April 4, 2012
Vol 14
July 13, 2011
No 14
Vol 13 No 28
Crisis Nursery is committed to preventing child abuse and neglect.
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month
IN this Issue
Difficult economic times can lead to increased child abuse and neglect, even child deaths, according to DiAnne Mueller, CEO of Saint Louis Crisis Nursery, which encourages people to be conscious of the challenges that families face and to take action during April, Child Abuse Prevention Month. “Child Abuse Prevention Month reminds the public that everyone needs to be committed to the safety of the children in our communities,” Mueller said. “We understand that parenting is a challenge even in the best of times. Our mission is to save babies’ lives, keep kids safe and build strong families, and every year we see a greater need for our services, as families cope with difficult times.” During 2011, the Crisis Nursery provided: • Safe haven for 7,275 children at risk of abuse • A 24-Hour Helpline serving 6,231 families experiencing a crisis • 2,410 Community Outreach Visits with families • 35,230 hours volunteered at the five Crisis Nursery locations and two outreach centers Crisis Nursery outcomes: • 99% of children cared for at the Crisis Nursery were not abused; • 99% of children whose families participate in Crisis Nursery services remain in their natural family homes. Children are brought to the Nursery on a voluntary basis, and all services are provided free of charge. Parents may
bring their child(ren) to the Nursery for several reasons. Common reasons include: overwhelming parental stress, domestic violence, lack of utilities, food or water, or and illness or death in the family. While there, children birth through age 12 receive 24-hour individualized care by trained, professional staff and volunteers. They also receive a medical examination, any needed medication, a developmental assessment, therapeutic activities, and three well balanced meals/three snacks each day. Children also receive take-home supplies, including: clothing, toys, hygiene items, diapers and formula (when appropriate), stuffed animals, games and books. The family empowerment program assists parents in creating a stable environment for their children and addresses any concerns or needs identified while their children were at the Nursery. The Family Empowerment Program has several components: follow-up support services, community outreach visits, parent education groups, stay-at-home parent programs,
Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5 Lincoln County Life . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Movie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
a family emergency fund, transportation fund, Holiday Hearts Campaign and a Back-to-School drive. For more information about the agency, visit www.crisisnurserykids.
org. For the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery 24-hour helpline, call 314.768.3201 or 314.338.2200. In St. Charles County, call 636.947.0600.
MOVIE PEEK
School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 Shelly Schneider / Recipe . . . . . . . 10 Joe Morice / Sports . . . . . . . . . . . 11
See MOVIE page 7
“Mirror Mirror” - Photo courtesy of Relativity Media
What’s Happening . . . . . . . . . . . 12-13 Pet Adoptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15
2139 Bryan Valley Commercial Dr. • O’Fallon, MO 63366 P: 636.379.1775 F: 636.379.1632 E: ofcnews@centurytel.net
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