2025 Children and Adolescent Specialty Care Investment

For over two decades, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Nevada (BBBSNN) has empowered at-risk youth across Washoe and Lyon Counties and Carson City through consistent, caring, and professionally supported mentorship. Serving approximately 300 youth annually, BBBSNN works with children ages 6–18, many of whom live at or below the poverty line and face serious risk factors such as trauma exposure, behavioral health diagnoses, parental incarceration, and housing instability. Their flagship community-based mentoring program pairs these youth (“Littles”) with adult volunteers (“Bigs”) who meet 2–4 times per month to build meaningful, lasting relationships. These mentors help guide youth toward academic success, emotional resilience, and positive life choices—laying a foundation for long-term growth. The organization also offers specialized programs including Site-Based Mentoring, Bigs with Badges, Sports Buddies, and newly launched STEM and career-prep initiatives in partnership with local organizations like Mater Academy and Girls Who Code.

The funding will support its one-on-one mentoring program, which will directly fund a full year of services for 12 youth in Washoe County, Lyon County, and Carson City. These funds will cover essential components such as volunteer recruitment and training, liability insurance, group activities that foster youth development, and salaries for enrollment staff who rigorously screen and prepare both mentors and mentees. Each match is carefully made based on shared interests, and ongoing support is provided by Match Support Specialists who meet monthly with participants to ensure safety, set goals, and track progress through the research-backed Youth Outcome Survey (YOS). The program emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion, with bilingual staff and materials, and targeted outreach to Hispanic mentors to better reflect the 55% of youth served who are Hispanic. In total, the 12 Littles supported through this grant will receive over 1,000 hours of personalized mentorship and access to wraparound support, including connections to food, shelter, health services, and job resources for families.

The program’s impact is profound and measurable. Studies show that BBBS mentorship closes two-thirds of the socioeconomic gap between mentored youth and their peers, with mentored youth 20% more likely to enroll in college and earning 15% higher income by age 25. In 2023, youth in the program showed significant improvement in academic performance, family connectedness, emotion regulation, and reduced depressive symptoms—results BBBSNN attributes to enhancements in mentor training and engagement. Program success is defined by helping 75% of youth maintain or improve in 75% of measured categories on the YOS, and average match duration exceeds 3.5 years, underscoring the depth and sustainability of these relationships. Backed by a diversified funding strategy—including grants, individual donations, and fundraising events—BBBSNN continues to scale its impact while ensuring no child faces life’s challenges alone. This grant will directly advance their mission to ignite potential and create lasting change for some of Nevada’s most vulnerable children.

Boys Town Nevada, a trusted nonprofit in Southern Nevada since 1991, has been at the forefront of transforming the way communities care for children and families. Rooted in a century-old national legacy, Boys Town Nevada delivers a broad continuum of services focused on prevention, intervention, and behavioral health treatment. Central to this work is their Behavioral Health Clinic, which provides accessible, research-based outpatient therapy and psychological evaluations for children and adolescents ages 2 to 22. The clinic specializes in treating youth with ADHD, depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, and trauma, while also offering vital family therapy and caregiver support to strengthen the entire household. In 2024 alone, the clinic served 386 children—37% of whom were Medicaid-insured—and impacted thousands more across the region.

This program is particularly crucial in Nevada, where youth mental health needs are escalating amidst a shortage of qualified providers. Nevada currently ranks among the lowest in the nation for youth access to mental health care, with over 60% of children experiencing major depressive episodes receiving no treatment. In Clark County, where the clinic is based, the need is especially urgent: the majority of youth served come from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, often facing significant cultural, economic, and emotional barriers to care. Boys Town Nevada's Behavioral Health Clinic meets these needs by offering early intervention, culturally competent care in English and Spanish, and unique services like autism evaluations using ADOS and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)—a resource available at only two clinics in Las Vegas. By adding telehealth services, they’ve also reduced transportation and scheduling barriers, extending their reach to underserved families.

