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Shelley Osterloh ReportingThe stress that often comes with the holidays will subside, but lingering behind are debt and pressures of the winter season. Last year during the month of January, Utah social workers dealt with more than 600 cases of child abuse or neglect.
There are places that can help families if they feel the pressures of life are getting to be too much and the children may be in danger.
Every parent at some point needs some help taking care of their children. Whether it's a medical emergency, job loss, domestic violence or maybe you lost your daycare provider, you can bring your child here in an emergency and be sure he or she will be cared for.
The cozy home in the old part of Midvale is a temporary home to hundreds of children. It is a crisis nursery operated by the Family Support Center. Seven-year old Adam comes to the nursery periodically when his mother needs help taking care of him. His dad is a truck driver and on the road a lot.
Nancy White, Uses Crisis Nursery: "It has been an absolute godsend for me. There have been so many times when we've had something come up when I've had to run off to my oldest and there has been nobody here to take care of the young ones."
This single mom says the Crisis Nursery cared for her children until she could find daycare, and last month in a medical emergency.
Adra Harrington, Uses Crisis Nursery: "I didn't have anyone to take care of my kids and I brought my kids in for three full days while I recovered from a major surgery. And so there's all different ways you can use the nursery. It's so nice."
The Crisis Nursery is available to any parent who needs it,and there is no charge. Volunteer Grandmas and staff care for the children.
Edna Rose, Volunteer Grandma: "Oh we have 12 or so, sometimes 12 or 8."
Natalie Sterek, Volunteer Grandma: "Everybody welcome, this emergency home for parents, for family."
The Midvale crisis nursery has room for up to eight children if they need to spend the night. Children can spend up to three days there.
Bonnie Peters, Executive Director Family Support Center: "We are available for you to use us, absolutely free of charge, and there's no need to let yourself or your kids get into a situation where it could become dangerous, violent or you are going to act out in away that you don't want to."
The Crisis Nurseries help families when they need it most, by providing a safe and loving place for their children. There are eleven Crisis Nurseries across Utah: this one in Midvale, others in Sugarhouse, Bountiful, Logan, Ogden, Clearfield, Orem, Richfield, Price, Roosevelt and Cedar City.
