| MountainStar has developed a thriving program in coordination with 35 other local service providers and the 10 other Oregon Relief Nurseries. Who We Help We serve families with children 6 weeks to 4 years old who are experiencing high stress due to challenges such as low income or poverty, parenting issues, unstable housing, inconsistent food supply, medical issues, mental health issues, substance abuse issues, involvement with criminal justice system or child welfare system, and lack of a positive support system.
CONTACT US for Help We Help Parents Succeed by:
- We support parents through home visits and parenting classes.
- Giving parents a break to get things done and take better care of themselves and their children.
- Working with children in our classroom and visiting parents in their home.
- Our work builds on the family’s commitment to provide their children a loving home and solid foundation for growth and development.
How We Help MountainStar Family Relief Nursery is a strength based program modeled after the 25 year old, highly successful Relief Nursery, Inc. located in Eugene Oregon. MountainStar is one of ten Relief Nurseries statewide and the only program located east of the Cascades. Services We Provide: More About Our Support Programs
- Our Safety Net Program
Provides crisis intervention, referrals to community services, respite care, and basic needs support for 275 high risk young children and their families each year.
- Our Healing Children Program
Provides 65 distressed children with therapeutic classes to help them heal from the physical, emotional and social impacts of living in high stress and often chaotic environments. Families in this program have an average of 20 risk factors for child abuse and neglect.
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Services to Strengthen Families
Support for parents in both programs through coaching, parent education and mental health services aimed at increasing the long term health and resiliency of their families. We also provide a children’s clothing closet and food boxes from NeighborImpact.
A Safe Haven MountainStar Family is a safe haven for children; a place of education, support and community for parents; and a nexus where multiple Service Providers work together to assist high-need families and children. We currently serve 200 children and their families annually. However the growing demand for our services in Deschutes County greatly exceeds our capacity to fill this need. Early Intervention is Key - The quality of life for a child and the contributions the child makes to society as an adult can be traced back to the first few years of life. From birth until about 5 years old a child undergoes tremendous growth and change. All experiences change the brain. Because the brain is organizing at such an explosive rate in the first years of life, experiences during this period have more potential to influence the brain – in positive and negative ways. This is so because the brain is designed to change in response to patterned, repetitive stimulation. And the stimulation associated with fear and trauma changes the brain. The earlier we intervene, the more likely we will be able to preserve and express a child’s potential. |
