Family Services contract aims to reduce mistreatment, foster care placements

Clark County commissioners Tuesday approved an agreement with Las Vegas company Mojave Mental Health to provide safety management services to families and children who are involved in the child welfare system.

Services provided under the agreement include behavior management and crisis management, among others, according to a description on a county commission agenda. The estimated value of the services per year is $546,000, with a total estimated cost of $1.6 million, if all options in the contract are used.

The contract with Mojave Mental Health is now active through June 30, with the option to renew for two, one-year periods.

The contract will allow the department to offer services associated with managing family conditions that result in children being unsafe in their homes, according to written responses from Kristi Jourdan, spokeswoman for the Clark County Department of Family Services.

“The department anticipates seeing a decrease in reoccurrence in maltreatment within families and a reduction in foster care placements,” Jourdan said. “The implementation of these services will provide DFS staff additional support in managing child safety, reducing family stressors, and further developing informal and formal support for parents.”