25 Y
e ears of Strength
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F g n i
a
lie i m
K o t s
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ids S ep K
afe
MESSAGE FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KARA TACHIKAWA
Dear Friends, Twenty-five years ago, MountainStar began with a simple belief: every child deserves a safe and healthy start. What started in 2001 as one small program in Bend has grown into a community-wide commitment to prevention - built by families, staff, volunteers, donors, businesses, foundations, and partners who believed that supporting families early can change the trajectory of a child’s life. Over the past 25 years, MountainStar has grown and evolved alongside Central Oregon. We have expanded into new communities, deepened our therapeutic services, strengthened mental health supports, and found new ways to meet families where they are. Through every season of change, one thing has remained constant: our commitment to strengthening families so children can grow up safe, healthy, and supported. This anniversary gives us an opportunity to celebrate how far we have come, but more importantly, to recognize the people who made that progress possible. Every classroom opened, every home visit made, every family supported, and every child kept safe represents a community choosing to invest in prevention.
As you turn these pages, I hope you see more than 25 years of MountainStar. I hope you see what is possible when a community comes together around children and families - and the lasting impact that support can have across generations. And our story is still being written. As we look toward the next 25 years, we are committed to ensuring MountainStar remains strong, responsive, and ready for the families who will need us tomorrow. Together, we will continue building the programs, places, partnerships, and financial stability that will help keep children safe for years to come. Thank you for being part of MountainStar’s first 25 years and for helping us build the next 25! With heartfelt gratitude,
KARA TACHIKAWA Executive Director
Every child deserves a safe and healthy start.
OUR STORY
25 YEARS OF GROWING WITH OUR COMMUNITY For 25 years, MountainStar’s story has been shaped by the changing needs of Central Oregon families and by a community willing to step forward to meet them.
2001-2003 A Bold Beginning
2013-2020
2004-2012 A Community Steps Up
Growing Across Central Oregon
These early investments did more than help MountainStar grow, they demonstrated what would become a defining part of our story: when families need support, this community responds. MountainStar opens its doors at the Deschutes Children’s Foundation East Bend Campus with one bold belief: supporting families early prevents child abuse and neglect. This laid the foundation for a model of therapeutic care centered on strengthening families and keeping children safe.
1
Central Oregon Location
5
team members
126
children and family members served annually
2004 Donated minivan removes transportation barriers 2005 Children’s Expedition Luncheon raises $263,000 2005 First “birdie dollars” raised 2009 STAR Dinners and FairyGodparent Program 2012 Cumulative private giving reaches $2 million As our community grows, MountainStar grows with it.
MountainStar commits to reaching families closer to their homes. 2013 Juniper Junction Relief Nursery becomes MountainStar Madras Relief Nursery 2015 Prineville Relief Nursery opens 2016 Outreach services begins in La Pine 2018 Outreach services begins in Redmond 2020 Redmond Relief Nursery opens
ONE RELATIONSHIP. ONE COMMUNITY. ONE FAMILY AT A TIME.
2021-2025 Deepening the Work
2026 25 Years of Keeping Kids Safe
MountainStar’s 20th Anniversary - clear priorities set to reach more rural families, strengthen trauma-informed services, and expand mental health support.
La Pine grows from Outreach into a permanent Therapeutic Early Childhood Center Investments made to improve Redmond and Madras Therapeutic Centers Outreach extends to families in Warm Springs with basic needs support On-site mental health support begins in Prineville, Bend, and Redmond
AT 20, WE LOOKED AHEAD. Expand rural services. Deepen mental health support. Reach more families. FIVE YEARS LATER, THAT VISION IS TAKING ROOT.
Today, MountainStar has grown to five therapeutic centers + Warm Springs outreach, supported by 49 team members and a community of volunteers, donors, businesses, foundations, and partners.
5
49
1,300+
therapeutic centers
team members
children and family members served annually
25 YEARS. 27,300 LIVES. ONE ENDURING MISSION. Our story has always been one of community - people coming together, responding to changing needs, and believing that prevention can change what comes next.
M O U N TA I N S TA R
PREVENTION IN ACTION, EVERY DAY
1,000+
therapeutic classroom hours annually
home visits each year
SUPPORT THAT SHOWS UP
FAMILIES ARE NAVIGATING TOO MUCH
Mental health challenges
Family violence
Isolation
Financial instability
Parent stress
PREVENTION WORKS
100%
77%
of children served remain safe from abuse and neglect
receive developmental screenings
meet or exceed social emotional benchmarks
THE SOURCE
98%
M O U N TA I N S TA R
MountainStar’s role is not to define families by these challenges. It is to ensure they do not have to navigate them alone.
THE SOURCE
Housing and food insecurity
M O U N TA I N S TA R
15
average stressors experienced by families served
THE SOURCE
Prevention is built through relationships. MountainStar combines therapeutic early childhood services with home visiting, family support, mental health resources, and connections to basic needs - meeting families with individualized support before challenges become crises.
M O U N TA I N S TA R
3,000+
THE SOURCE
Twenty-five years of growth has strengthened MountainStar’s ability to meet families where they are. Today, families across Central Oregon receive consistent, relationship-based support designed to reduce stress, strengthen families, support healthy child development, and keep children safe.
WAYS TO GIVE: JOIN US IN BUILDING A STRONGER COMMUNITY BY Becoming a monthly donor. Making a gift from your Donor Advised Fund. Creating a Legacy Gift. Volunteering your time. Attending events, like Birdies 4 Babies. Joining your local Advisory Board. Advocating, for MountainStar’s Mission. Joining our Partners for Kids program.
STRENGTHENING FAMILIES TO KEEP KIDS SAFE MountainStar Family Relief Nursery is the only prevention program in Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook Counties providing therapeutic classrooms, parenting education services, and family support targeted at protecting babies and toddlers who are at significant risk for abuse and neglect.
DONATE TODAY
mtstar.org info@mtstar.org (541) 322-6820