clarkcountynv

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Final Days To Complete 1October Memorial Survey

We are into the final days of our effort to gather input on what people would like to see in a permanent #1OctoberMemorial. For this effort to be successful, we need to hear from as many as possible. The goal is to create a lasting memorial to remember the victims, honor the survivors and first responders and showcase the resilience of our Las #Vegas community in the wake of the 2017 tragedy. Please go to https://tinyurl.com/1octsurvey by Sunday, March 14 to take the survey and please share with anyone you think would like to offer their opinion.

For additional information, please visit www.ClarkCountyNV.gov/1OctoberMemorial. 

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Public Invited to Take Survey About Memorial for 1 October Shooting in Las Vegas

The 1 October shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival was a tragedy that Las Vegas will never forget. Now, work is underway to create a lasting memorial to remember the victims, honor the survivors and first responders and showcase the resilience of our community. Our 1 October Memorial Committee is seeking the public's input on what it would like to see in a permanent #1OctoberMemorial.

Please go to https://tinyurl.com/1octsurvey by March 14 to take the survey. This is the first step in an ongoing community-wide conversation about the best way to memorialize what occurred. There will be additional opportunities for public input, which will include town hall meetings and likely additional surveys so that we can create a Memorial to Remember. For additional information, please visit www.ClarkCountyNV.gov/1OctoberMemorial.

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Need a COVID-19 Test? Just Stop, Swab & Go!

Stop, Swab & Go, a 14-day #COVID19 testing blitz, starts Monday, Aug. 31. Convenient, free, drive-thru testing is available at 3 locations:

• Fiesta Henderson Hotel and Casino, 777 W. Lake Mead Pkwy.

• Texas Station Hotel and Casino, 2101 Texas Star Ln.

• Sam Boyd Stadium, 7000 E. Russell Road, 89122

Appointments are not required, but are strongly encouraged. Register online at www.DoINeedaCOVID19Test.com. Each site will operate Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., through Sept. 18, providing self-administered nasal swab tests. The goal: To administer 60,000 tests! The hotel testing sites will be set up in parking garages. The Sam Boyd site will have a drive-thru site set up in its parking lot, and will offer an additional walk-up testing area inside the stadium’s concourse. Free face coverings will be offered. Registrants will need to provide an email address to be notified when their test results will be available online, approximately 3 to 5 business days after their test. To access their results, they will need to set up a username and password on the www.DoINeedaCOVIDTest.com website. Please get tested and help us slow the spread of the #coronavirus so that we can reopen the Las #Vegas economy sooner.

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Clark County Launches Upgraded Website

After engaging County residents and several months of optimization, Clark County has debuted a new user-focused website , allowing easy access to critical information and the ability to conduct a host of online transactions.

The new www.ClarkCountyNV.gov website is optimized for mobile usage and comes at a time when the ability to access County services online is essential to residents’ health and safety. The design goal was to drive community engagement with an intuitive, modern website.

Common functions that can now be accessed through www.ClarkCountyNV.gov are:

•             Applying for and renewing a business license;

•             Booking park/recreational facilities;

•             Paying traffic tickets;

•             Paying property taxes; and

•             Watching County Commission meetings.

“I’m excited to launch this new, more mobile-friendly website that will allow our residents to more easily and efficiently access County services,” said Clark County Commission Chairman Marilyn Kirkpatrick. “The site is also more modern, fresh, colorful and use-friendly.” The website was last updated in December 2010.

“Our website is an important means of accessing County services and information,” said Commissioner Michael Naft, a vocal advocate for the update. “It should be easy for residents and visitors to transact business online using their phones and this new website is definitely a step in the right direction, providing efficiencies for our customers and for the County itself at a time when resources are limited.”

“We are committed to increasing opportunities for self-service by providing more County services online,” said Clark County Chief Information Officer Nadia Hansen. “Residents and visitors of Clark County need an accessible, searchable website that is optimized for use on mobile devices and allows easy access to vital County information and services.”

