Mission and Services

Our Mission: “The Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery improves the lives of children by providing immediate refuge and safety and ongoing family support in an environment of unconditional love.”

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 72 hours, or longer if circumstances are dire. Care is provided by a staff of house parents 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

Vanessa Behan offers a series of 8-week parenting classes multiple times throughout the year. The classes are offered free of charge, during the day, at night, and on weekends to accommodate all parents who need our services.  In our classes parents learn about what is developmentally appropriate for 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. Click here for a list of area resources.

H.O.P.E (Holistic Opportunities Providing Empowerment)

Our new H.O.P.E follow-up program is designed to provide extended support to new families as well as families facing more complex situations. H.O.P.E was designed to ensure that every family who contacts VBCN for services is cared for in some way, and never slips through the cracks. Through this program our Family Support staff will work with families to determine the root of their crises, solutions to aid them, resource referrals, and help set goals to better their lives.