Schema: Article + FAQPage
Internal links (5): Nevada inmate search, send money, Nevada reentry resources, Staying Connected hub, how prison works hub
Voice: Plain, honest, practical. No false comfort. No condescension. She made a choice. Honor it and give her what she needs.
META BLOCK:
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in Nevada | InmateAid
Nevada has two TANF programs for grandparents and relative caregivers, and knowing which one applies to you matters.
The first is the **Non-Needy Relative Caretaker (NNRC) TANF** -- Nevada's child-only TANF program for relative caregivers who are not requesting assistance for themselves. The income test is 275% of the Federal Poverty Level -- significantly more generous than the 130-150% FPL threshold most other states use. Even if you have been rejected for TANF in the past, you may qualify for NNRC. Once your household qualifies at 275% FPL, only the child's income determines the benefit amount.
The second is the **Kinship Care Program** -- specifically for relative caregivers age 62 or older who have obtained Nevada court-approved legal guardianship. It pays up to the state foster care rate. And it reimburses up to **$750 for legal counsel** sought independently to obtain guardianship.
That $750 legal fee reimbursement is rare in this series. Guardianship costs money. The filing fees, the attorney if you need one, the process -- Nevada partially offsets those costs for caregivers who qualify.
Nevada has about 28,000 grandparents responsible for their grandchildren. Of the approximately 24,070 children living in relative-headed households, only 1,799 are in the formal foster care system. For every one child in foster care with relatives, 15 are being raised by kin entirely outside the system. The NNRC TANF and Kinship Care Program exist for the 15.
Foster Kinship -- Nevada's statewide kinship navigator organization -- operates a Kinship Resource Center in North Las Vegas and provides case management, TANF and guardianship application assistance, transportation, financial assistance, and connection to community resources statewide.
You did not plan for this. You raised your children. You got to the other side of it. And then your child was incarcerated and the grandchildren needed somewhere to go. You said yes.
The Decision You Already Made
You already made the hardest decision. The grandchildren are with you. Everything else in this article is about making that workable.
A few things to understand about your position in Nevada right now:
If you are caring for grandchildren outside the formal foster care system (which most Nevada relative caregivers are), NNRC TANF and the Kinship Care Program (if you are 62+) are your primary financial resources. Foster Kinship is the organization to contact for navigation.
If DCFS/DFS placed the grandchildren with you as a licensed kinship foster placement:
- Clark County: Department of Family Services (DFS) (702) 399-0081; Relative Foster Care Licensing Unit Kinship Support Program (702) 455-7400
- Washoe County: Human Services Agency (775) 785-8600
- All other Nevada counties: Division of Child and Family Services (833) 803-1183
Nevada's Two TANF Programs for Kinship Caregivers
**Program 1: NNRC TANF (Non-Needy Relative Caretaker TANF)**
For all relative caregivers (any age) who are caring for a relative child and NOT requesting assistance for themselves.
Key features:
- Household income below **275% of the Federal Poverty Level** -- check the income table at Foster Kinship (fosterkinship.org) to see if your household qualifies
- Once eligible: only the **child's income** is used to determine the benefit amount
- No work requirements (no work-eligible adults in the assistance unit)
- **No time limits**
- Apply through Nevada DSS (Division of Social Services): dss.nv.gov
If the child has no income, you should receive the maximum payment per child.
Even if your own income is substantial by other TANF standards -- 275% FPL is a meaningful threshold that excludes many higher-income households but includes many middle-income grandparent families who were previously rejected.
**Program 2: Nevada Kinship Care Program (Age 62+)**
For relative caregivers age 62 and older who have:
- Obtained Nevada court-approved **legal guardianship** of the child
- Combined household income below 275% FPL
Benefits:
- Monthly payment up to the **state foster care rate**
- Reimbursement of up to **$750 for legal counsel** independently sought to obtain guardianship (if approved for NNRC TANF)
This is the higher-payment program for grandparents who are 62+, have guardianship, and qualify on income. If you are under 62 with guardianship, you still qualify for NNRC TANF.