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Esta En Tus Manos

With a rapid increase in the number of COVID19 cases in Las Vegas and Clark County occurring in the Hispanic community, County leaders, health experts and partners announced a new outreach effort called "Esta En Tus Manos (It's In Your Hands)" to boost understanding among Hispanic residents of all ages about the need to wear face coverings in public places, visit free testing sites, and find resources to help protect themselves and their families from the virus.

The Spanish-language initiative includes a website at estaentusmanosnevada.com to serve as an informational hub for the Hispanic community to find testing locations, health care and other resources to help people dealing with impacts from the virus. The Esta En Tus Manos campaign also will include social media outreach, radio and TV public service announcements, posters, fliers and other materials. Officials also are working with a wide network of supporting community leaders, businesses, churches, Spanish-language media outlets and other organizations to help carry the messages of Coronavirus, education and support into the Hispanic community.

The number of COVID-19 cases is steadily rising in Clark County. As of Tuesday, the health district is reporting 15,095 cases, including 4,801 in the Hispanic population. Hispanic residents in Clark County have the highest rate of COVID-19 infections of any racial or ethnic group. The rate of COVID-19 infections is more than two times higher for Hispanic people compared to non-Hispanic whites.

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Masks or Face Coverings Required in Nevada

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak has signed a directive with a new requirement for Nevadans and visitors to cover their nose and mouth with a mask or face covering when in public. Exceptions apply, such as kids and those with certain medical conditions.

This mask directive goes into effect on Friday. Businesses have the right to ask a patron to leave if they are not following this directive. Detailed guidance is available online at NVHealthResponse.nv.gov.

Las Vegas, Clark County and Nevada have all seen an increase in COVID19 cases recently and Governor Sisolak says he doesn't want to have to take steps backward by imposing stronger restrictions. He also stressed its not just on the businesses or state and local government – it’s on all Nevadans to do their part to help in these latest steps to fight Coronavirus.

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Primary Election Ballots in the Mail

The Nevada Secretary of State's office has announced election officials have started mailing 2020 primary election ballots and that voters can expect to receive their ballot in the mail in the next 2 weeks. Due to COVID19, the June 9 primary is being done as an all-mail election. Clark County and our Election Department are supporting this effort.

For the 2020 primary election, active registered voters will automatically receive a mail ballot. Instructions for voting by mail are included with each ballot. All ballots also come with a secure pre-addressed, postage-paid ballot return envelope that must be used for returning the ballot.

Voters are reminded to sign their ballot return envelope before dropping it in the mail. In-person ballot drop off will also be available should a voter be unable to return their ballot by mail. While limited in-person voting, both during the early voting period and on Election Day, will be available for same-day registration and information updates, election officials highly encourage voters to take advantage of the opportunity to mail in primary election ballots rather than voting in person. 

 Here are key dates leading up to the June 9, 2020 primary election:

May 12 – Close of standard voter registration. This is the last day to register to vote or to update existing registration information by mail or at a voter registration agency (such as the Department of Motor Vehicles).

May 21 – Last day to register to vote or update existing registration information online at www.RegisterToVoteNV.gov and be eligible to receive a mail-in ballot in the primary election.

May 22 to June 4 – Those registering to vote or update existing registration online at www.RegisterToVoteNV.gov are eligible to vote in the 2020 primary election but must vote in person.

May 23 to June 5 – In-person early voting is available in all counties. For the health and safety of everyone, voters are encouraged to vote by mail rather than in person.

June 4 – Last day to register to vote or update existing registration information online at www.RegisterToVoteNV.gov and be eligible to participate in the 2020 primary election. After this date, voter registration will only be available on June 5 and June 9 at an in-person polling location.

June 9 – PRIMARY ELECTION DAY – Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by June 9, 2020. Ballots returned in person at a drop-off location must be received by 7:00 pm on June 9, 2020. Also, on this day, there will be limited in-person voting available for those not able to vote a mail ballot. 

