STATE OF NEVADA - Division of Child and Family Services

Activities for CAPTA State Grant Funds for FFY2010
The intent for use of CAPTA funds in SFY 2010, are to address the needs as identified in the Child and Family Services
State Plan for state fiscal years 2010 through 2014. It is the overall goal to continue to improve the child protective
services system in Nevada. Examples of activities conducted in SFY 2010 included, but are not limited to;
1) Evaluating procedures and processes for appealing and responding to appeals of substantiated reports of abuse and
neglect.
2) Development of revised NIA / Safety policies and tools.
3) Develop internal child welfare agency safety consultants who can provide additional training and support for Nevada’s
NIA and Safety model. This will eventually lesson the need for outside and additional resources/support.
4) Funds were also directed towards recruitment and retention of workers and training of supervisors.
Personnel
Through the use of CAPTA State Grant funds, DCFS employs a full-time Social Services Programs Specialist. This
position is necessary in order to carry out the objectives of the grant. The funds utilized included salary, fringe benefits
and travel. Under the direction of the DCFS Deputy Administrator, the Social Services Program Specialist coordinates
with the DCFS rural district offices, WCDSS and CCDFS to help ensure that policy and practice in child protection are
consistent throughout Nevada. The Specialist also participates in planning, coordinating and evaluating child protective
services provided throughout the state.
The Specialist participates in the following activities: 1) Review of federal/state legislation, development of federal/state
regulations, and agency policies; 2) Provision of statewide technical assistance and/or consultation through contract or
sub-grant; 3) Coordination of training pursuant to CAPTA requirements; 4) Serves as the State Liaison Officer with the
Office on Child Abuse and Neglect; 5) Prepares grant applications and progress reports for the CAPTA Basic State Grant
program and other related CAPTA funding; 6) Develops, coordinates and monitors CAPTA Projects; 7) Serves on agency
or other committees that promote the goals of child protective services; and 8) Monitors the collection of child abuse data
for the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS).
Operating Expenses
Communications equipment purchased for the purposes of promoting staff and child safety were periodically reviewed for
continued maintenance and possible upgrade through the use of grant funds. Grant funds supported staff
telecommunications related to child protection activities including teleconferencing, video-conferencing, cell phones, and
land lines. Grant funds may be used to purchase equipment, such as digital recorders, printers, scanner, computers,
laptop computer, and necessary hardware, software upgrades, file cabinets and other office equipment and work
materials such as journals, subscriptions, books and videos.
Maintenance of Citizen Review Panel and Statewide Child Protective Services Work Groups
Grant funds are used to support travel and per diem for panel representatives and for child welfare services
representatives to participate in child protective services workgroups. Funds may also be used for a consultant/facilitator,
including travel and per diem and materials, provision of technical assistance and coordination for the panel.
Services and Child Welfare Training
Services: The CAPTA Basic State Grant provides indirect services to individuals and families through provision of
referrals from child abuse and neglect reports received by child protection agencies to contracted Title IV-B communitybased
service providers. These referrals are aimed at intervening and preventing the re-occurrence of child abuse and
neglect by referring families to a family assessment and services system process. The family assessment and services
system provides an opportunity for families to receive services, or other appropriate referrals to local community based
service providers.
Training was provided to support direct line and supervisory personnel on child abuse and neglect on topics such as:
intake and investigation, screening, safety and risk assessment, use of tools, decision making, court processes,
concurrent case planning, case management, and other areas as indicated. Training is provided free to child welfare and
other participants through collaboration with the Nevada Partnership for Training.
The CAPTA State Grant provides support for presenters, travel and per diem and materials expense and will provide
support for staff travel and per diem to attend the training. Funds will be used to provide training materials and
equipment, such as videos, books, and other materials to assist with training.
Nevada APSR – SFY 2010
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