Organization: MOUNTAINSTAR FAMILY RELIEF NURSERY
Mission: MOUNTAINSTAR FAMILY RELIEF NURSERY'S MISSION IS TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT THROUGH COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND THERAPEUTIC SERVICES THAT HELP VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SUCCEED. WE ARE THE ONLY PROGRAM IN DESCHUTES, JEFFERSON, AND CROOK COUNTIES PROVIDING THERAPEUTIC CLASSROOMS, PARENTING EDUCATION SERVICES, AND FAMILY SUPPORT TARGETED AT PROTECTING BABIES AND TODDLERS WHO ARE AT SIGNIFICANT RISK FOR ABUSE AND NEGLECT. WE ENVISION COMMUNITIES THAT SUPPORT EACH PARENT'S EFFORTS TO NURTURE THEIR CHILDREN'S EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, AND INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
Activities: OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE PROVIDED THERAPEUTIC CLASSROOMS, PARENTING EDUCATION SERVICES, AND FAMILY SUPPORT TARGETED AT PROTECTING INFANTS AND TODDLERS WHO ARE AT SIGNIFICANT RISK FOR ABUSE AND NEGLECT. WE SERVED 295 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH OUR RELIEF NURSERY PROGRAM IN DESCHUTES, JEFFERSON, AND CROOK COUNTIES, FOR A TOTAL OF OVER 1,200 INDIVIDUALS. 98% OF THE CHILDREN WE SERVED REMAINED FREE FROM CONFIRMED CASES OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT. WE RECENTLY OPENED A NEW CENTER IN REDMOND WHERE WE ARE NOW PROVIDING RELIEF NURSERY SERVICES OVER THE PAST YEAR, ALL CHILDREN (100%) ENROLLED IN THE THERAPEUTIC EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM RECEIVED DEVELOPMENT SCREENINGS AND 98% OF FAMILIES ENROLLED IN SERVICES REMAINED FREE FROM CONFIRMED CASES OF CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT. 87% OF CHILDREN IN THE THERAPEUTIC EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM MET EXPECTATIONS FOR SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. IN ADDITION, 87% OF CHILDREN ENROLLED ROUTINELY VISITED A PEDIATRICIAN. PROVIDING WELL-CHILD SCREENINGS ALIGNS WITH THE GOALS OF THE OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY. WE ARE PARTNERING WITH HEALTH SYSTEMS TO REDUCE REDUNDANCY, ACHIEVE COLLECTIVE IMPACT, AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE KNOW THAT CHILD ABUSE INCREASES IN TIMES OF CRISIS. GIVEN THE CURRENT COVID-19 PANDEMIC CRISIS, WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE VULNERABLE CHILDREN WE SERVE. DURING THE 2008 RECESSION, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN ABUSIVE HEAD TRAUMA. BABIES AND TODDLERS NORMALLY CRY AND SCREAM, AND PARENTS ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THE EMOTIONAL BANDWIDTH TO MAINTAIN A CALM CENTER AND NOT TAKE OUT THEIR FRUSTRATIONS ON THEIR CHILDREN. IN A CRISIS, THIS BANDWIDTH DIMINISHES. EVERYONE IS EXPERIENCING EXTRA STRESS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN CAN BECOME VICTIMS OF ABUSE WHEN FRUSTRATIONS BOIL OVER. THE CHALLENGES MOUNTAINSTAR FAMILIES FACE - EXTREME POVERTY, FOOD INSECURITY, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ILLNESSES, AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - ARE BEING HEIGHTENED TO UNIMAGINABLE LEVELS BY THIS PANDEMIC. PARENTS HAVE BEEN LAID OFF, ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES ARE DIFFICULT TO FIND AND AFFORD, AND INCREASED ISOLATION IS TAKING ITS TOLL ON PARENT MENTAL HEALTH. AS AN ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE AND HELPING FAMILIES TO SUCCEED, WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THIS COVID-19 CRISIS IS AFFECTING THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WE SERVE THROUGHOUT CENTRAL OREGON. THE THERAPEUTIC SERVICES, SUPPORT, AND SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE WE PROVIDE TO HELP VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SUCCEED ARE NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE NEEDED IN THE MONTHS AHEAD. WHILE MOUNTAINSTAR HAD TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE ITS THERAPEUTIC CLASSROOMS DUE TO GOVERNOR BROWN'S ORDER, OUR STAFF ARE STAYING CONNECTED WITH THE FAMILIES OF HIGH-RISK BABIES AND TODDLERS. WE ARE CHECKING IN WITH PARENTS BY PHONE AND OFFERING REASSURANCE AND SUPPORT. WE ARE CONDUCTING "HOME VISITS" THROUGH CAR WINDOWS WITH FAMILIES WHO ARE ON THEIR FRONT STOOPS. WE ARE DROPPING OFF FOOD BOXES, DIAPERS, AND ACTIVITY BAGS FULL OF PLAYDOUGH AND ART SUPPLIES. WE ARE INVENTING NEW WAYS TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO STRESSED FAMILIES, INCLUDING LIVE-STREAMING BOOK READINGS/STORY HOUR AND HOLDING OUR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM NIGHTS VIRTUALLY. IN LATE MAY, WE WERE ABLE TO ADD RESPITE CLASSES FOR FAMILIES (FOLLOWING SAFETY, SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND DEEP CLEANING PROTOCOLS). INSTEAD OF A SINGLE CHILD VISIT, OUR REVAMPED VISITS ARE FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY, GIVING PARENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE SOME TIME AWAY FOR THEMSELVES. THESE VISITS ALWAYS CONCLUDE WITH A POSITIVE CHECK-IN, CONNECTION, AND RESOURCE SUPPORT.
Religious classification: None