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Wynn Resorts and University Medical Center Announce Partnership For Expanded COVID-19 Testing

Wynn Resorts and University Medical Center of Southern Nevada have announced a unique partnership which will allow all employees of Wynn Las Vegas to have access to testing for the COVID-19 virus at no cost to the employee.

UMC’s investment in a new lab has increased the capacity to perform thousands of tests per day. Wynn employees will initially have direct access to Coronavirus testing at UMC designated locations in Las Vegas beginning the week of May 4th.

As the Company works with government officials to determine an opening date for Wynn Las Vegas, it will set up on-site testing in coordination with UMC for employees. This will ensure that Wynn employees that would like to be tested will have access to reliable and accurate COVID-19 testing well in advance and leading up to the opening of the resort.

Wynn also announced that 70 team members from its Wynn Teleservices Call Center will assist the Clark County Commission with its ramped up contact tracing efforts.

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Nevada joins Western States Pact

Governor Steve Sisolak today announced today Nevada along with Colorado has joining California, Oregon and Washington in the Western States Pact -- a working group of Western state governors with a shared vision for modifying stay at home orders and fighting COVID19.

There are three principles that serve as the foundation for the agreement: • Our residents’ health comes first. As home to nearly one in five Americans and gateway to the rest of the world, the West Coast has an outsized stake in controlling and ultimately defeating Coronavirus.

• Health outcomes and science – not politics – will guide these decisions. Modifications to our states’ stay at home orders must be made based off our understanding of the total health impacts of COVID-19, including: the direct impact of the disease on our communities; the health impact of measures introduced to control the spread in communities —particularly felt by those already experiencing social disadvantage prior to COVID-19; and our health care systems’ ability to ensure care for those who may become sick with COVID-19 and other conditions. This effort will be guided by data. We need to see a decline in the rate of spread of the virus before large-scale reopening, and we will be working in coordination to identify the best metrics to guide this.

• Our states will only be effective by working together. Each state will work with its local leaders and communities within its borders to understand what’s happening on the ground and adhere to our agreed upon approach.

As part of the Western States Pact, the Governors commit to working together toward the following four goals: • Protecting vulnerable populations at risk for severe disease if infected. This includes a concerted effort to prevent and fight outbreaks in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

• Ensuring an ability to care for those who may become sick with COVID-19 and other conditions. This will require adequate hospital surge capacity and supplies of personal protective equipment.

• Mitigating the non-direct COVID-19 health impacts, particularly on disadvantaged communities.

• Protecting the general public by ensuring any successful lifting of interventions includes the development of a system for testing, tracking and isolating. The states will work together to share best practices.

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Attorney General and U.S. Attorney Form Nevada COVID-19 Task Force

The Nevada Attorney General's Office and U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich have announced the formation of the Nevada COVID19 Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of local, state and federal investigators and prosecutors with significant experience in handling complaints and cases related to general fraud, heath care fraud, Medicaid fraud, insurance fraud, workers’ compensation fraud and cyber crime, among others. Together, they will share information and resources to protect Nevadans from those using the Coronavirus to take advantage of consumers. 

The Nevada Attorney General’s Office and U.S. Attorney’s Office caution residents to be wary of potential scams such as:

• Diagnosis Testing Scams: Scammers offer fake COVID-19 testing kits, particularly door-to-door. • Treatment/Cure Scams: Scammers offer fake or unproven treatment regimens that are particularly dangerous because they have the potential to do more harm than good. • Charity Scams: Virtually every time there is a disaster or emergency, scammers set up fake charities to solicit donations that they then spend on themselves. • Overinflated prices: The Task Force will use every tool available to hold sellers accountable who unlawfully use the COVID-19 pandemic to unreasonably inflate prices. • Investment Scams: Scammers make false claims about tests, cures and other matters related to COVID-19 in order to entice victims to make investment decisions based on those false claims that allow the scammer to steal money and assets from Nevadans. • Cyber Scams: Scammers send victims emails related to COVID-19 that appear to be from the victims’ banks, health care providers, the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and others for the purpose of obtaining the victims’ personal identifying information and exploiting it for the scammers’ own benefit. • App Scams: Scammers are creating and manipulating mobile apps designed to track the spread of COVID-19 to insert malware that will compromise users’ devices and personal information. • Insurance, Workers’ Compensation and Medicaid Fraud: Businesses and government agencies are not immune to scams. They should also be vigilant to ensure scammers do not take advantage of their businesses or customers during this pandemic. • Economic Impact Payments (Stimulus Checks): Scammers pretend to be government officials offering false payments in order to obtain personal identifying information including social security and bank account numbers.