Apply or learn more: dss.nv.gov/programs/tanf/kinship-care-program/ | DSS Nevada.
**TANF-Related Medicaid (TRM)**
Households applying for TANF can also apply for TANF-Related Medicaid at the same time. Children's Health Assurance Program (CHAP) is another Medicaid option for children. Medical coverage is available -- apply alongside TANF at DSS Nevada.
Legal Authority: What It Is and How to Get It in Nevada
**Guardianship (Nevada District Court)**
Guardianship through Nevada district court is the primary long-term legal pathway for grandparents not in the DCFS system. With guardianship, you have full legal authority for the grandchildren's care.
For the Kinship Care Program (62+): legal guardianship must be approved by a Nevada court. The $750 legal fee reimbursement helps offset the cost of obtaining that guardianship.
Foster Kinship provides assistance with guardianship applications through its Navigator Program. fosterkinship.org.
Nevada Legal Services and the Clark County Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada provide free civil legal help to income-eligible Nevadans. Nevada Legal Services: nlslaw.net.
**Power of Attorney**
A notarized parental Power of Attorney from the incarcerated parent gives you immediate authority for school enrollment and medical care while you pursue guardianship. NDOC (Nevada Department of Corrections) facilities have notary services -- contact the facility case manager.
**Title IV-E Kinship Care Program (Foster Care Cases)**
Nevada has an approved Title IV-E Kinship Care Program for children exiting foster care to relative guardianship. If the children came through DCFS and guardianship is the permanency plan, ask your DCFS caseworker.
**Adoption**
Adoption permanently terminates the biological parent's parental rights. Consider carefully when the incarcerated parent has a realistic path to release and reunification.
Foster Kinship: Nevada's Kinship Navigator
Foster Kinship is the primary kinship navigator organization in Nevada, operated statewide with a primary location in Clark County (Las Vegas area).
**What Foster Kinship provides:**
- Kinship Navigator Program: case management, community referrals, TANF and guardianship application assistance, transportation, some financial assistance
- Access to the Kinship Resource Center (North Las Vegas, 4344 W Cheyenne)
- Family Advocacy: up to 180 days of support for statewide families; up to 90 days for Clark County
- **Resource identification tool**: enter basic information at fosterkinship.org to get targeted Nevada kinship resources by zip code; available in English and Spanish
- Training through **Just in Time Training (JIT Nevada)**: jitnevada.org -- web-based training connecting kinship caregivers to training, peer experts, and practical resources
To qualify for Family Advocacy case management, you must:
1. Be caring for a relative's child full time, with no parents in the home
2. Be a Nevada resident
3. Complete a family evaluation with a Family Advocate
4. Demonstrate a specific short-term need
5. Demonstrate capability to provide a long-term stable home
**Foster Kinship also serves families outside Clark County.** Contact fosterkinship.org for statewide navigation resources.
For Clark County families: Kinship Resource Center, 4344 W Cheyenne, North Las Vegas, NV 89032. Call during open office hours for consultation on guardianship, child-only TANF, foster care, and other kinship questions.
SNAP, Child Care, and Other Support
**SNAP (Food Assistance)**
Apply through Nevada DSS or your county office. The grandchildren's presence increases your household food benefit.
**Child Care Subsidy**
The Children's Cabinet (northern Nevada/Reno area) provides childcare subsidies and caregiver education. For southern Nevada, Clark County DFS and DSS can provide child care assistance information.
**NAMI Nevada**
For mental health support: NAMI Nevada helpline (775) 470-5600. Mental health services for grandparent caregivers managing the emotional weight of this situation.
**Social Security**
If the incarcerated parent was working before arrest, the grandchildren may be eligible for Social Security dependent benefits. Call 1-800-772-1213. SSI may be available for grandchildren with disabilities.
Nevada's Geographic and Demographic Reality
Nevada is one of the most urbanized states in the nation in terms of population concentration. Clark County (Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City) holds about 75% of the state's population. Washoe County (Reno-Sparks) holds about 15%. The remaining 17 counties -- covering most of Nevada's vast desert territory -- hold about 10%.
