The ‘Count Me In To Be Inspired’ event focused on elevating recruitment efforts
for finding loving homes for teens FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / PRURGENT
(Las Vegas, NV) – Teens in foster care are considered the most difficult to place in a foster home. The Clark County Department of Family Services brought in renowned keynote speaker Michael Sanders to shed light on why teens may be the best and most important foster youth to support.
Michael Sanders’ inspirational meeting delved through the many highs and lows teens experience at many times in their lives.
“Prospective caregivers for teens will be surprised at how easy it is to bring a teen into your life, they are ready to go, with just a bit of support to help them on their way, they blossom,” said Michael Sanders, motivational speaker, consultant, trainer, and facilitator.
The event consisted of a panel of foster teens, a caregiver family that has fostered more than 40 youth, and a birth mom. They shared heartfelt stories that captivated the audience. In attendance were many caregiver families, social workers from Clark County and the public who came to be inspired and educated about the many opportunities available to help youth who are in need of love and support.
“Anyone can help teens either as a mentor helping them with internships and work skills, to bringing them into your family and enjoying the changes they experience getting ready to move into the world,” said Sanders.
Youth Aging Out of Care at 18, by the Numbers…
• 1 in 5 are homeless.
• Studies show that 36 percent of foster youth have been homeless at least once by age 26; with nearly half having been homeless more than once and nearly 75 percent four or more times.
• One-third lived in at least three different places; 20 percent had lived in four or more.
• Only 58 percent graduated high school by 19 (compared to 87 percent of all 19-year olds).
• One-fifth of 26-year-old’s did not have a high school diploma or GED; only 8 percent of these young adults had earned a postsecondary degree.
• 1 in 4 was involved in the criminal justice system within 2 years of leaving care.
• Nearly 80 percent of young women became pregnant by age 26 (compared to 55 percent of young women in the general population). Source: http://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/supports-older-youth.aspx
If you are interested in learning about the opportunities to support Clark County’s youth in foster care, visit www.countmein.vegas
About Clark County Department of Family Services
Protecting children from abuse and neglect by partnering with our community to build safe, nurturing and stable families, to support family preservation when possible, to provide permanent families for those children who cannot safely return home and to ensure the well-being of children in our care.
In cooperation with NVDCFS, an adoption incentive program.
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Clark County is a dynamic and innovative organization dedicated to providing top-quality service with integrity, respect and accountability. With jurisdiction over the world-famous Las Vegas Strip and covering an area the size of New Jersey, Clark is the nation’s 14th-largest county and provides extensive regional services to 2.3 million citizens and 45.3 million visitors a year. Included are the nation’s 8th-busiest airport, air quality compliance, social services and the state’s largest public hospital, University Medical Center. The County also provides municipal services that are traditionally provided by cities to about 1 million residents in the unincorporated area. Those include fire protection, roads and other public works, parks and recreation, and planning and development. | 
