Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery - A Compassionate Helping Hand for Struggling Parents
Mar 15 '09
The Bottom Line If you are looking for a worthwhile charity, please consider donating to the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery.
Vanessa Kay Behan was two years old when she died from child abuse injuries. During her two years of life she suffered horrific abuse, to include cigarette burns, a fractured skull, having her hair pulled. She eventually died from a ruptured bowel that occurred after she received a blow to her abdomen. Vanessa's stepfather was charged with killing her but was found not guilty when her mother refused to testify against him. In 1987 the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery was founded in memory of her.
The focus of the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery is to provide a place where parents can take their children while they work out the stresses and complications in their life; a place where the children will be safe, cared for and nurtured instead of potentially at risk.
While I have never personally had to use the services of the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery, I have been donating to them through the Washington State Combined Fund Drive pretty much since they opened their doors in 1987. Every time I read about a case of child abuse it breaks my heart. The Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery has helped over 50,000 children so far, and with help from donations they will continue to help many more children in the future.
I think the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery is a good cause because it gives parents a shelter, a haven, a chance to make sure their children are cared for while they stop and catch their breath. A parent doesn’t have to be a potential abuser to use the Nursery; they merely have to be under stress. This stress includes financial difficulties, domestic violence, medical problems, etc. The Nursery provides care for children from birth through age six, and they can stay at the Nursery for up to three days at a time in general. If the situation is critical, longer stays are occasionally available. Most stays are approximately 24 hours.
The Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery also offers parenting classes and crisis counseling. They are licensed to care for up to 23 children at a time and are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
There are so few real resources out there for parents going through troubled times. The Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery is one of the most deserving charities I can think of. They provide protection and safety for the children, who are the future. If a crisis nursery like this had existed before Vanessa died, perhaps she never would have had to experience the horrific trauma and abuse that characterized her short life.
The Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery is funded by donations. They are not running at full capacity due to budgetary restrictions. Every donation will help them increase to full capacity so that even more children and parents can be helped.
If you want to know more about the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery you can visit their website at http://www.vanessabehan.org. They are located in Spokane, Washington.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.