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Relief Nursery Downtown
Relief Nursery Downtown is a satellite site offering respite, parenting support, intakes and referrals for families at the Lane County Courthouse and Public Service Building. While the focus is on supporting domestic violence survivors seeking restraining orders, Relief Nursery Downtown is available to any interested family. From drug court to child custody proceedings, involved parents can drop off their children and receive Relief Nursery support as well as connections to additional services when they return. Even families visiting the Public Service Building to apply for energy assistance or a food handler’s card will be eligible for on-site care for their children. While Lane County staff and jurors are ineligible for these services, they are welcome to visit and share information with families or get involved in supporting this innovative project.
1.) Initially available on a drop-in basis every Monday 8:00am-12:00pm and Tuesday-Friday by appointment.
2.) On a space-available basis, up to 6 children under the age of 6 will be accepted into respite while parents remain in the building.
3.) Respite sessions will be provided for the length of time needed by parents attending to matters at the courthouse and public service building (up to 12:00 on Mondays and until the agreed-upon pick up time Tuesday through Friday).
4.) A brief intake form with medical releases and emergency contact information is required prior to leaving a child in respite.
5.) The parent who drops off a child is expected to also pick up the child unless a court order indicates otherwise.
6.) Nutritious snacks and drinks will be provided in the respite room. Children will not leave the room except for toileting, diaper changing, and hand washing which will occur in the public restroom (accompanied by staff with clear criminal background checks).
7.) Developmentally-appropriate care will be provided in a therapeutic environment by fully-trained Relief Nursery staff and volunteers. Safety measures and hygiene guidelines will be vigilantly followed.
8.) Strict confidentiality will be maintained: a privacy coating on the interior window will protect children from being watched by the general public or by an offending parent. No information will be released to any party without a parent’s signed written consent.
Respite child care and parenting support at the Lane County Courthouse
Imagine surviving a beating at the hands of someone who claims to love you. Reflecting on seeing your child cowering in the corner, you vow to never let it happen again. The next day, you bundle up your baby and toddler and head to the courthouse alone as your partner always made sure that you remained isolated, without support. You’re tired and in pain, your children are fussy and you’re faced with complicated paperwork for a restraining order. After telling your traumatic story at Victim Services – with your 2 year old listening on your lap – you must now go over it all again in front of a judge. Entering a quiet courtroom with others silently waiting their turn, your baby starts to cry while your toddler climbs everything within reach. It has now been 3 hours since you arrived and you still need to go to the 2nd floor to file your paperwork and then to the Sheriff’s office to request servicing of the order before you can leave. And then what? You know the statistics – more women are injured or killed when they attempt to leave an abuser than at any other time. What about the children?
That’s what the Relief Nursery has been asking and now we have an answer: nurturing care for children at the courthouse while their parents seek to insure their safety. We have named our courthouse service Relief Nursery Downtown as on-site parenting support will be offered immediately as well as connections made to all of our other Relief Nursery services.
