Child Focus

Child Focus, is a local non-profit agency founded in 1999 serving youth in foster care in southern Nevada. Our vision, to preserve separated siblings’ fundamental right to feel safe, loved and have a sense of belonging, inspiring them to become compassionate and responsible adults and ultimately stop the generational cycle of abuse and neglect.

Through our various programs we help to improve the outcomes for youth in foster care, with a special emphasis on the most underserved cohort of this population – separated siblings. We provide programs to help youth gain knowledge that will help them develop healthy relationships, prepare for responsible, independent adulthood, and develop leadership skills. In addition, we provide greatly needed services to foster caregivers; the strong relationships we have developed with numerous agencies allow us to assist them in meeting the needs of the youth in their legal or physical custody. 

In 2008, Child Focus became a member of Camp To Belong (CTB) International, to operate CTBNV. Camp To Belong Nevada connects more than 90 youth, from across the state, with their siblings for 6 days of confidence-building outdoor activities, personal growth sessions, and family bonding time.  Child Focus reunited 221 youth in care during 2010 sibling preservation events, including Camp To Belong, providing these youth therapeutic sibling contact time they would otherwise not have had. 

With a small but hard-working staff of four full-time employees, Child Focus is supported by over 500 devoted volunteers to administer quality programs to serve youth in care.  We are well aware that this dedicated group of remarkable individuals is our agency’s greatest asset.  Our key areas of focus are: 

Sibling Preservation

Academic Success

Clinical Case Management

Youth Leadership Training

Share & Discovery

Camp To Belong

National statistics reveal that separation from at least one sibling during foster care occurs as much as 70% of the time. This separation occurs for many reasons (lack of available placements for large sibling groups; siblings entering the system at different times; siblings having different fathers; one sibling having special needs; and some children having adoption potential if separated, etc.). Yet, mental health experts have found that sibling relationships are longer lasting and more influential than any other. Severing these bonds causes fallout that lasts a lifetime.

Each year we bring siblings in the foster care system together for the holidays. This year’s Gift of Giving event will be held at Bonnie Springs Ranch and will include a gift exchange, petting zoo, rides, entertainment, food and, of course, Santa Claus. It is nothing short of amazing to see the joy on the faces of these children as they exchange Christmas gifts, which we have helped them purchase and wrap, with their brothers and sisters. Your sponsorship will help make this year’s “Cowboy Christmas” Gift of Giving celebration a priceless memory for these abused and neglected children who have already lost so much.

 

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