If you have been victimized by any crime related to the COVID-19 pandemic, please report your experience to the Attorney General’s Office at ag.nv.gov/Complaints/File_Complaint and the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or by e-mailing the NCDF at disaster@leo.gov.

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UMC Ramping Up Testing Capabilities

Clark County and state of Nevada leaders both agree: a key to getting things reopened depends on a number of factors, including the ability to test large numbers of people in the Las Vegas area for COVID19 in order to prevent the spread of virus.

University Medical Center of Southern Nevada will significantly increase the number of coronavirus tests it can process during the coming weeks, helping fill a critical need that is considered key to reopening our community and containing future outbreaks of the virus.

Today, UMC’s lab can process 500 tests per day. That number is expected to increase to 1,500 tests per day on Saturday, April 25, and then reach 4,000 tests per day on May 1. By June 1, the UMC lab is expected to be able to process 10,000 tests per day. The tests usually take about 24 hours to complete.

In addition, UMC’s lab will launch coronavirus anti-body testing on May 30. The anti-body tests can show whether someone is currently infected, and whether they have been infected in the past. Officials are still determining how many anti-body tests the hospital will be able to process.

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County to Host Community ‘Win the Census’ Rally on March 12, First Day of 2020 U.S. Census Count

Win the Census in Las Vegas and Clark County. In 2 weeks (March 12), people can start taking the #Census online or by phone. Clark County is teaming up with multiple community partners to ask every household in Southern Nevada to participate in the #Census2020 as part of a “Win the Census” campaign.

On Thursday, March 12 a community kickoff will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the Clark County Government Center Amphitheater, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway in downtown Las Vegas. The kickoff will feature music, food trucks, guest appearances and local leaders encouraging residents to respond to the census en masse to ensure a complete count for Nevada. Residents can visit the Southern Nevada Counts website at www.SouthernNevadaCounts.com to learn about the local effort, and to RSVP for the March 12 event. The kickoff event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required but helps with planning purposes. During the kickoff event, the Census Bureau is scheduled to have staff available in a computer training room at the Government Center to answer questions and help people fill out their 2020 Census forms online. Clark County also will offer computer access at several Clark County Parks & Recreation community centers this spring for people wishing to respond to the census online. Locations and hours of operation will be listed on the Southern Nevada Counts website.

The results of the census, taken every 10 years, help decide how $675 billion in federal tax funding is distributed to states and communities each year over the next decade. The federal government uses census data to calculate the distribution of funding for schools, highway and transportation projects, Medicare, Medicaid and health care funding, emergency services and other needs. Nevada stands to receive more than $6 billion each year over the next 10 years based on 2020 Census data. The population figures also determine how many of the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives get allocated to each of the 50 states. After the 2010 Census, Nevada gained a seat in Congress because of Southern Nevada’s population growth.

Starting in mid-March, households will begin receiving official Census Bureau mail with detailed information on how to respond to the 2020 Census online, by phone, or by mail. This is the first time the online option is available. Households may complete the Census 2020 online 24 hours a day through My2020Census.gov. When people fill out the census survey, they will be asked to count everyone who lives in their homes as of Census Day on April 1, 2020. The Census Bureau will mail additional reminders to non-responding households this spring, followed by census taker in-person visits between May and July to help make sure everyone is counted.

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Southern Nevada Health District Announces Patient Under Investigation for Coronavirus

The Southern Nevada Health District has announce it has received a report of a potential case of Coronavirus in a Clark County resident. The patient is currently in isolation at a Las Vegas hospital. The patient will be monitored and under medical supervision while testing is conducted by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.) Currently, there are no confirmed cases of the 2019 Coronavirus in Clark County.