This concentration shapes what support looks like. Foster Kinship's Kinship Resource Center is in North Las Vegas. The Children's Cabinet is in Reno. If you are in rural Nevada -- Elko, Ely, Fallon, Winnemucca, Tonopah, Pahrump -- the distance to in-person services is significant.
Foster Kinship's resource identification tool (available at fosterkinship.org, English and Spanish, by zip code) is the best starting point for rural families.
NDOC facilities: High Desert State Prison (Indian Springs, Clark County); Lovelock Correctional Center (Pershing County, north-central); Ely State Prison (White Pine County, remote eastern Nevada); Northern Nevada Correctional Center (Carson City). For a Clark County family with a parent at Ely State Prison: about 320 miles through the desert. Phone calls through ICS Corrections / GTL -- which you control -- matter more than visits in many Nevada kinship families' situations.
The School Question
With a POA, guardianship, or legal custody, school enrollment is straightforward.
Without legal authority, use the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Schools must immediately enroll children who lack stable housing documentation, including children living with relatives due to a parent's incarceration. Ask the school district's McKinney-Vento liaison.
For children with IEPs, you will need legal authority or a signed parental authorization from the incarcerated parent to participate in planning meetings. NDOC facilities have notary services -- contact the facility case manager.
Medical Authorization Before Court Paperwork Is Done
Get a notarized parental Power of Attorney from the incarcerated parent through NDOC notary services. Contact the facility case manager.
Apply for TANF-Related Medicaid at DSS Nevada when you apply for TANF. Medicaid enrollment does not require legal authority -- it requires proof of the child's identity and Nevada residency.
What She Is Carrying That He Cannot See
You did not plan for this stage of your life. The grandchildren arrived and with them came school registrations, doctor appointments, someone to be home, someone to sit with a child who is afraid.
You are also carrying your feelings about your child who is incarcerated. Those feelings do not have to resolve. You can love your child and be furious. You can hope and fear at the same time.
Nevada's communities -- from the dense Las Vegas valley to the small mining and ranching towns of rural Nevada -- hold family close in their own ways. In Las Vegas, there is more anonymity and more formal support resources. In the rural counties, the community is the support system.
Foster Kinship's Family Advocacy program provides up to 180 days of emotional support and practical guidance alongside its resource referrals. Use it. The Kinship Resource Center in North Las Vegas has professional family advocates.
Talking to the Grandchildren About Where Their Parent Is
The children know something is wrong. Silence does not protect them.
Use honest, age-appropriate language. For a young child: "Your dad made a mistake and he has to stay somewhere else while he learns from it. You are safe and I am here." For an older child: "Your mom is in prison. She did something against the law and a judge decided she needs to be there for a while. She loves you. She is not in danger."
Do not make promises about when the parent will be home that you cannot keep. Let the children have their feelings. Keep the parent present in appropriate ways: photos, letters, phone calls.
Nevada DOC phone calls go through ICS Corrections / GTL. You control which numbers are approved. The grandchildren's relationship with their incarcerated parent is theirs.
TANF-Related Medicaid and CHAP cover mental health services for children. If the grandchildren are struggling, ask the school counselor for a referral or the child's Medicaid primary care provider.
Your Relationship With Your Incarcerated Child
Your feelings about your child are complicated. You are raising their children because they cannot. Both things are true.
What the grandchildren need: to see that you are not punishing their parent through them.
What you need: a place to hold the complicated feelings that is not in front of the grandchildren. NAMI Nevada (775) 470-5600, Foster Kinship's Family Advocacy, a therapist, a trusted person -- any of these is better than carrying it alone.
What to Do First: A Practical Checklist
Contact Foster Kinship. fosterkinship.org. Use the zip code resource tool to find resources specific to your location. Call the Kinship Resource Center in North Las Vegas if you are in Clark County.
Determine which TANF program applies: if you are caring for a relative child and not requesting assistance for yourself, apply for **NNRC TANF** (275% FPL income threshold) at DSS Nevada. If you are 62+, have legal guardianship, and qualify on income, apply for the **Kinship Care Program** for higher monthly payments and legal fee reimbursement.
