For Parents Who Care But Temporarily Can’t Cope
What if it were possible to stop the clock, allowing time and resources to combine in such a way to prevent a case of child abuse? This possibility is a reality, thanks to The Bay Area Crisis Nursery. We stop the clock by allowing children to have a safe haven to stay while their parents or guardians receive the resources they need before a child abuse incident occurs due to a stressful situation.
Founded in 1981 by Sister Ann Weltz, the Nursery is a 24-hour a day, 365 day a year service provider that has welcomed over 20,000 admissions since opening its doors. The purpose of the Bay Area Crisis Nursery (BACN) is to prevent abuse and neglect of children by providing support to families who are in stress or crisis.
Our primary service is providing a warm, loving, homelike environment for children birth through eleven years of age by offering short term residential care. This service is free, confidential and voluntary. Our other service is a Respite Care Program. The Respite Care Program is designed to be an ongoing support to families after the immediate crisis. It consists of planned pre-arranged two to four day stays. This service plays an important role in improving family coping patterns and reducing the risks of child abuse.
What makes the Bay Area Crisis Nursery unique is that it is the only crisis nursery in the greater San Francisco Bay Area and is exclusively funded by private donations without any government assistance. Our services are provided at no charge to the clients.
Among the many diverse socio-economic families that seek support from BACN, one commonality is the overwhelming desire to find relief from extraordinary and immediate stress. Some are homeless; some have substance abuse problems or are fleeing domestic violence. Some have a history of mental illness; others have a medical emergency.
“Despite a poor economy and the overall reduction in charitable giving, we have managed to meet the needs of our families. We appreciate the ongoing support from the community, and feel we are making a significant difference in the lives of the children we care for,” says Sr. Ann Weltz, Executive Director.
The most significant fundraiser for BACN is the Annual Fall Gala. Attending this event is a great way to get to know and support the Nursery’s work. The theme for this year’s gala is “Wind Beneath Their Wings” and it will be held Saturday, November 14th at The Diablo Country Club. Please join us in supporting this wonderful non-profit charity that helps prevent
child abuse.
For tickets please contact The Bay Area Crisis Nursery at 925-685-6633.
NANCY LUCAS