STATE OF NEVADA - Division of Child and Family Services

Economy
For years, Nevada’s economy has grown at rates well in excess of national norms, regardless of the health of the national
business cycle. Since the late-1990s, for instance, job growth in Nevada has averaged 3.1 percent vs. just 0.5 percent in
the nation as a whole. Much the same was true for nearly every other economic indicator, including personal income and
population growth.
However, a repeat of the boom-like conditions from earlier this decade is not expected to continue to occur. While there is
some evidence to suggest that our nation is approaching the end of this economic decline; the Nevada economy remains
in recession. December 2009 marked the end of a historically bad year for Nevada’s economy. A year marred by record
setting declines in nearly all major economic indicators.
• Home values in Nevada plummeted 24.5 percent in the third quarter of 2009. That’s the steepest decline of any state
and more than six times the national average. Nevadans are losing their homes to foreclosure at a rate that is four
times the national average.
• Nevada’s foreclosure rate, though moderating, is still highest in the nation and four times bigger than the national
average — one in ten Nevada housing units received at least one foreclosure filing in 2009.
• Payrolls in Nevada in third quarter 2009 plunged 8.6 percent compared with the previous year, a larger drop than any
other state and more than double the national average decline of 3.5 percent.
• Nevada personal income in third quarter 2009 was 4.6 percent lower than the previous year, a rate of decline only
three one-hundredth percentage point smaller than the biggest drop, posted by Alaska.
• Nevada employment is down more than 10 percent compared with one year earlier.
• Nevada's unemployment rate is 13 percent. That's the second highest unemployment rate in the nation. More than
140,000 Nevadans have lost their jobs, and 90,000 more are projected to join the unemployment rolls over the next
18 months.
Nevada’s public finances have been significantly impacted by this downturn.
• State agencies recently submitted budget reserve recommendations for the fifth time in the past two years.
• Nevada’s General Fund revenues dropped 17 percent in 2009. Between now and June 2011, the state General fund
will fall about $1 billion short of its $6 billion budget.
• The state caseload for Medicaid and TANF has grown by about 30% since the beginning of the recession.
• From June 2008 to June 2009, the number of Nevada food stamp recipients in households with no other cash income
increased 173%, 60-percentage-points higher than second-ranked Florida.
Prior to the current recession, Nevada’s economy was among the strongest in the nation, if not the strongest. As a result,
the State served as a magnet for individuals in search of increased economic opportunity.
As further evidence Nevada may be experiencing an unprecedented population decline. The November report from the
Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation cited people leaving the state as a reason the
unemployment rate actually declined compared to October. According to the report, Nevada’s labor force contracted for
the second month in a row in November, falling by 1.5 percent, meaning roughly 13,900 workers either left the state or
were too discouraged to seek employment.
Child Welfare Administrative Structure
Nevada uses a state-administered and county-operated structure for the management of child welfare services. The
Nevada Division of Child and Family Services, under the umbrella of the Nevada Department of Health and Human
Services, provides oversight to child welfare and direct child welfare services.
State Agency Administering Plans
The Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) is responsible for Children’s Mental Health (in Clark and Washoe, the
two largest populated counties), Youth Corrections, Child Welfare Services and Child Care Licensing. As such, the
implementation and administration of the Child and Family Services Plan is the responsibility of DCFS. This includes:
Nevada APSR – SFY 2010
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