Parents reaching out to Providence House face a range of crisis situations which make them unable or unavailable to safely care for their children while they address their family’s needs.
Often parents with children in our care are being admitted for their own inpatient medical, mental health or substance abuse services, or because they are incarcerated. Some families using our services are homeless, have unsafe housing or face community violence.
Admission Criteria
Families with children newborn through twelve years old may be referred for a stay in our Crisis Nursery for the following issues:
- Child at risk for neglect
- Child at risk for abuse
- Homeless – evicted, doubled up, living in a shelter
- Unsafe living conditions, including no utilities
- Domestic violence
- Community violence
- Parent or guardian mental health treatment (inpatient or outpatient)
- Parent or guardian medical treatment (inpatient, outpatient, or home recovery)
- Parent or guardian drug or alcohol treatment (inpatient or outpatient)
- Respite care to prevent a crisis
- Adoption plan
- Parent or guardian short-term incarceration in limited circumstances
Please note: Any inquiry for admission is screened for appropriateness for the setting.
Let us know if you or a family you know need our help.
What to expect when your child is at Providence House
When your children stay at Providence House, they are cared for by safe and loving strangers; but those caregivers are still not their mom. You will be able to visit with your children, or talk to them on the phone, and we reassure them that you love them very much and can’t wait to see them again! Every child admitted to Providence House is monitored and assessed by a Licensed Social Worker throughout their admission period. It is the goal that the admission at Providence House will have a lasting and positive impact on their growth and development and sense of security.
We place tremendous value on continued contact between you and your children during the course of a child’s admission with a goal toward healthy family reunification. In fact, it is an admission requirement that all parents/guardians visit with their children on a regular basis during their stay (two times a week for at least one hour is the recommended minimum). Visits are often held on-site in a comfortable visitation room to allow you to spend quality private time with your child(ren).
Visits are also done offsite, in one of two ways. You can take your children on a day visit, spending time together offsite and returning by early evening in order to be present for our bedtime routine. At the discretion of our Licensed Social Workers, children can also spend time with you offsite for up to two nights in a row, provided that there is adequate housing and/or a safe environment to support the child.
Our Licensed Social Workers will work one-on-one with you to specifically address crises and provide a compassionate listening ear. It is our goal that we can help you achieve family stability.
Plans and Policies
Client Rights & Community Engagement Plan