Nevada Kinship Care Resources and Helplines for Relative Caregivers
When you are suddenly responsible for a child who is not your own, the first problem is knowing who to call. Nevada has more free kinship support than most caregivers realize — but it is scattered across nonprofits, state agencies, county offices, and tribal organizations, and nobody hands you a single list.
Foster Kinship
The most important phone call a Nevada kinship caregiver can make. Foster Kinship is the state's only nonprofit dedicated exclusively to relatives raising children. They operate resource centers, run TANF application sessions with on-site DWSS navigators, provide guardianship legal assistance, and maintain a statewide kinship helpline.
- Las Vegas direct line: 702-546-9988
- Statewide line: 844-810-1667
- Website: fosterkinship.org
Their navigators walk you through TANF, SNAP, and Medicaid applications, help compile consanguinity documents, and explain the difference between informal care, short-term guardianship, and court guardianship. If you make one call, make it this one.
DWSS District Offices
The Division of Welfare and Supportive Services operates offices across Nevada that handle TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, and Nevada Check Up applications in person. Clark County has multiple locations in the Las Vegas metro area. Washoe County has the Reno office. Rural counties are served by smaller offices, some by appointment.
The Access Nevada online portal (accessnevada.dwss.nv.gov) accepts applications for all programs and lets you check case status, upload documents, and track recertification deadlines.
Legal Aid Organizations
Three legal-aid organizations and the Family Law Self-Help Centers provide free help to Nevada kinship caregivers:
Nevada Legal Services (NLS) — statewide coverage, handles public benefit appeals, guardianship advice, and family law for income-eligible residents.
- Las Vegas: 702-386-0404
- Reno: 775-284-3491
- nevadalegalservices.org
Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada (LACSN) — serves Clark County with self-help guardianship classes, representation in minor guardianship cases, and public benefit appeals.
- 702-386-1070
- lacsn.org
Northern Nevada Legal Aid (NNLA) — serves Washoe County and northern Nevada with family law, guardianship, and benefit navigation.
- 775-329-2727
- nnlegalaid.org
Family Law Self-Help Centers — courthouse-based centers in Las Vegas and Reno that provide forms, instructions, and self-help classes for guardianship petitions under NRS Chapter 159A. They cannot give legal advice but help you understand the paperwork.
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County Child Welfare Services
If the child was placed with you through the child welfare system (not a family arrangement), the agency overseeing the case depends on the county:
- Clark County: Clark County Department of Family Services (CCDFS)
- Washoe County: Washoe County Human Services Agency (WCHSA)
- Rural counties (15): Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) Rural Region
These agencies handle foster care placements, KinGAP (Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program) agreements, and licensing for kinship foster care. If a child was removed from their home by CPS and placed with you, the relevant county agency is your contact for placement-related benefits and support.
Tribal Kinship Care and ICWA
Native American kinship families navigate overlapping jurisdictions. The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) establishes specific protections for Native American children in state child welfare proceedings, including placement preferences with extended family members.
Tribal social services departments handle benefit coordination for families on tribal lands. The Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada (ITCN) coordinates programs across member tribes, including Tribal TANF programs that may have different eligibility rules and benefit levels than the state TANF program.
If ICWA applies to your situation, contact both your tribe's social services department and the state agency involved in the child's case.
Nevada 211
Dial 211 or visit nevada211.org for immediate connection to community services. The 211 line connects caregivers to county-funded emergency assistance — utility help, rent arrears, beds, clothing vouchers — and can refer you to local food banks, transportation programs, and counseling services.
National Family Caregiver Support Program (Title III-E)
Administered through the Nevada Aging and Disability Services Division, Title III-E serves relative caregivers aged 55 and older with respite care, support groups, caregiver education, and supplemental vouchers. Contact your local Nevada Care Connection Resource Center for intake.
This is not cash assistance — it is services that give you breathing room while you navigate the benefit system.
Our Nevada Kinship Financial Help Guide consolidates every agency, hotline, and program into one reference with direct contact information, office locations by county, and a benefits comparison chart showing which programs you qualify for under different care arrangements.
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