The funding will help fill a critical funding gap created by insurance reimbursement shortfalls—averaging $177 per unit of service. This grant would support high-quality therapy, diagnostics, and treatment supervision not covered by Medicaid, ensuring that children receive timely, effective mental health care. In 2025, the clinic anticipates serving 280 children with more than 2,500 units of service, providing measurable outcomes tracked through their EPIC database and pre/post questionnaires. Success is defined not only by improved emotional and behavioral health but also by increased family stability, resilience, and community connection. Through partnerships with local schools, pediatricians, and mental health coalitions, Boys Town Nevada builds a holistic system of support—breaking cycles of trauma and giving children the tools they need to thrive.

Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada (CCNN), a trusted community institution for over 80 years, serves more than 35,000 individuals each month through an array of wraparound services focused on self-sufficiency and poverty relief. Their latest initiative, Elevating Families, is a two-year, evidence-based mentoring program aimed at interrupting the cycle of generational poverty by empowering parents and caregivers—many of whom are experiencing behavioral health challenges, housing instability, and financial insecurity. Using the nationally recognized EMPath Mobility Mentoring® model, Elevating Families helps participants build executive functioning skills and long-term resilience through personalized, trauma-informed coaching and support. Since its launch in 2023, the program has enrolled over 100 parents with strong retention and engagement rates.

The program addresses significant local needs: in Washoe County, more than 12% of children live in poverty, and families often face multiple barriers to stability including limited access to affordable childcare, behavioral health care, and reliable transportation. Elevating Families fills this gap with culturally responsive mentorship and practical support—bilingual Mobility Mentors guide participants through SMART goal planning in areas such as housing, education, employment, financial literacy, and well-being. Caregivers receive targeted assistance like stability stipends and access to free mental health services through a partnership with the University of Nevada Reno’s Behavioral Health Collaborative. The program is particularly impactful for families at risk of foster care involvement or navigating recovery, trauma, or crisis-driven decision-making. Early outcomes include increased goal setting, improved access to behavioral health resources, and stronger household stability.

The funding will support Elevating Families in 2025. Funding will help cover personnel costs for bilingual mentors, participant success incentives like GED fees and transportation, bilingual outreach materials, and administrative support. Evaluation data is collected through structured case management tools and includes outcome goals such as increased household stability, economic resilience, behavioral health engagement, and improved executive function. The program’s long-term impact is also being studied in partnership with the University of Notre Dame’s Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities. SilverSummit’s investment will help ensure that more families have access to the support and resources they need to remain together, thrive, and break free from cycles of crisis and poverty.

Community Chest, Inc. (CCI), a trusted nonprofit with over 34 years of service in Northern Nevada, provides critical support to underserved families across seven rural counties. Based in Virginia City, CCI delivers holistic and community-driven programming in areas such as early childhood education, food access, youth development, emergency aid, and comprehensive counseling. Through its Nevada Families First Home Visiting program, Community Chest proposes to expand strength-based services to 15 rural families in areas such as Storey, Mineral, Lyon, Churchill Counties, Carson City, and Tonopah. This program uses the nationally recognized, evidence-based Parents as Teachers curriculum to deliver home visits, parenting classes, case management, early childhood screenings, and referrals to essential services—ultimately reducing the likelihood of child abuse, neglect, or foster care placement.

The program addresses significant local needs: in Washoe County, more than 12% of children live in poverty, and families often face multiple barriers to stability including limited access to affordable childcare, behavioral health care, and reliable transportation. Elevating Families fills this gap with culturally responsive mentorship and practical support—bilingual Mobility Mentors guide participants through SMART goal planning in areas such as housing, education, employment, financial literacy, and well-being. Caregivers receive targeted assistance like stability stipends and access to free mental health services through a partnership with the University of Nevada Reno’s Behavioral Health Collaborative. The program is particularly impactful for families at risk of foster care involvement or navigating recovery, trauma, or crisis-driven decision-making. Early outcomes include increased goal setting, improved access to behavioral health resources, and stronger household stability.

