Though Opalania, or O.P. for short, doesn't seem to hear it, the clock is ticking. A ward of Clark County since before her 13th birthday, in March, at the age of 21, she will be responsible for herself. She has a toddler named August and another baby due in April.
"When it comes to parenting, and you not being at that facility, you're going to have to do it all on your own. And that's what they're trying to prepare you for," said Torri Wise-Rodriguez with the Clark County Department of Family Services.
The group home where O.P. and August currently live has expressed concern about the young mom's dependence. Her service team, lead by Wise-Rodriguez, questions whether O.P. wants to be there.
Who is Responsible?
"I need to stay at Westcare until my mom gets on her feet. Because I do need my mom. My mom says she wants to help me," said O.P.
Until that day, or until termination, Wise-Rodriguez is mom to O.P. and to 39 other children on her caseload. A number expected to increase with budget cuts next year.
"When you tell me our numbers are going to change, that's when I kind of panic -- because I'm panicking already. I'm panicking with what I have right now and I've been as high as 47 kids," she said.
Wise-Rodriguez shares her perspective some 11 hours into her shift, after she's crisscrossed the valley three times shuttling kids like 17-year-old mom Rachelle.
"I came in at seven and who knows what time I'll go home today? Do I feel like I got anything done today? No, I don't. I don't feel like I got anything done," she said.
Wise-Rodriguez admits days like this leave her wondering how much longer she can keep pace. But it takes just one question about O.P. to realize, at least for now, Wise-Rodriguez is ignoring the ticking clock.
"My things is, if we're going to go through the whole effort and remove kids from parents that are neglectful, then we should be doing more than those parents. We should be offering more. We should be providing services to these kids so we can let them go better than they were when they came in. And are we doing that with cut services? No."
The county estimates even a 4-percent cut in the child welfare budget could mean layoffs for nearly 80 employees. The result would be much higher caseloads and fewer services for children and their families.
