Baby's Breath Crisis Nursery

Crisis Nurseries

Crisis Nurseries are primary prevention programs for child abuse and neglect by providing a safe and nurturing environment for at-risk children. Not only are parents given much needed support during a crisis, they are offered resources to help prevent future crises. Crisis Nurseries are an effective service in the prevention of child abuse, neglect, and out of home placement.

A Crisis Nursery may be called when help is needed for caring for a child due to homelessness, a single parent’s sudden illness, accident, or hospital stay, domestic violence, feelings of depression, desperation or hopelessness, or any other situation that puts the child in danger of neglect or abuse.

A Crisis Nursery is a licensed facility that provides short term, 24-hour, non-medical, care and supervision for children who are voluntarily placed by parent or legal guardian due to a family crisis or stressful situation for no more than 30 days.

Studies have found the following in families who use Crisis Nurseries:

• A significaint decrease in child maltreatment reports

• Reduction in overall family stress

• Caregivers avoid leaving their children in unsafe or inappropriate situations

• Less utilization of out of home placements or longer-term care

• An increase in parenting capacity, family stability and improved attitudes towards their children

Currently more than twenty-three states have over forty Crisis Nurseries.

 Determining the Need

 After concluding the first in a series of round table discussions with stakeholders in the area, it was determined that a needs assessment survey should be conducted. This Needs Assessment Survey has been distributed both by hand and electronically.

Funding

Funding comes from a variety of sources including; DCF, HUD, DTA, DVS, DHCD and FEMA. State and private grants, foundations, and corporations support these blended funds. Crisis Nurseries are always community supported.

Services Offered by Crisis Nurseries

Most Crisis Nursery programs provide support services within their own service delivery system. Support services would be provided to those families who were not receiving the services from another agency. Services would not be duplicated if already in place. Services which may be provided by Crisis Nursery programs, or other community agencies through collaborative agreements, include the following:

o Family counseling

o Individual counseling

o Service coordination (case management)

o Parenting classes

o Access to medical services

o Home management training

o Employment training

o Help lines

o Substance abuse prevention counseling

o Developmental assessments

Baby’s Breath Crisis Nursery

The Baby’s Breath Crisis Nursery is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and may be utilized by families for up to 30 days. Respite may be planned in advance (such as for a scheduled hospitalization) or provided during an emergency (such as when temporary homelessness or domestic violence occurs).

During the day, the program operates as a structured day care program. Early Education and Care certified teachers work with the children on their cognitive, communication, motor, physical and social development.

The overnight shelter program is staffed by social workers and those professionals with a background in human services and early education. Support services provided at the nursery may include crisis intervention, parent education, family counseling, child development assessments and referrals for follow-up and ongoing assistance.

Our Mission

The mission of Baby’s Breath Crisis Nursery is to provide a safe, secure, and consistent environment for at-risk children during periods of family crisis to reduce the disruption in the bonding process and ultimately promote healthy families.