The funding will support Elevating Families in 2025. Funding will help cover personnel costs for bilingual mentors, participant success incentives like GED fees and transportation, bilingual outreach materials, and administrative support. Evaluation data is collected through structured case management tools and includes outcome goals such as increased household stability, economic resilience, behavioral health engagement, and improved executive function. The program’s long-term impact is also being studied in partnership with the University of Notre Dame’s Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities. SilverSummit’s investment will help ensure that more families have access to the support and resources they need to remain together, thrive, and break free from cycles of crisis and poverty.

Diphrent Inc., a Nevada-based nonprofit, is transforming outcomes for vulnerable youth in Clark County through its innovative Recidivism Engagement Network Training & Retention Initiative (RENTRI). Focused on youth ages 12–19 who are in or at risk of foster care, involved in the juvenile justice system, or experiencing behavioral health challenges, RENTRI delivers a 19-week, trauma-informed program offering hands-on training in three specialized tracks: Production, Fine Arts, and Digi World. Each participant receives workforce development support, life skills training, behavioral health education, and access to culturally responsive mentorship. The goal is to interrupt cycles of recidivism, boost academic and job readiness, and promote emotional resilience for youth navigating serious life challenges.

RENTRI is grounded in evidence-based practices including Positive Youth Development, Cognitive Behavioral Techniques, and trauma-informed care. The program addresses widespread disparities: Clark County is facing rising foster care admissions, youth unemployment, and a critical shortage of behavioral health professionals. Through weekly instruction, mentorship, and milestone tracking, Diphrent helps stabilize youth placements, preserve family connections, and reduce the risk of justice system re-entry. In 2025, the program will serve approximately 100 youth in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, and surrounding areas. With a commitment to equity, Diphrent prioritizes inclusive service delivery for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and multilingual youth, ensuring all participants feel seen and supported.

The funding will support administrative coordination and contract instructors essential to the program’s success. Past outcomes have shown strong participant progress, with cohort-specific success rates exceeding 85% in prior tracks such as Audio Production and Digital Design. In 2025, Diphrent anticipates improved progress rates, 90% program retention, and a 20% increase in job or internship placements. With additional support, RENTRI will continue to provide life-changing tools and experiences that build safer, healthier, and more self-sufficient communities. SilverSummit’s investment would directly impact some of Nevada’s most at-risk youth, empowering them to thrive in school, work, and life.

Eagle Quest, a specialized foster care and behavioral health agency serving Clark County for over 20 years, is applying for funding to support two critical initiatives: the ASSIST Youth Respite Program and a Foster Parent Recruitment and Retention Program. These initiatives address pressing needs for families with children who have Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED), complex medical needs, or developmental disabilities, as well as the ongoing shortage of qualified foster parents in Southern Nevada. Eagle Quest’s holistic approach includes trauma-informed, community-based services that promote youth well-being while relieving caregiver stress, and targeted outreach efforts to recruit and retain foster parents prepared to care for medically and emotionally vulnerable children.

The ASSIST Youth Respite Program provides short-term, supervised outings where children engage in enriching, skill-building activities with adult mentors. These sessions offer essential relief to families while building confidence and resilience in youth. With this funding, Eagle Quest aims to serve seven additional clients each month from June through December, providing over 50% more service hours. Staff are thoroughly vetted, culturally trained, and reflective of the community’s diversity. Meanwhile, the Foster Parent Recruitment and Retention Program utilizes both traditional and innovative outreach strategies—including digital marketing, event-based recruiting, and community partnerships—to increase the number and diversity of licensed foster homes. Eagle Quest also supports new foster parents with licensing assistance, cultural sensitivity training, and ongoing professional support.

The funding split evenly between both programs—Eagle Quest expects measurable growth. The ASSIST Program is projected to increase monthly service hours by 80%, while the recruitment initiative aims to boost licensed foster homes by 20%. Program success is tracked via detailed metrics in Electronic Health Records (EHR), and Eagle Quest has already implemented improvements based on participant feedback. Their team is equipped to expand immediately, leveraging existing infrastructure and staffing. This funding will amplify their impact on children with complex needs and strengthen the caregiving network essential to their success, making Eagle Quest a highly deserving candidate for this award.

