STATE OF NEVADA - Division of Child and Family Services

B. Children’s Justice Act Task Force (CJA): The CJA task force is composed of professionals with knowledge and
experience related to the criminal justice system and issues of child physical abuse, child neglect, and child sexual
abuse and exploitation, and child maltreatment related fatalities. The purpose and function of the CJA is to
comprehensively:
• Support, promote and initiate systematic change that will improve the investigation and prosecution of child abuse
and neglect.
• Review and evaluate Nevada's investigative, administrative, and both civil and criminal judicial handling of cases
of child abuse and neglect, particularly of child sexual abuse and exploitation, as well as cases involving
suspected child maltreatment related fatalities and cases involving a potential combination of jurisdictions, such
as interstate, federal-state, and state-tribal;
• Make policy and training recommendations in each of the following categories:
• Experimental, model, and demonstration programs for testing innovative approaches and,
• Reform of state laws, ordinances, regulations, protocols and procedures to provide comprehensive protection for
children from abuse, particularly child sexual abuse and exploitation, while ensuring fairness to all affected
persons.
C. Citizen Review Panels (CRP): Nevada’s CRP’s have been a great asset to the State and the field of child protection
due to their ongoing commitment and continued involvement in Quality Improvement (QI) and training activities that
benefit the child welfare system. The Statewide CRP was established in 1999 per NRS 432B.396 and has federally
mandated responsibilities under Title I, Section 106, of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). The
Statewide CRP consists of representation from community-based organizations and professionals with backgrounds
related to child protective services (CPS), child advocacy, children’s mental health, and foster parents. In essence,
the CRP’s work consists of the review of internal policies and procedures within the CPS system, accomplished
mainly through individual CPS case reviews. In response to meeting the federal requirement for three CRP’s based
on the Basic State Grant funding increase for Nevada, both the Northern and Southern Citizens Advisory Committees
(CACs) were invited into the CRP process in 2006. Approval to join as a CRP was given by the Northern CAC in late
2006 and by the Southern CAC in early 2007. During 2007 and 2008, the Statewide CRP members continued to
serve as regular, external stakeholders in quarterly case reviews implemented as part of the DCFS Quality
Improvement Framework. Statewide CRP recommendations for 2007 focus on CPS staff training and practices,
improving the DCFS QI case review process and expansion into other areas of review such as differential response
and differential response training. Northern CAC/CRP recommendations for 2008 focus on CPS caseworker unit
restructuring, family involvement in the child welfare system, and differential response. Southern CAC/CRP
recommendations for 2008 focus on increased funding for child welfare services, policy and procedure redesign, and
CPS caseworker training.
D. Court Improvement Project (CIP): Nevada's CIP was formed to address changing roles of court oversight in child
abuse and neglect cases brought on by federal guidelines and Nevada statutes and is supported with federal funding.
CIP continues to work closely with DCFS and other stakeholders to plan and develop changes statewide that will
significantly improve the handling of child welfare cases throughout the state. The monthly schedule of meetings
between the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)/CIP and DCFS is ongoing. Issues requiring a collaborative
approach are discussed and items of mutual concern are identified for strategic planning. In the last year, extensive
child welfare training was made available and delivered to Judges and Attorneys statewide. In addition to trainings, a
final draft of the bench book, a guide for the judiciary on child welfare proceedings has been completed and is
currently under review by the judiciary, the Office of the Attorney General and the DCFS Eligibility Unit. DCFS and
CIP have had monthly meetings regarding a variety of child welfare topics and children assigned to youth parole and
have been exploring UNITY data reports that could be useful for judges during court proceedings. CIP also received
a presentation by the Eligibility Unit and were provided with recommendations for language in court orders to
maximize IVE funding opportunities.
E. Mental Health Consortia: The 2001 Legislature, per NRS 433B.333 established a Mental Health Consortium in
three jurisdictions: Clark County, Washoe County the Rural Counties, to encourage cross system referral, ongoing
collaboration and accessibility to services. The functions of the Mental Health Consortia are to assess the need for
behavioral health, mental health and substance abuse services for children and families in each jurisdiction; to
determine how well the current system is meeting those needs, and to develop an annual plan on how the need can
Nevada APSR – SFY 2010
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