Adoption and Foster Care Reports - Washoe County (Washoe County)

Activity




Washoe County, NV
Activity was posted on a service request that you filed.

Activity Comments

Greetings,

Your letter sent to the Human Service Agency inquiring about a request sent in March was forwarded to Washoe311. Washoe County has no record of receiving this request in March, but created this ticket for you based on the information contained in your letter.

Washoe County typically processes requests in the order of receipt. The time it takes to respond to a request will vary depending on the complexity of the request and any backlog of requests already pending. A simple request can be processed faster than one that is complex. Simple requests are typically more targeted and seek fewer pages of records. Complex requests typically seek a high volume of material or require additional steps to process.
Requests for communications require coordination of several departments and review of each record for confidentiality and privilege. Please consider focusing or narrowing the request in such a manner as to maximize expeditious processing. Due to the high volume of public records requests received and the complexity of your request, it is expected that you will receive documents or an update on or before November 31, 2024.

Sincerely,

Washoe311 Service Center
Communications Division | Office of the County Manager
washoe311@washoecounty.gov | Office: 3-1-1 | 775.328.2003 | Fax: 775.328.2491
1001 E. Ninth St., Bldg A, Reno, NV 89512

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Service Request Details


ID 163710
Date/Time 5/31/2024 2:19 PM
Type TS - Public Records Request
Address Area - Washoe County
Comments Any records regarding all adoption agencies and centers and foster cares in Washoe County from Jan. 1, 2020 to Jan. 1, 2024. Please include communication records between agencies and prospective adopters, complaints about the adoptive agencies and foster cares and the number of children in theses agencies.
Attachments

Washoe County, NV
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2024-06-04 17:54:47Z

Ms. Burback,

I am the Deputy District Attorney assigned to oversee your records request, which is as follows:

"Any records regarding all adoption agencies and centers and foster cares in Washoe County from Jan. 1, 2020 to Jan. 1, 2024. Please include communication records between agencies and prospective adopters, complaints about the adoptive agencies and foster cares and the number of children in theses agencies."

Pursuant to NRS 239.0107(1)(c)(2), we are required to make a "reasonable effort to assist the requester to focus the request in such a manner as to maximize the likelihood the requester will be able to inspect, copy or receive a copy of the public book or record as expeditiously as possible." In that respect, we would like to attempt to provide you with the documents you are actually seeking, assuming of course that we are in our possession and control of the documents and that they are not confidential. I am reaching out to you for some clarification as to exactly what you are seeking, as your request is confusing, vague and overbroad.

First, you request 4 years' worth of records regarding all "adoption agencies and centers and foster cares." Your request appears to seek records for private adoption agencies and centers. Washoe County Human Services Agency (HSA) is identified as the local agency "which provides child welfare services” in Washoe County. NRS 432B.030. Washoe County does not have any authority over private adoption agencies in Washoe County. In that respect, Washoe County is not the public agency with legal custody or control of the public book or record requested. In addition, due to the confusing nature of your request, specifically leaving me unable to decipher exactly what records are being sought, I will have to refrain from suggesting what governmental entity, if any, might be the custodian of those records.

Furthermore, pursuant to NRS 432B.280, all information in connection with the foster/adoption cases handled by Washoe County is deemed confidential, with extremely limited exception. In addition, all adoption hearings in Nevada are confidential and must be held in closed court. NRS 127.140(1). The files and records of the court in adoption proceedings are confidential and not open to inspection. NRS 127.140(2). As a result, even assuming you are seeking records from Washoe County HSA, the vast majority of the information it appears you might be seeking, again based on the vague request made, likely would not be provided as it is confidential and not subject to the disclosure under the Nevada Public Records Law.

At this juncture, please provide clarification as to what documents you actually seek no later than July 5, 2024. If we do not hear from you by then, we will close this request as we are unable to respond with any greater detail than that provided above, to the request as it was provided.

Thank you.

[Logo Description automatically generated]

Herbert Kaplan

Deputy District Attorney

Washoe County District Attorney

hkaplan@da.washoecounty.gov<mailto:hkaplan@da.washoecounty.gov>

Office: 775.337.5700

One S. Sierra St. 4th Floor, Reno, NV 89501

Justice First, People Always

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________________________________

Washoe County, NV

A new service request has been filed.

Service Request Details

ID

163710

Date/Time

5/31/2024 2:19 PM

Type

TS - Public Records Request

Address

Area - Washoe County

Origin

Control Panel

Comments

Any records regarding all adoption agencies and centers and foster cares in Washoe County from Jan. 1, 2020 to Jan. 1, 2024. Please include communication records between agencies and prospective adopters, complaints about the adoptive agencies and foster cares and the number of children in theses agencies.

Submitter

Burback, Lindsay
263 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115
160712-72140954@request.muckrock.com<mailto:160712-72140954@request.muckrock.com>

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Washoe County, NV

2024-05-31 21:18:37Z