Family Respite Care of Nevada (FRC), operating under the Northern Nevada RAVE Family Foundation, has supported families raising children with disabilities and special healthcare needs for nearly three decades. The organization’s Family Stabilization Respite Program provides structured, trauma-informed care for children with developmental and behavioral challenges, including those in foster care. Delivered in a sensory-friendly environment by trained providers, the program offers both scheduled and emergency respite, developmentally enriching activities, care coordination, and navigation support for essential services like housing, Medicaid waivers, and mental health resources. FRC’s mission is to reduce caregiver burnout, prevent abuse or neglect, and ultimately help families stay intact by providing a safe, reliable support system during their most stressful moments.

The need for FRC’s services is urgent and growing. Over 10,000 children in Washoe County alone have disabilities, and the demand for respite care in Nevada far exceeds the available resources. Families of children with special needs are three to four times more likely to face abuse, neglect, or system involvement, especially when caregiving stress goes unrelieved. FRC’s waitlist has grown steadily for over three years, even as the organization has increased its program reach by 500%. After a brief operational pause in March 2025, FRC reopened with an improved scheduling and fee-for-service model, enabling them to once again accept new families. A funding from SilverSummit would allow FRC to serve 10 to 14 new children on the waitlist, providing much-needed relief to caregivers and life-changing stability to vulnerable children.

The funding will directly support wages for respite care providers, therapeutic supplies, space rental, outreach, and evaluation tools. Program outcomes will be measured by caregiver self-assessments, service logs, and family satisfaction surveys. FRC expects to deliver at least 150 documented respite sessions and improve key outcomes such as caregiver confidence, child safety, and family cohesion. With 98% of families already reporting reduced stress and 87% maintaining stable housing and employment due to FRC’s care, this investment promises measurable, lasting impact. FRC’s evidence-informed practices, strong community partnerships, and sustainable funding model position it as a uniquely effective organization committed to the long-term well-being of Nevada’s children and families.

Foster Kinship is Nevada’s only nonprofit exclusively serving kinship caregivers—relatives and fictive kin who step in to raise children when parents are unable to do so. Founded in 2011, the organization has supported more than 6,000 children annually with wraparound services including case management, peer support, trauma-informed education, emergency resources, and child-focused interventions. Their flagship Kinship Navigator Program, an evidence-based and nationally licensed model, empowers kinship caregivers to provide safe, stable, and nurturing homes while reducing the likelihood of foster care entry. The program addresses four core outcome domains: legal capacity, financial stability, parenting and child community connection, and caregiver emotional support.

Foster Kinship’s services are statewide, with a focus on Clark County and additional reach across rural and northern Nevada. The Navigator Program is tailored to diverse family structures and is delivered in families’ preferred languages and formats to ensure accessibility. It includes essential services such as legal aid, support groups, family events, and emergency supplies like clothing, cribs, and car seats. Evaluations show significant impact: in 2023 and 2024, over 6,000 families were served, with more than 99% achieving emotional and parenting connection goals, and more than 80% achieving legal and financial stability. The program is grounded in both Social Support theory and Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®), with certified TBRI® practitioners delivering trauma-informed care.

The funding will serve 45 kinship families and approximately 82 children over 12 months. Most funds ($20,000) will go toward the salaries of professionals delivering direct services, while the remaining $5,000 will be used for family support expenses such as legal fees, housing assistance, and mental health co-pays. Outcomes are rigorously tracked in Salesforce using pre- and post-intervention data, and the program is continuously refined through regular supervisor and manager reviews. Foster Kinship’s proven model, deep cultural responsiveness, and statewide impact make it an outstanding candidate for investment from the Community Investment Program.

Foster Kinship is Nevada’s only nonprofit exclusively serving kinship caregivers—relatives and fictive kin who step in to raise children when parents are unable to do so. Founded in 2011, the organization has supported more than 6,000 children annually with wraparound services including case management, peer support, trauma-informed education, emergency resources, and child-focused interventions. Their flagship Kinship Navigator Program, an evidence-based and nationally licensed model, empowers kinship caregivers to provide safe, stable, and nurturing homes while reducing the likelihood of foster care entry. The program addresses four core outcome domains: legal capacity, financial stability, parenting and child community connection, and caregiver emotional support.

