Foster Care

Well, it's that day again, halfway through the work week. Happy Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019 to you Carson City. For those keeping score, we have 21 days left until the first day of spring. Be prepared for rain "down here" and heavy snow "up there."

Good morning, Carson City, on this Sunday before President's Day. What this means for those who have Monday off is that the weekend has merely hit its stride.

Carson City Soroptimist will feature Lori Nichols as speaker during its Program Meeting on Wednesday, February 27, 12-1 p.m. at Glen Eagles Restaurant. This meeting is open to the public, with prior reservations required. There is no charge to attend, however, a plated lunch with choice of entrees, selected in advance, is available for $16.

To reserve a seat, and select an entree, email sicarsoncity@gmail.com or leave a message at 775-297-4890. Reservations deadline is Monday, February 25 before 5 p.m.

Good morning, Carson City! A fresh layer of powdery new snow has fallen overnight, delighting Winter sports enthusiasts eager to get outside and play.

For those who aren't, consider taking occasion to shop for your Valentine under the warm, dry roof of the Carson Mall, which wraps up its weekend Valentine's Day Craft and Gift Fair.

In rural Nevada, many teens and children need a safe, temporary living situation so Nevada Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) is looking for devoted families and individuals willing to share their heart and their home by becoming a licensed foster caregiver.

CASA of Carson City is looking to expand its volunteer base. There are thousands of children in the State of Nevada residing in foster care currently. These children have been removed from their homes, their friends and they need a strong advocate to stand up for them and express their wishes.

The Christmas season can be difficult for children in foster care. For some, it may be the first Christmas not spent with their families. For others, it is just one more Christmas in the child welfare system.

Linda Buchanan, the owner of Catmandu, had no idea (or interest in) how to run an animal nonprofit. But in 2014 when her husband, Kurt, died, she felt untethered. They had not only been partners in marriage, but partners in business as well.

Carson City 4-H is collecting new pajamas in all sizes and styles for kids in foster care in Carson City. All donations will go to the CASA of Carson City Foster Kids' Closet for distribution to kids in Carson City.

Please bring your donation to 4-H Awards Night on Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. at Fuji Park Exhibit Hall, any participating Clubs' events, or the Carson City Cooperative Extension Office at 2621 Northgate Lane, Suite 15 by Friday, Dec. 7, 2018. Please help us support kids in Carson City! Questions? Please call 775-887-2252.

Carson City Soroptimist will feature a presentation by Peggy Sweetland of the Carson City School District during its Program Meeting, Wednesday, Sept. 26, from noon until 1 p.m. at Glen Eagles Restaurant.

The meeting is open to the public, with prior reservation required. There is no cost to attend, however a plated lunch with choice of entrees is available for $16. Email sicarsoncity@gmail.com or call 775-297-4890, by Monday, Sept. 24, to reserve a seat.

In rural Nevada, many teens and children need a safe, temporary living situation, so Nevada Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) is inviting the community to learn about becoming a foster caregiver by attending pre-service foster parent training, Friday, Sept. 21 through Sunday, Sept. 23 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Banner Churchill Community Hospital, Lake and Tahoe Rooms, 801 E. Williams Avenue in Fallon.

The Nevada Division of Child and Family Services will hold a series of foster and adoptive parent training classes in August, Nevada DCFS Foster Care Recruiter Lori Nichols said.

The public is invited to attend the next Foster Parent Information Night Panel in Carson City scheduled for Tuesday, May 15 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Carson City Library, 900 North Roop Street.

One former foster child shares her story. Nikki Barthelmess writes of her foster care experience in Northern Nevada:

The number of available foster homes in Carson City is so low right now that siblings cannot reside together in emergency foster care, a local panel of child welfare advocates said.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month nationwide and throughout Nevada. In Carson City, volunteers recently planted hundreds of blue and silver pinwheels on the front lawn of the Nevada Legislature to bring awareness to child abuse across the Silver State.

The Nevada Division of Child and Family Services will be holding a series of foster and adoptive parent training classes in April, Nevada DCFS Foster Care Recruiter Lori Nichols said.

The Nevada Division of Child and Family Services is holding a foster parent information night on Wednesday, March 7 at Fremont Elementary School from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Due to the cold and ugly weather the past couple of days, Court Appointed Special Advocates, also known as CASA, is again offering an information hour. Currently, there are over 100 children in the Carson City child welfare system. Less than 20 of those children are headed towards reunification with their parents.

There are not enough foster families in Carson City to meet the need, forcing children to be displaced into other communities — possibly causing further trauma. Information meetings this Wednesday and in March will address the shortage and ways to recruit families wanting to help.

The Division of Child and Family Services is holding a foster parent information night Wednesday Feb. 7, at Carson Middle School from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Every now and then someone special touches your heart. Right now, that someone is Meringue. She arrived at Nevada Humane Society barely a week ago, less than 32 ounces in size, fitting in the palm of your hand. She was fighting for her life and she was in shock.

Almost everyone reading these words grew up safe and secure within the comfortable care of at least one dependable parent. For those of us so blessed, it is hard to imagine anything but a childhood defined by consistency, more than anything else. Some children, however, exist in a different world altogether.

November is National Adoption Month. In Nevada, there are more than 4,600 children and teens in foster care. Many of these children have spent several years in foster care and are seeking more permanent connections through adoption by a family or adult mentor.

“There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children.” — Nelson Mandela

More than 700,000 children experience abuse and/or neglect each year. Instead of playing with neighbors and making happy family memories, they’re attending court hearings, adjusting to new foster homes and transitioning to new schools. That’s a heavy burden for a child to carry.

CATMANDU is in desperate need of foster homes for bottle feeding kittens that require around-the-clock care. We also need foster homes for adult and special needs cats. Provisions supplied if needed. Fosters provide the special care needed to help kittens survive as well as an avenue to healthy human/feline contact for successful adoptions. If you are up to the task of loving and caring for kittens/cats, please call coordinator, Karen, at 1-408-410-3019, or contact Catmandu at (775) 297-3419, momcat@catmanducc.org; or visit our website at www.catmanducc.org. Meow means Thank You!

Did you ever want to help children in foster care? To be a voice for a child who cannot speak up on their own? What about just helping children in your community, letting them know that they are wanted and that there is a person (YOU!) who listens to them and advocates for their best interests?

A 34-year-old Sparks man was arrested Sunday in the area of Plaza and Sixth Street for suspicion of felony drug charges, a Carson City sheriff’s deputy said.

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval signed 29 bills into law Wednesday including a $6 million appropriations bill for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to make up for a projected shortfall due to the costs of fire suppression, emergency response and flood related projects over the past several months in Carson City, Douglas, Washoe, Lyon and Churchill counties as well as Lemmon Valley and Elko County.

Though we always expect it, we can never predict when emergency situations will happen — though it often seems to happen early in the evenings.

Nugget’s story is no different.

Kristin Cable, Eagle Valley Middle School; Shanell Cavener, Carson High School and Wendy Petty, Carson Middle School, were honored last week as Outstanding Math Educators by the Northern Nevada Mathematics Council.