Relief Nursery Inc

RELIEF NURSERY IS A CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PREVENTION ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS TO STRENGTHEN HIGH-RISK FAMILIES AND KEEP YOUNG CHILDREN SAFE. RELIEF NURSERY WORKS TO STOP THE CYCLE OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT BY COMBINING THERAPEUTIC EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES, WITH A FOCUS ON THE CHILD'S SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, WITH COMPREHENSIVE FAMILY SUPPORT. SERVICES INCLUDE THERAPEUTIC CLASSROOMS, EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION, PARENTING EDUCATION, MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, CRISIS RESPONSE, RESPITE CARE, HOME VISITING, TRANSPORTATION, BASIC NEEDS SUPPORT, AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER RECOVERY SUPPOERT SERVICES.

THERAPEUTIC EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM PROVIDES A UNIQUE COMBINATION OF INDIVIDUALIZED CLASSROOM AND HOME-BASED DEVELOPMENTAL EXPERIENCES FOR CHILDREN BIRTH TO SIX YEARS OF AGE. ALL ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM FOCUS ON THE SPECIFIC ISSUES OF CHILDREN FROM MULTI-STRESSED FAMILIES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA, ABUSE, AND/OR STRESS, OR ARE AT RISK FOR SUCH EXPERIENCES. MULTIPLE FEATURES CONTRIBUTE TO THE THERAPEUTIC NATURE OF THIS PROGRAM AND ITS EFFECTIVENESS IN PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. THE CURRICULUM AND ENVIRONMENT PROVIDED AT THE RELIEF NURSERY SUPPORT THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF EACH CHILD. TEACHERS, SPECIALISTS, AND PARENTS WORK TOGETHER TO ESTABLISH INDIVIDUAL GOALS FOR EACH CHILD. THE THERAPEUTIC CLASSROOM IS PART OF A LARGER SYSTEM PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE, AMELIORATING SERVICES TO BOTH CHILD AND FAMILY. TO PROVIDE CONTINUITY BETWEEN SCHOOL AND HOME, THE CHILD'S CLASSROOM TEACHER IS ALSO THE FAMILY'S HOME VISITOR, HELPING TO ENHANCE PARENTING SKILLS, PROMOTING PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS, AND CREATING A HEALTHY AND NURTURING HOME ENVIRONMENT. ALL CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS DESIGNED TO REVEAL THE NEED FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT AND/OR SPECIALIZED SERVICES TO ENSURE APPROPRIATE AND HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT.

OUTREACH INCLUDES RESPITE CHILD CARE, CRISIS RESPONSE AND HOME VISITS, INDIVIDUALIZED CASE COORDINATION, PARENT EDUCATION OF SUPPORT, COMMUNITY RESOURCE REFERRAL, CHILD SAFETY MONITORING, CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENTS, BASIC NEEDS ASSISTANCE.THE OUTREACH PROGRAM PROVIDES "FRONT-END" INTAKE, ENROLLMENT AND CRISIS RESPONSE FOR FAMILIES INITIALLY CONTACTING THE RELIEF NURSERY FOR HELP. THE APPROACH IS STRENGTH-BASED AND OFFERS CHOICES AND SUPPORT TO FAMILIES IN A COMPASSIONATE AND STRENGTH-BASED MANNER. A FLEXIBLE STRATEGY IS UTILIZED PROVIDING TIMELY SERVICES FOR FAMILIES WITH MULTIPLE ISSUES WHO ARE SEEKING SUPPORT FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN. INTAKE WORKERS OFFER A SUPPORTIVE RESPONSE AND PROVIDE INFORMATION, AS NEEDED ABOUT THE RELIEF NURSERY AND OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES. IN ADDITION TO INTAKE AND RESOURCES REFERRALS, THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES RESPITE CARE, HOME VISITS, AND ACCESS TO OTHER RELIEF NURSERY SERVICES SUCH AS FAMILY LITERACY EVENTS, MENTAL HEALTH AND OTHER SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS. WE ALSO PROVIDE NAVIGATOR SERVICES TO FAMILIES. THESE SERVICES ASSIST FAMILIES WITH REMOVAL OF BARRIERS TO ACCESSING AFFORDABLE AND SUSTAINABLE HOUSING, FINANCIAL STABILITY, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG TREATMENT SERVICES AND PARENTING SUPPORT. RESPITE SERVICES ARE OFFERED TO QUALIFYING FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN SIX WEEKS TO SIX YEARS OF AGE.

