To the editor:

Over a year ago, the founders of Harbor Haven Crisis and Respite Child Care made a promise that all of the families who live in Island County would have a place where children would be safe and protected during times of family turmoil or crisis. Harbor Haven has provided hundreds of hours of safe, reliable child care at no cost to the families who live in Island County.

Harbor Haven exists because this community stood up and said we want and need a crisis nursery right here in our community. Families voiced their need of a safe place to leave their children while they attended appointments, court hearings, counseling sessions, parent/teacher conferences, parenting classes, or just needed some time to get errands done or de-stress.

Before Harbor Haven opened it’s doors in September of 2008 parents and caregivers either had to bring their children to appointments (sometimes this meant leaving them in the car) or they may have needed to rely on people that had no training in child development or perhaps even individuals who had proven to be unsafe in the past. I went on vacation in December and met many people from all over the country and when they asked me what I did for a living and I told them I am the director of a crisis nursery, they were each amazed that we have such a wonderful opportunity available for the families here in Island County and that our community has been able to sustain Harbor Haven. I believe our community participates in our efforts because this community places children safety as a high priority. We really care about kids and understand that they are our future and our present.

Now, the community has the opportunity to see first-hand how the crisis nursery works to prevent child abuse and neglect by attending a tour. The tours are generally offered the third and fourth Tuesday anytime between 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

All our volunteers and all of our funding come from right here in our island community. We look forward to showing you what this Island community is doing to keep children safe.

Space for each tour is limited and reservations are required. To schedule a time to tour the nursery, call 360-678-4840, or e-mail me at harborhaven2@yahoo.com. Also, please call me if you need to use our services. This is temporary no-cost childcare, we are open Wednesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. All of our caregivers are trained and have had thorough background checks completed before providing care. We are licensed to provide care for ages 1 month through 12 years old.

Sarah Berger

Program Director

Harbor Haven Crisis and Respite Child Care

Coupeville