Child Focus is a non-profit agency providing many vital supportive services and resources which enrich the lives of children living in foster care in Southern Nevada. The goal of the organization is to work within the system to become a powerful voice for change. Child Focus partners with many national and local child welfare organizations to create a strong network of support and caring within our community.

Our Programs

Sibling Preservation

When possible, foster children from the same families are put in the same foster homes. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen, as it is easier to place a single child. But no matter what the housing situation, siblings should always keep in contact with one another. Child Focus works diligently to make sure that foster siblings grow up together with shared experiences and memories through the Sibling Preservation project. Child Focus throws quarterly “get together” events where siblings from different households can come together for a day and keep that family bond strong.

The Sibling Preservation project also works closely with Camp To Belong, an organization that runs week-long camps reuniting siblings living in different homes. Together, Child Focus and Camp To Belong are helping create childhood memories for hundreds of foster children who would not normally have the opportunity to bond in the way siblings should. 

Programs for Academic Success

Studies show that an overwhelming number of foster children are at-risk academically. With no single cause for this major problem, Child Focus focuses on solutions for this academic problem, helping foster children be better students in a variety of ways. 

In-Home Tutoring: Child Focus uses the most direct way to improve the general academic performance of foster children: a hands-on, in-home tutoring program. This comprehensive program includes weekly tutoring sessions with Child Focus volunteers specially trained in a wide range of academic subjects. The program’s emphasis, however, does concentrate on the essentials – reading and math. To encourage achievement, Child Focus awards its “Student of the Month” Reward to the deserving child. To establish a good repartee between tutor and child, every tutoring session lasts for approximately ten weeks. During the last school year, Child Focus tutored about 200 children in grades K–12.

Mentoring for Continuing Education: To cope with the great demands of high school, Child Focus provides an extra level of one-on-one mentorship for foster children in Clark County. Beyond simply academic counseling, the Continuing Education program offers five students the opportunity to earn up to $4000 annually in monetary incentives through good grades to go to help paying for a continuing education in college or vocational/trade school. Additional mentoring provides help with citizenship problems, setting up extra-curricular activities, and other academic needs.

Birthday Wishes

Every birthday is an important occasion in a child’s life. The source of many happy memories, birthdays also serve as markers throughout our lives, showing us where we’ve come and where we’re going. Because too many foster children’s birthdays go unnoticed, Child Focus provides a birthday card and present or gift certificate so every foster child knows they are remembered on their special day.

The Birthday Wishes program delivers a present (approximate value $25) and a card to foster children residing in group homes, including Child Haven and serves foster children through the Department of Family Services Neighborhood Care Centers, dramatically increasing the number of children who receive gifts.

Step-Up

In 2005, the state of Nevada awarded Child Focus a $1.3 million contract to administer the Step-Up Program, also known as FAFFY, Nevada’s independent living program for foster children. This initiative helps prepare foster children who have aged out of the system make the shift between foster care and self-sufficiency. The program offers information, vocational, living and educational resources, mentoring and financial assistance for youth 18-21.

Transition Services: Funds are available for youth age 17 years and still in foster care looking to complete or continue their education or acquire job training. The funds can also be used to assist with move-in fees. 

Financial Assistance: For young adults between 17 and 20, Child Focus distributes financial assistance in a variety of forms. During the first year of leaving the foster care system, youth receive a one-time stipend of $1000 for general living expenses. Financial incentives are also provided for youth who complete their GED or High School Diploma.

Case Manager: As we learn as we grow up, it’s often not what you know but who you know. To help young adults make the transition to self-sufficiency, Child Focus provides case managers to give guidance in life skills and independent living. This way, kids have someone to turn to when they need advice and help, for situations both big and small. Mentoring continues until the child’s 21st birthday.

Child Focus is a non-profit agency providing many vital supportive services and resources which enrich the lives of children living in foster care in Southern Nevada. The goal of the organization is to work within the system to become a powerful voice for change. Child Focus partners with many national and local child welfare organizations to create a strong network of support and caring within our community.

Current programs and services include: Academic Success offers both mentoring and tutoring services to help promote educational success. Sibling Preservation coordinates quarterly “get together” events, creating shared memories for siblings living in separate homes. In addition, Child Focus supports Camp to Belong Nevada, a national summer camp program that reunites foster siblings who are separated by the system. Birthday Wishes ensures no child is forgotten on their birthday providing presents to children living in care so their special day is a memorable one. Step Up is a state of Nevada funded initiative supporting youths in transition from foster care, teaching them to become self sufficient members of society. The Step Up program has been administered by Child Focus since 2005.

Our Vision for the Future

The long-term vision of Child Focus is to provide a multi-service facility that will house, under one roof, all of the major services, programs and support to assist foster families in providing the best possible care for children living temporarily in their custody.

Our facility will provide state-of-the-art medical, psychological and educational testing and treatment. Additional services include enrichment programs, support programs for foster parents and a database that will allow consistent and accurate data for each child.

We believe strongly that with the development of this unique facility, we will see the fulfillment of our mission:

By providing easy access to services and support for all foster parents, we will improve the living conditions of the children we seek to serve. Through our on-going educational support programs, mentoring programs, arts and athletic programs, we will open doors, create opportunities and provide a special place where these special children will not just survive their difficult circumstances but grow and flourish.

Child Focus: 4310 S. Cameron, Suite 13, Las Vegas, NV 89103. 702.436.1624, www.childfocusnv.org.