ACCESSING SUCCESS SERVICES INCLUDE, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDING CRISIS RESPONSE, PEER SUPPORT, HOME VISITS, SOCIAL SKILLS ACTIVITIES, REFERRALS, RESPITE CHILD CARE, TRANSPORTATION, AND SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY RESOURCE MEETINGS.THE ACCESSING SUCCESS PROGRAM PROVIDES ALCOHOL AND DRUG RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR FAMILIES WHO HAVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES AND/OR WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY SUBSTANCE ABUSE. THE UNIQUE ASPECT OF ACCESSING SUCCESS INCLUDES PEER SUPPORT INTERVENTIONISTS WHO ARE IN RECOVERY AND PROVIDE MENTORING AND SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUAL PARENTS, AS WELL AS LEAD OTHER ACCESSING SUCCESS ACTIVITIES. OTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDE A "PARENTS FOR RECOVERY" SUPPORT GROUP, RESPITE CHILD CARE DURING GROUP, TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM EVENTS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, ALCOHOL AND DRUG FREE SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, AND OTHER SUPPORTS THAT HELP PARENTS MAINTAIN AND/OR ACHIEVE AN ALCOHOL AND DRUG-FREE LIFE-STYLE. INTAKE AND OUTREACH ARE THE FRONT-END ENROLLMENT AND CRISIS RESPONSE OF THE RELIEF NURSERY MODEL. THE APPROACH IS STRENGTH-BASED AND OFFERS CHOICES AND SUPPORT TO FAMILIES IN A PATIENT AND COMPASSIONATE MANNER. THIS FLEXIBLE STRATEGY IS ESSENTIAL IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES WITH MULTIPLE ISSUES AND OVERCOMING OBSTACLES INTERFERING WITH THEIR FOLLOW THROUGH.

HEALTHY FAMILIES IS AN INTENSIVE HOME VISITING PROGRAM FOR QUALIFYING FAMILIES WITH A CHILD AGED BIRTH THROUGH 3 YEARS HAS AN INFANT/TODDLER MENTAL HEALTH FOCUS AND IS DESIGNED FOR FAMILIES FACING CHALLENGES SUCH AS SINGLE PARENTHOOD, LOW INCOME, CHILDHOOD HISTORY OF ABUSE AND OTHER ADVERSE CHILD EXPERIENCES, AND CURRENT OR PREVIOUS ISSUES RELATED TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND/OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. FAMILIES ENROLLED IN HEALTHY FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO OTHER RELIEF NURSERY SERVICES, AS WELL. PARENTING EDUCATION AND SUPPORT IS INFORMALLY INTEGRATED INTO ALL ASPECTS OF RELIEF NURSERY, FORMAL PARENTING EDUCATION CLASSES, INDIVIDUALIZED IN HOME PARENTING EDUCATION AND SPECIAL PARENTING ACTIVITIES ARE OFFERED. ALL PARENTING SERVICES ARE OFFERED IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH AND IN A VARIETY OF FORMATS IN ORDER TO MEET THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES. TRANSPORTATION SUPPORT, LIGHT MEALS, AND CHILDCARE ARE PROVIDED IN ORDER TO INSURE ACCESS TO EVENTS AND TO REMOVE BARRIERS AND CHALLENGES FOR PARENTS. MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING SERVICES INCLUDE PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS, COUNSELING FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, INDIVIDUAL PLAY THERAPY, FAMILY THERAPY, INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, IN-HOME AND CLASSROOM-BASED THERAPEUTIC SERVICES, INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT PLANS, CONSULTATION, GROUP THERAPY, AND PARENT/CHILD ATTACHMENT THERAPY; PROVIDING INFORMATION IN THE FIELD OF CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION.HIGHLY TRAINED COUNSELORS PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL ADULT, CHILD AND FAMILY COUNSELING SERVICES THAT INCLUDE ASSESSMENT, TREATMENT PLANS AND PROGRESS MONITORING. THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE FOLLOWS A FAMILY SYSTEMS MODEL BASED UPON THE BELIEF THAT WORKING WITH THE ENTIRE FAMILY IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS ACHIEVE TREATMENT GOALS. A STRONG FOCUS PLACED UPON PARENT-CHILD ATTACHMENT AND RELATIONSHIPS, EMOTIONAL REGULATION SKILLS, BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND RESILIENCY AND TRAUMA-INFORMED THERAPY.