State Contact

Fran Maldonado
Department of Human Services
Division of Child & Family Services
4126 Technology Way, Third Floor
Carson City, NV 89706
775-684-7960
FMaldonado@dcfs.nv.gov

Families Rising Volunteer

Judith Neuenkirch
Las Vegas, NV
702-497-3244
jj9kirk@cox.net

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Nevada’s adoption resources

http://dcfs.nv.gov/Programs/CWS/Adoption/

Nevada’s state-specific medical assistance information:
http://dhcfp.nv.gov/

Nevada’s adoption assistance information:
http://dcfs.nv.gov/Programs/CWS/Adoption/
Guide/SubsidizedAdoptionSpecialNeeds/

Nevada Revised Statute §127.186:
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-127.html

Nevada Administrative Code 127:475 to 127:510:
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NAC/NAC-127.html#NAC127Sec475

Nevada Policy and Procedure Chapter 0101:
http://dcfs.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/dcfsnvgov/content/
Policies/CW/0101_Adoption_Subsidy_Policy.pdf

In Nevada a child is determined to have special needs if the child has at least one of the following needs or circumstances that may be a barrier to placement or adoption without financial assistance:

  • Five years of age or older
  • Considered difficult to place because of race
  • Member of a sibling group of two or more children to be placed together and at least one of the children is three years of age or older
  • Diagnosis of a medical, physical, emotional, or mental disability or documented history of abuse/neglect requiring ongoing treatment intervention
  • At risk of developing further problems due to documented factors in his or her background — Children meeting the “at risk” criteria include those genetically related to persons having heritable physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral concerns; prenatal substance abuse exposure; or other factors determined by a treatment professional to potentially result in a future need for treatment or special services.  Children who meet this will get a $0 agreement only subsidy.  

The monthly adoption assistance rate may be negotiated up to but not exceed the family foster care maintenance rate of:

Age Rate
0-12 $682.94
13-18 $773.17

Specialized rates are established while children are in foster care. Special rates may fall into two categories: The Special Rate Setting adds $30, $90, or $150 per month to the foster care maintenance rate. The Medically Fragile Rate adds $150, $250, or $500 per month to the foster care maintenance payment.

Specialized rates may be considered for children who are medically fragile, and those with significant emotional, behavioral, physical, or mental challenges. Rates must be negotiated.

Adoption assistance ends at age 18 for all children.  

The Adoption Assistance Program does not provide separate or direct funding to pay for out-of-home care. Information about availability and payment for residential services can be obtained from Nevada Children’s Mental Health, for more information visit, https://dcfs.nv.gov/Programs/CMH/

The Raise the Future provides post-adoption services. More information is available at https://www.raisethefuture.org/family-support/nevada

The Division of Children and Family Services operates a Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program (KinGap) for relatives who become guardians of a child in the custody of child welfare. For more information on this program visit, https://dwss.nv.gov/TANF/Kinship_Care_Program/

The Division of Welfare and Supportive Services has a program available to relatives (age 62+) who take guardianship of a child not in custody of child welfare agency.  

To qualify for the Foster Youth Fee Waiver, the former foster youth must have been in the Nevada foster care system for at least one day at age 13 or older; graduated high school or has passed TASC, HiSET, or GED; complete a Free Application of Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); and be under the age of 26.  This program waives registration fees as well as any eligible lower division laboratory fees.  The program waives fees at seven degree granting colleges or universities within the Nevada System of Higher Education.  These schools are:  University of Nevada, Las Vegas; University of Nevada, Reno; Nevada State College; College of Southern Nevada; Great Basin College; Truckee Meadows Community College; and Western Nevada College.

Read the brochure on this program here, https://nshe.nevada.edu/wp-content/uploads/Academic-Affairs/fostering-success/NSHE%20Foster%20Youth%20Fee%20Waiver%20Fact%20Sheet%20-%20Who%2C%20What%2C%20When%2C%20Where%2C%20and%20Why.pdf