaborative with the goal of improving our community's success at engaging and graduating 'ready for life' youth and re-engaging those who have prematurely left school. |
artners include local agencies, non-profits, community based organizations, education entities including the Clark County School District, faith based organizations, concerned parents, and elected officials. The Nevada Public Education Foundation is the Convening Partner, coordinating and facilitating the Ready for Life Initiative. |
Launched in 2005. |
| Southern Nevada Gang Task Force |
The Task Force enables civic leaders, businesses, churches, healthcare providers, and community-based agencies to share resources and create new partnerships to keep grassroot agency services open to serve youth and families impacted by the gang problem. |
Nonprofits, government representatives, law enforcement, businesses, etc. |
Founded in 2001. |
| Goshen Community Development Coalition |
Nonprofit organization builds partnerships and closes gaps in our community service delivery systems to prevent activities involving drug abuse, alcohol abuse, gang violence, human trafficking, prescription abuse, sexual abstinence, and other issues that affect the lives of residents of So. NV. They recently established two other coalitions (7th Judicial District Coalition and So. NV Latino Community Coalition) to educate and mobilize outlying/rural counties. |
Businesses, churches, educators, government, law enforcement, civic and community orgs, professionals and neighborhood residents. |
Established in 2002. |
Overview of Child Welfare Consortia
