Yolo Crisis Nursery saves families, and lives
By Becky Heard and Heather Jeppeson
It’s every parent’s worst nightmare: They fear they won’t be able to care for their child.
The “what if’s” are as varied as footprints on birth certificates, and for some families, the nightmare comes true.
“Amanda” knew her stomach condition was getting worse. She also sensed, this time, there’d be no temporary fix. She was going to need serious medical care.
The single mother of 2-year-old “Haley” reached out to her small support network. Unfortunately, the support collapsed under the challenges of ongoing, unpredictable respite needs, especially for beautiful Haley, who was born with Down syndrome.
Amanda was faced with the unthinkable.
When she first called, Amanda knew very little about the Yolo Crisis Nursery. Sobbing, she was terrified Child Protective Services would be called and that she could lose her daughter.
But none of that happened. Instead, Amanda was educated about the nursery, a nurturing home in Davis for families in crisis where children ages 0-5 can safely remain until emergencies are resolved.
In addition to meeting crisis situations, the crisis nursery is often a family’s first connection with other community services. Unmet needs, like transportation, housing and food, are addressed.
Amanda ended the call with a plan to visit the nursery. Little did she know, the organized visit would never take place because just hours later, while lying on an emergency room gurney, she would make her second call to the nursery. She had to keep her daughter safe.
Nursery staffers swept into action. During her mother’s four-day hospitalization for a herniated esophagus, Haley received round-the-clock, loving care. And when Amanda was healthy and independent once again, the Yolo Crisis Nursery provided the family with basic needs — shoes, bottles and clothing. Haley also was referred to Early Head Start.
Sadly, Amanda and Haley’s story isn’t unique. Every day, families in Davis and throughout Yolo County have nowhere to turn except the Yolo Crisis Nursery, one of the only such nurseries in California.
Almost entirely dependent on private support, the nursery has served thousands of children over its 10-year history. By preventing child abuse and neglect, the Yolo Crisis Nursery saves families.
And lives.
If you need Yolo Crisis Nursery services, call (530) 758-6680.
If you would like to help sustain the nursery by raising awareness and support, consider becoming a Friend of the Yolo Crisis Nursery by contacting Heidy Kellison at (530) 386-2647 or heidy@cwo.com.
No matter your talents or gifts, you can be a lifeline for a desperate family.
— Becky Heard and Heather Jeppeson are co-presidents of Friends of the Yolo Crisis Nursery.
Short URL: http://www.davisenterprise.com/?p=42972
Posted by Special to The Enterprise
on May 16 2011.
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