That shoulder-lowering, deep breath-inducing wave of relief once a vexing problem has been solved is uniquely calming and satisfying. And it’s a feeling that parents and caregivers in crisis just don’t ever get to feel – without a lot of help. And help can seem unattainable, keeping that moment of relief far from reach.
Families in all forms and in all stages will have moments of crisis. For those living houseless, facing legal battles, or navigating health issues while also trying to care for a baby or young child, the stress can lead to behaviors that endanger the child’s healthy development.
MountainStar Family Relief Nursery offers programs meant to alleviate the barriers to asking for help. Their mission is to prevent child abuse and neglect through community support and therapeutic services that help vulnerable children and families succeed. They accomplish this by walking alongside families every step of the way. This approach has earned them the respect and trust of their program participants.
Kara Tachikawa, Executive Director, came to MountainStar as the Program Director in 2019 having seen the difference their approach can make for a child. In her previous childcare position, she encountered a young boy who was born while his mom was on parole from drug abuse charges. He started life in foster care, shuttling back and forth as mom stumbled to get clean. Tachikawa had taken note of his behavior.
“He would have physical and verbal outbursts. Yet I also noticed that, at age four, he was able to verbalize what he needed to help him calm down. This is very unusual. It turns out, he was a MountainStar participant. I came to work here to be a part of what worked for that child,” Tachikawa remembers.
MountainStar is a Central Oregon resource, having services in Bend, Madras, Warm Springs, Prineville, Redmond and La Pine.
Want to help?
· Spread the word! As a community we all benefit from the healing and flourishing of a child and their family in our midst.
· Become a Fairy Godparent! Be paired with a child and their family providing direct needs from winter coats to gas cards.
· Become a volunteer! Interact with children in a therapeutic classroom by reading, playing, and just “being”. Training is provided.
· Help fund this work! Half of their $4M yearly budget must be raised locally.
· Gain knowledge! There is always more to learn about initiatives and policies that affect our most vulnerable families and children. How can we provide upstream solutions?
MTStar.org
Families in MountainStar programs receive, free of charge:
· Crisis intervention and support
· Therapeutic early childhood classes
· Home visits once a month or more
· Individualized parent coaching
· Mental health therapy for kids and adults
· Parent training classes and family activities
· Basic needs (food, diapers, clothing)
· Connections to community resources
· Essential Transportation