Apply for TANF-Related Medicaid at the same time as TANF. CHAP is an additional option for children's health coverage.
Apply for SNAP at Nevada DSS.
Get a notarized Power of Attorney from the incarcerated parent through NDOC notary services. Contact the facility case manager.
Start the guardianship process. Foster Kinship can assist with guardianship applications. Nevada Legal Services (nlslaw.net) provides free civil legal help for income-eligible Nevadans. If you are 62+ and qualify for the Kinship Care Program, you can be reimbursed up to $750 for legal fees.
If DCFS placed the children: Clark County (702) 399-0081 | Washoe County (775) 785-8600 | all other counties (833) 803-1183.
Enroll the grandchildren in school. Use McKinney-Vento if needed.
Access JIT Nevada (jitnevada.org) for free training and peer expert resources.
Take care of yourself. Foster Kinship's Family Advocacy is there for up to 180 days. Use it.
FAQ
**What is NNRC TANF and who qualifies?** NNRC stands for Non-Needy Relative Caretaker. It is Nevada's child-only TANF program for relative caregivers who are not requesting assistance for themselves. The income threshold is 275% of the Federal Poverty Level -- much more generous than most states. No work requirements. No time limits. Once qualified, only the child's income determines the benefit amount. Apply at DSS Nevada (dss.nv.gov).
**What is the Nevada Kinship Care Program?** A separate TANF program specifically for relative caregivers age 62 and older who have Nevada court-approved legal guardianship. It pays up to the state foster care rate and reimburses up to $750 for legal counsel sought to obtain guardianship. Household income must be below 275% FPL. Apply at dss.nv.gov/programs/tanf/kinship-care-program/.
**Can I get reimbursed for guardianship legal fees in Nevada?** Yes -- if you qualify for the NNRC TANF program and are approved for the Kinship Care Program (age 62+), Nevada reimburses up to $750 for legal counsel independently sought to obtain guardianship. This is one of the few states in the series that directly offsets guardianship legal costs.
**What is Foster Kinship?** Nevada's primary kinship navigator organization. Provides case management, TANF and guardianship application assistance, transportation, financial assistance, and access to the Kinship Resource Center in North Las Vegas. Serves all Nevada relative caregivers through a zip-code-based resource tool. Qualifies families for up to 180 days of Family Advocacy support. fosterkinship.org.
**What is the 275% FPL income threshold and why does it matter?** Most states use 130-150% of the Federal Poverty Level as their kinship TANF income limit. Nevada uses 275% -- meaning many grandparent households that would be rejected in other states can qualify in Nevada. Even if you earn a modest pension, Social Security, or work income, check your eligibility before assuming you do not qualify.
**Can I enroll my grandchildren in school without legal authority?** Yes. Under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, schools must immediately enroll children living with relatives due to a parent's incarceration. Ask the school district for its McKinney-Vento liaison. A POA from the incarcerated parent enables standard enrollment.
**How do I talk to the grandchildren about their parent being in prison?** Use honest, age-appropriate language without promises about when the parent will be home. Let the children have feelings. Keep the parent present appropriately -- photos, letters, NDOC phone calls through ICS Corrections/GTL. TANF-Related Medicaid and CHAP cover mental health services for children; ask the school counselor or primary care provider for a referral if needed.
