The mission of the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery is to provide immediate refuge for children and support to strengthen families.

24-Hour Child Care When parents find themselves in distress, (emotional, domestic violence, homelessness, depression, financial, etc.) they call the Crisis Nursery to ask for help. Nursery staff members schedule the family for an immediate intake session where every effort is made to assess the cause(s) of the parental stress. These parents bring their children between birth and age 6 to the Crisis Nursery where they are taken care of in our safe and nurturing environment. Children can stay at the Crisis Nursery for up to three days, or longer if circumstances are dire. Care is provided by a staff of houseparents trained in early childhood development with support from numerous volunteers. While they are at the Crisis Nursery, children receive food, clothing, diapers and anything else they might need. The Crisis Nursery is licensed to care for up to 23 children day and night. Accessibility to parents is enhanced by the fact that we remain open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Parent Education The Crisis Nursery offers a series of 12-week parenting classes approximately five times a year. In our classes parents learn about what is developmentally appropriate their children, how to discipline effectively and how to access social services that can be of assistance in easing their day-to-day stress load. Crisis Counseling Sometimes parents just need someone to talk to about their parenting difficulties. If you find you are feeling stressed out and don't have anyone to talk to, please call us anytime, day or night, at 509-535-3155. Our staff will welcome your call and take the time to talk to you about your parenting concerns, and offer advice and support. Referrals Our staff understands that problems parents face can be complex. Solutions often require help and support from a variety of local support agencies. When you bring your children to the Crisis Nursery for short-term care, our staff can help you determine what other local agencies might be able to help you solve whatever crisis you may be experiencing.

http://www.vanessabehan.org