Foster Kinship’s services are statewide, with a focus on Clark County and additional reach across rural and northern Nevada. The Navigator Program is tailored to diverse family structures and is delivered in families’ preferred languages and formats to ensure accessibility. It includes essential services such as legal aid, support groups, family events, and emergency supplies like clothing, cribs, and car seats. Evaluations show significant impact: in 2023 and 2024, over 6,000 families were served, with more than 99% achieving emotional and parenting connection goals, and more than 80% achieving legal and financial stability. The program is grounded in both Social Support theory and Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®), with certified TBRI® practitioners delivering trauma-informed care.

The funding will serve 45 kinship families and approximately 82 children over 12 months. Most funds ($20,000) will go toward the salaries of professionals delivering direct services, while the remaining $5,000 will be used for family support expenses such as legal fees, housing assistance, and mental health co-pays. Outcomes are rigorously tracked in Salesforce using pre- and post-intervention data, and the program is continuously refined through regular supervisor and manager reviews. Foster Kinship’s proven model, deep cultural responsiveness, and statewide impact make it an outstanding candidate for investment from the Community Investment Program.

The Nevada CASA Association is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to championing the needs of abused and neglected children in Nevada’s child welfare system. Supporting a network of ten local and auxiliary CASA programs across 10 counties, the organization works to ensure that every child in care has access to a dedicated Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). While 96% of foster children reside in counties with CASA coverage, over 3,000 children remain without an advocate. Nevada CASA addresses this gap by expanding public awareness, providing technical assistance, and equipping volunteers with high-quality training and support to ensure consistent, informed, and trauma-sensitive advocacy.

With this funding, Nevada CASA seeks to expand its CASA Volunteer Resource Center—an on-demand, virtual training and development portal designed to serve all 750 current CASA volunteers statewide. This platform is especially critical for rural communities where access to in-person training is limited. The portal offers flexible, 24/7 access to trauma-informed and culturally responsive training, ranging from early childhood care to transition support for youth aging out of the system. By including lived experience content from aged-out foster youth and seasoned advocates, the training becomes more empathetic, relevant, and effective. The goal is to ensure that every child served by CASA volunteers has improved access to mental health services, educational support, and a pathway to safe, permanent placement.

The funding will support the development of at least three new training modules and five new volunteer resources, while also boosting the number of registered users by at least 100—20% of whom will be from rural counties. With a proven track record of increasing volunteer recruitment and retention, as well as strong evaluation tools through its eloomi learning management system, Nevada CASA is uniquely positioned to enhance volunteer impact and strengthen outcomes for Nevada’s most vulnerable children.

The funding will support the continued development of the Family Peer Support Network of Nevada (FPSNN), a workforce development program focused on certifying family peer support specialists and supervisors across the state. As Nevada’s federally designated Parent Training and Information Center and Statewide Family Network, PEP has 30 years of experience empowering families of children with disabilities, including behavioral and emotional challenges. In collaboration with state agencies, Nevada PEP has developed a training curriculum using the nationally recognized FREDLA model to equip parents and caregivers with the tools to become peer support professionals. This investment would help extend training and certification efforts beyond expiring ARPA funding, with a goal of training 15 peer support specialists and 6 supervisors in the second half of 2025.

The need for a qualified family peer support workforce is both immediate and structural. The U.S. Department of Justice and Nevada’s own Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation initiative have identified a critical gap in community-based services, particularly in peer-driven support for families navigating behavioral health systems. Nevada PEP’s program directly addresses this by providing culturally competent, evidence-based training designed for individuals with lived experience raising children with emotional, behavioral, or developmental needs. The program also emphasizes reaching rural and underserved communities across all 17 Nevada counties, creating equitable access to peer-based mental health supports. All trainees will receive instruction aligned with CLAS standards and ADA accommodations, reinforcing the program’s commitment to health equity and inclusion.