“The Health District has been monitoring this situation and working closely with our health care partners to ensure they were prepared for potential patients,” said Dr. Fermin Leguen, Acting Chief Health Officer for the Southern Nevada Health District. “Our hospitals are very experienced in isolating and taking care of ill patients, and we will continue to coordinate the testing process and communications with our partners at the state and the CDC.”

While the CDC considers this outbreak to be a serious public health threat, based on current information, the immediate risk from the Coronavirus to the public in the United States is believed to be low at this time. People who have not traveled to an area where the virus is circulating or have had close contact with a patient who has tested positive for the virus are at low risk for infection. Coronaviruses are part of a family of viruses that are common in different species of animals. In rare instances, the animal Coronaviruses can infect people and then spread from person-to-person. In the past, this has happened with the MERS and SARS. In these outbreaks, transmission was thought to be by respiratory droplets that were spread when an infected person coughed or sneezed. This current outbreak is still evolving, and health officials continue to learn more about how the virus is transmitted.

People who traveled to Wuhan City, China and feel sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing within 14 days after they have returned should contact their health care provider. Potential patients are advised to contact their medical provider or emergency department before they arrive so the medical facility can take the appropriate precautions.

The Health District is encouraging the public to follow the current CDC recommendations, which include: 

 • Practicing everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses: o Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 

o Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. o Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

o Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. 

o Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. 

Up to date information on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus is available on the Health District website at http://www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org/coronavirus.

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Clark County, Community Partners to Unveil New Pledge to Fight Poverty

As a new decade kicks off, Clark County Commission Chairman Marilyn Kirkpatrick, Michael Naft and other Las Vegas community leaders including Clark County School District Superintendent Dr. Jesus Jara have come together to ask the public to sign a pledge to help Southern Nevada families escape the cycle of poverty.

The pledge can be filled out online at www.thrivingsnv.org. In addition to the pledge, there was also a forum that brought together more than 100 community decision-makers to build upon efforts under way in Southern Nevada to take action in three key areas to fight poverty: widening career opportunities for those who are underemployed, connecting low-income youth with employment and mentoring programs, and facilitating economic mobility for single parents in poverty.

The forum, sponsored by Chairman Kirkpatrick and the federal Administration for Children and Families Office of Family Assistane was the first of its kind to be held in the Western region of the United States. Clark County was selected as a location for the event because of its track record of successful collaboration between social service, government, business, workforce and education-based agencies.

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Vegas Strong Resiliency Center Moves to New Location

To continue assisting survivors of the 1 October 1 tragedy, the Vegas Strong Resiliency Center will open a 4,700-square-foot office on Jan. 6, 2020. The new Resiliency Center address is 2915 West Charleston Boulevard, between Rancho Drive and South Valley View Boulevard.

This new office will allow the Resiliency Center, managed by the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada in partnership with Clark County, the state of Nevada and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, to continue assisting anyone impacted by the tragedy with new initiatives and events. It provides more amenities, such as an therapy room (including yoga and meditation), kids’ corner and large gathering space, while offering the same elements as the current location, such as calming family rooms, caring staff, and access to resources in the center of the valley.

The new space includes 11 staff offices, a guest lobby, a reception room, three small conference rooms, and two spacious private family rooms. Aracely Rascon, interior designer certified by the National Council for Interior Design with Simpson Coulter Studio, is designing the new space on a pro bono basis. John Steinbeck, Clark County deputy fire chief, continued his involvement with the Resiliency Center by helping with the move and planning for this new space as well.

“In 2020, we plan to offer more ways for survivors, victims’ families and community members to meaningfully connect with the Resiliency Center to help in their healing journey,” said Tennille Pereira, director of the Resiliency Center. “We are thankful to all of the volunteers who donated their pro bono services to make the Resiliency Center warm and inviting.”

