Carson City July 26, 2022
Last year in the U.S. more than 20,000 teens aged out of foster care without a permanent home. In Nevada, the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) and our partner agencies are working to change that and recently two adoption program Youth Connections Managers were honored for their work to provide permanency for youth through reunification, guardianship and adoption.
In May, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a national nonprofit, hosted its annual Summit in Columbus, Ohio and during the event Nevada’s Youth Connection Managers Brittany Mann and Tim Provost were recognized as "Supervisors of the Year.”
As Youth Connections Managers with Raise the Future, Brittany and Tim supervise a dozen “Wendy’s Wonderful Kids” recruiters in the state of Nevada. They have worked to build relationships with jurisdictions and community partners to achieve strong support for the program and educate Nevadans about adoption.
In addition to this recent national recognition, in November, under the charge and guidance of Raise the Future Vice President Jessica Roe, the Nevada Wendy’s Wonderful Kids teams were recognized with a Citizen of the Month award from the City of Las Vegas, honoring their dedication and advocacy for achieving permanency for youth in foster care.
“We couldn’t be more proud of Brittany and Tim and of their tireless efforts and advocacy,” said Dr. Cindy Pitlock, DCFS Administrator. “They are true leaders, and I stand in awe of their commitment to secure a home for every Nevada youth in need.”
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids finds adoptive homes for children in Nevada’s foster care system through a public-private partnership with the State of Nevada and Raise the Future.
For more information about adoption or how to become a foster family in Nevada go to ruralnvfostercare.com.
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About the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a national nonprofit public charity dedicated exclusively to finding permanent homes for the more than 140,000 children waiting in North America’s foster care systems. Created by Wendy’s® founder Dave Thomas, who was adopted, the Foundation implements evidence-based, results-driven national service programs, foster care adoption awareness campaigns, and innovative grantmaking. To learn more, visit davethomasfoundation.org.
About Raise the Future
Vision: Every young person goes through life knowing they have a caring adult by their side.
Mission: To connect youth waiting in foster care with the adults who become stable forces in their lives, and to support those relationships so that they last for a lifetime.
To learn more, visit raisethefuture.org.
About Nevada’s Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS)
DCFS recognizes that Nevada's families are our future and children, youth and families thrive when they:
• Live in safe, permanent settings
• Experience a sense of sustainable emotional and physical well being
• Receive support to consistently make positive choices for family and the common good.
Click here for DCFS Child Welfare Data.