Funding from SilverSummit would support a wide array of expenses including personnel, training equipment, travel, technology, and consultant support to help finalize the program’s infrastructure, including a web-based training platform and pre-recorded training modules. Participants will complete a rigorous training schedule, including live instruction, self-paced modules, and assessments to ensure mastery of core competencies. Success will be tracked through endorsements, certification applications, and knowledge growth as measured by pre/post training surveys. By strengthening the peer support pipeline, Nevada PEP aims to transform family engagement in behavioral health systems and ensure that caregivers statewide can access informed, empathetic support from those who’ve walked similar paths.

The funding will support Olive Crest in Nevada Teen and Young Adult Independent Living Program, which provides safe housing, life skills training, financial literacy, mental health services, and mentorship for former foster youth ages 18–21. Uniquely, Olive Crest also directly provides and manages housing for its participants in scattered-site apartments across Clark County, offering a stable foundation as youth transition out of care. Participants complete mental health assessments and receive tailored support, with $100 in matched savings each month reinforcing financial responsibility. The program addresses the critical vulnerabilities of this population—including a 65% homelessness risk without intervention—and equips youth to build a path toward self-sufficiency.

The program’s impact is evident: in the most recent year, 95% of youth who dropped out of school earned a diploma or GED, 93% became “world ready” through employment or education, and 83% exited into stable housing. Olive Crest also emphasizes cultural competency, trauma-informed care, and holistic support, including a family component for single parents—an unmet need among similar programs. With a demographic breakdown that includes significant representation from communities of color, Olive Crest is committed to inclusive practices and recruits staff to reflect its clients’ cultural and linguistic needs. Monthly life skills workshops, consistent case management, and long-term mentorship are at the core of its individualized care.

Olive Crest’s use of evidence-based tools like CUHMA and CASII assessments ensures measurable outcomes across academic, emotional, and social well-being. The organization has demonstrated strong program sustainability through a 150% increase in private funding over five years and maintains a robust infrastructure for tracking progress and participant success. The requested investment will support salaries, housing, utilities, transportation, emergency items, and essential administrative functions. With proven outcomes, efficient use of resources, and a powerful model for empowering Nevada’s most vulnerable youth, Olive Crest presents a compelling case for continued investment and partnership.

Reno Rescue, a nonprofit organization based in Washoe County, Nevada, empowers foster and adoptive youth through its flagship program, Stable Moments®. Designed for children ages 5–18 who have experienced complex trauma, the program provides weekly, one-on-one, trauma-informed mentorship sessions with trained adult volunteers and rescued horses. This 10-month, evidence-based initiative focuses on building emotional resilience, life skills, and personal growth. Each session is guided by a personalized plan of care, targeting core developmental areas such as self-worth, emotional awareness, self-regulation, and relationship-building. Housed on a 1,200-acre ranch in Verdi, the program offers a safe, consistent, and non-clinical space for healing. In the 2025–2026 program year, Reno Rescue aims to serve 40 youth, double the number from the previous year, while also expanding services to foster and biological parents to promote holistic family healing.

The need for Stable Moments® is both urgent and critical. Foster and adopted youth in Washoe County face disproportionate risks for behavioral health challenges, often stemming from complex trauma and systemic instability. Many lack access to consistent, long-term therapeutic support. Reno Rescue addresses this gap through a trauma-informed, culturally responsive model that does not require clinical diagnoses or insurance, removing financial and bureaucratic barriers to participation. Mentors and staff receive comprehensive training, and the organization collaborates with local agencies to ensure equitable access and inclusive support. Research from the Harvard Center on the Developing Child underscores the life-changing impact of stable adult relationships for trauma-affected youth—an insight embedded in every aspect of the program.

With the funding, Reno Rescue seeks to expand and strengthen Stable Moments® by certifying four new program directors, training 20 additional mentors, and fully funding program participation for five youth. The budget also supports essential materials like activity kits and equipment, along with technology for documentation and evaluation. Program success will be measured through pre- and post-assessments, mid-year evaluations, and weekly mentor logs aligned with each child’s development goals. With proven outcomes from its pilot and prior program year, strong community partnerships, and a volunteer-driven model, Reno Rescue is uniquely positioned to scale impact and continue transforming the lives of Nevada’s most vulnerable children through compassionate, equine-assisted mentorship.