Under the leadership of Misty Richardson, Clark County assistant emergency manager, the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, and other volunteers moved the Vegas Strong Resiliency Center to the new facility on Dec. 28 and 29.

The Resiliency Center can be reached by phone at 702-455-2433, Monday−Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by email at vegasstrongresiliencycenter@clarkcountynv.gov. After hours on weekends or holidays, people can call the National Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990 to talk with a trained crisis counselor. Bridge Counseling also has local therapists available by phone 24/7. Its phone number is 702-474-6450. 

The Vegas Strong Resiliency Center provides free resources and support to anyone affected by the attack, including survivors, friends and family members of victims, responders and their families, and those who witnessed the incident or tried to assist victims. 

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Commissioners Support Affordable Housing Project for Seniors

Clark County commissioners today supported plans for a new affordable housing development for seniors on vacant land in Southeast Las Vegas. In a unanimous vote, commissioners directed County staff to negotiate a development agreement with Coordinated Living of Southern Nevada and Ovation Development, which would build the senior housing complex. If a development agreement is successfully negotiated and approved by the commissioners, the County would then request the Bureau of Land Management sell the property to the County for this project.

The property is 5 acres of vacant land on the north side of Pebble, just west of the intersection with Eastern. Specific information about the possible development there is not available now, but is expected to be presented to the commissioners early next year. Under a best case scenario, all necessary approvals could be granted next year, and the development could be under construction in 2021.

Today’s action was the latest in a series of efforts by the commissioners to bolster affordable housing opportunities in Southern Nevada. 

Currently in Clark County, there is a shortage of 59,370 affordable homes for extremely low-income households, which have an annual income at or below 30 percent of the area median income. If one includes very low-income households, the shortage here grows to 78,112 homes. For extremely low-income households, there are 14 affordable and available rental homes per 100 homes in Clark County, which is the second fewest among all counties in the nation, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. The lack of affordable housing in Southern Nevada greatly affects those working to escape homelessness and those at risk of becoming homeless. To address these issues, the commissioners have provided additional funding to homeless outreach, shelter services and other services, in addition to working to increase affordable housing opportunities in Southern Nevada.

In December 2018, the commissioners supported designating 10 parcels in the southwest for affordable housing development. The parcels, which include the 5-acre property addressed today, are a combined 128 acres and could hold about 2,000 apartment units depending upon the specific development plans ultimately proposed.

In August 2019, the commissioners approved funding plans for two affordable housing developments that will help more than 400 low-income seniors and families.

Then, last month, the commissioners supported establishing several new programs to create incentives for new affordable housing developments and preserve existing affordable housing for very low-income households. Those programs include a Community Land Trust, Local Housing Trust Fund, Land Bank and utility and government rebate programs.

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County, Adoption Exchange Launch Effort to Boost Adoptions

The County Department of Family Services is launching a new effort to find adoptive families for children in challenging situations.

The County is partnering with The Adoption Exchange to enhance recruitment efforts and provide pre- and post-adoption training and support to interested parents. During the next 12 months the program is expected to help about 70 children, many of whom are teens, some of whom are in large sibling groups, and some of whom have special medical needs.

“Every child deserves a family and a home,” Commission Vice Chairman Lawrence Weekly said. “This program will help us fulfill that promise to all the children in our care.”

“As an adoptive parent myself, I know the joy and love that comes with bringing a child into your family,” Commissioner Justin Jones said. “I encourage anyone who may be interested in adoption to reach out to us and learn more about this great opportunity.”

Anyone considering adopting a child should go to www.ClarkCountyNV.gov/adoption, email DFSadoptions@ClarkCountyNV.gov, or call (702) 455-0800 for more information about this program and the children we are trying to connect with adoptive parents.

Every year about 500 children under the County Department of Family Services’ supervision are adopted. Today, there are about 100 children living in foster care that need an adoptive home.

Through this new effort, recruiters with The Adoption Exchange will focus on finding adoptive homes for older children, children in sibling groups of three or more, and children with special medical needs. They are expected to help about 70 children during the next year.