[SPEC NOTE: Folder 1mWUamVufeanK-LZbmcw4rbPb7yRIWRSP. Internal CTAs: Nevada inmate search, send money, Nevada reentry resources, Staying Connected hub, how prison works hub. SOURCING: first5nevada.org (28,000 grandparents responsible grandchildren Nevada; 24,070 children relative-headed households; 1,799 in foster care; for every 1 in foster care 15 outside system; Foster Kinship statewide kinship navigator case management support groups emergency resources; Children's Cabinet childcare subsidies caregiver education youth intervention); fosterkinship.org/kinship-navigator-program/ October 2025 (Kinship Navigator program safe stable nurturing homes immediate needs permanent legal status financial support parenting quality; Family Advocacy case management accepts clients ongoing; customized case plan community referrals TANF guardianship applications transportation financial assistance kinship resource center; caring relative child full time no parents in home; Nevada residents; family evaluation Family Advocate; specific short-term need; capability long-term stable home; willing actively participate case plan; up to 180 days statewide families; Clark County (702) 399-0081; Washoe County (775) 785-8600; all other counties DCFS (833) 803-1183; zip code resource tool English Spanish fosterkinship.org); fosterkinship.org/kinship-resources/nevada-kinship-resources/ (Clark County DFS custody call Relative Foster Care Licensing Unit Kinship Support Program 702-455-7400; licensed KINSHIP/ICPC home southern Nevada; Washoe County Kinship Caregiver Support Groups; NAMI Nevada 775-470-5600; NNRC TANF apply child only TANF non-needy caretaker TCHD or Kinship Care); fosterkinship.org/programs/kinshipnavigator/ (Kinship Resource Center 4344 W Cheyenne North Las Vegas 89032; starting point anyone questions parenting relative child Clark County; professional family advocates; up to 90 days Clark County); fosterkinship.org child-only TANF (non-needy relatives small cash stipend; household income cannot exceed 275% poverty guideline versus 130% regular TANF; even if rejected before may be eligible; once qualified only child's income counted benefits; NNRC Non-Needy Relative Caregiver relative not parent not requesting assistance themselves; relative specified degree child living home specified relative; no work-eligible adults no adults receive assistance; time limits do not apply; 275% FPL gross income test); fosterkinship.org NNRC TANF (gross income test 275% FPL applied all NNRC households; countable gross earned unearned income all adults children household relationship blood or marriage; if total countable below 275% then child's income resources determine eligibility payment; child no income receive maximum payment per child; health insurance apply TANF-Related Medicaid TRM; CHAP Children's Health Assurance Program); dss.nv.gov/programs/tanf/kinship-care-program/ February 2026 (Kinship Care Program obtained Nevada court approval legal guardianship; relative household members combined income below 275% FPL; child meets age citizenship resource eligibility TANF; assisting application verification process; reimburse up to $750 legal counsel obtained guardianship if approved NNRC TANF); dcfs.nv.gov/dcfs-programs/child-welfare-services/placement-resources/ (relative caregivers age 62 caring relative child legal guardianship receive TANF assistance up to state foster care payment amount; Fostering Connections legislation); grandfamilies.org Nevada (Subsidized Guardianship approved Title IV-E Kinship Care Program Nevada; TANF child-only family grants); jitnevada.org (web-based training foster parents kinship caregivers training peer experts resources; comfort of home or office); gksnetwork.org (Nevada program age 62+ guardianship income 275% FPL; monthly payments; reimburse up to $750 legal expenses obtain guardianship; NNRC payment $187 more per month nonneedy relative than regular TANF); NDOC ICS Corrections GTL phone; NDOC notary services; dss.nv.gov Nevada DSS; nlslaw.net Nevada Legal Services; McKinney-Vento school enrollment; Social Security 1-800-772-1213. NOTE for Poorwa: verify NNRC TANF still 275% FPL income threshold current at dss.nv.gov or fosterkinship.org; verify Kinship Care Program age 62+ guardianship up to foster care rate and $750 legal reimbursement still current dss.nv.gov/programs/tanf/kinship-care-program/; verify Foster Kinship Kinship Navigator still operating fosterkinship.org; verify Kinship Resource Center 4344 W Cheyenne North Las Vegas still current; verify Clark County (702) 399-0081 and (702) 455-7400 current; verify Washoe County (775) 785-8600 current; verify DCFS all other counties (833) 803-1183 current; verify NAMI Nevada 775-470-5600 current; verify TANF-Related Medicaid TRM and CHAP still Nevada Medicaid options; verify JIT Nevada jitnevada.org still current; verify Nevada Legal Services nlslaw.net current; verify Title IV-E Kinship Care Program Nevada current; verify NDOC ICS Corrections GTL phone provider; verify McKinney-Vento still applicable; len/character check before publish.]