For families, caregivers, and advocates new to foster care, the system can feel like an overwhelming labyrinth. Terms are thrown around—CPS, TPR, reunification, permanency—without much explanation. Cases move fast, often with very little transparency. Children are shuffled between homes. Parents are expected to complete services and attend hearings without clear guidance. Foster parents are given responsibility without authority. And everyone is impacted by decisions made in closed-door courtrooms.

This blog is your crash course. Foster care is too important, too impactful, to remain mysterious. Let’s break it down.

What Is Foster Care?

Foster care is a temporary living arrangement for children who cannot safely remain with their biological parents. In Nevada, when Child Protective Services (CPS) receives a report of suspected abuse or neglect and finds that the home is unsafe, the child may be removed and placed into state custody.

Foster care is supposed to be short-term—a safety net until the family can address the issues that led to removal. The primary goal is always reunification unless the court determines it is not safe or in the child's best interest.

Who's Involved in a Foster Care Case?

Foster care involves multiple stakeholders. Here are the key players:

CPS Caseworkers: Investigate reports of abuse/neglect and oversee family case plans.
Family Court Judges: Make legal decisions about custody, visitation, and parental rights.
Deputy District Attorneys (DDA): Represent the state’s interest in protecting children.
Parents’ Attorneys: Represent the legal interests of the birth parents.
Children’s Attorneys or GALs (Guardian ad Litem): Advocate for the child’s best interests.
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates): Volunteers who provide additional oversight.
Foster/Kinship Caregivers: Provide day-to-day care for the child.
Service Providers: Therapists, parenting coaches, substance abuse counselors, etc.

How a Case Typically Unfolds in Nevada

Report Made: CPS receives a report of suspected abuse or neglect.
Investigation: A social worker investigates and determines if the child is at immediate risk.
Removal: If safety cannot be ensured, the child is removed and placed in foster care.
Protective Custody Hearing: Held within 72 hours. Judge decides if the removal was justified.
Case Planning: Parents are given a plan (services, drug testing, therapy, etc.) with a timeline.
Periodic Hearings: Held every 3–6 months to evaluate progress.
Permanency Hearing: Held around 12 months. Judge decides if the child will reunify, be placed with a relative, or have parental rights terminated.

Types of Placements

Non-relative foster homes (licensed foster families)
Kinship placements (relatives or close family friends)
Specialized foster homes (for children with medical/behavioral needs)
Group homes or residential treatment (used rarely and typically for older youth)

Kinship placements are prioritized in Nevada, but they still must meet safety standards.

Goals of the System

The law in Nevada prioritizes:

Reunification with birth parents
Placement with relatives
Adoption by foster parents or others
Guardianship

The system must show it has made "reasonable efforts" to help families before pursuing termination of parental rights.

Challenges in the System

Lack of housing: Families can’t reunify if they don’t have stable housing.
Service waitlists: Parents may be required to attend therapy, but can’t find an available therapist.
Transportation: Missed visits or services due to lack of access.
Trauma: Removal is traumatic for children and often retraumatizes parents.
Disproportionality: Families of color are overrepresented in Nevada’s child welfare system.

What FosterED Connection Wants You to Know

Removal is often based on poverty-related concerns, not abuse.
Most parents love their children and want to reunify.
Foster care should be temporary—and prevention should be the goal.
The system works better when families are empowered and supported.

Final Thoughts

Understanding the foster care system is the first step to improving it. Whether you’re a caregiver, a professional, a parent, or a community member, knowing how it works can help you make informed decisions and advocate for better outcomes.

Next week, we’ll take a deeper look at what happens when a CPS call turns into a case. Until then, stay curious, compassionate, and committed.