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February 10, 2000
Possibility of area crisis nursery exploredBrown, SibleyWatonwan,counties surveyedBy SARA SYVERSON Journal Staff Writer NEW ULM -- When a family is going through a crisis, what happens with the children? Officials with Family Services feel a crisis nursery would solve that dilemma, but establishment of emergency, short-term care for children will not be a reality from Sibley, Watonwan and Brown counties for at least another two years. A survey completed last fall by Three Counties For Kids Children's Mental Health Collaborative (Sibley, Watonwan, and Brown counties) showed that respondents did not feel a need existed for a crisis nursery. Approximately 430 surveys total were given out in the three counties to both agencies who provide child services and individuals who could potentially use the crisis nursery. (Approximately 100 agencies took the survey and 300 families participated in the survey.) Parents of children who would be placed in the crisis nursery system would receive immediate assistance and assessment from a professional. After the initial crisis, the family would be referred to other community services and resources. Assistance could mean talking a parent through a difficult situation or maybe providing emergency short-term housing for the children while the parents handle the crisis. "Why it's important is that for families experiencing a crisis who don't have anyone to turn to or don't know what to do -- they can get child-care help while they attend to the crisis or get help during the crisis," said Shari Kottke. Kottke is a family facilitator with Three Counties For Kids Children's Mental Health Collaborative. She helped establish a crisis nursery in Buffalo, Wright County in 1992. The survey was administered by a consultant from Marshall, Frank Moorse, who was the former director of Region 8 North Welfare. "I think it was a great study. ... It was a needs study done with a planning grant," said Joyce Gallery, Coordinator for the Three Counties For Kids Children's Mental Health Collaborative, "I think a crisis nursery is needed here. Not enough people (who took the survey) know what a crisis nursery is and how it functions." Gallery was surprised that the survey revealed people thought a crisis nursery was not a strong need for the three counties. Gallery attributed this outcome to people who possibly did not know what a crisis nursery system was. "I think they are very good for counties to have," said Kottke, "It's so preventative in nature and non-threatening after a while for parents when they realize this. In this area it would have to be a multi-county effort, because of the population density here." Kottke said there is a diversity of funding available for crisis nurseries. Tom Henderson, Director of Brown County Family Services, said that $20,000 was provided do complete a three-county study to assess the needs for a crisis nursery system. The grant to complete the survey came from Minnesota Department of Human Services. The area served by the crisis nursery would be from Arlington to Odin. One possibility could be like a "system" structure including a crisis line and/or a series of crisis homes, according to Henderson. "We are in a holding pattern and we are waiting for operational funds to be set in place," said Henderson. The 2001 legislative session will be the first session to address the crisis nursery needs, according to Henderson. "There is no hurry to finalize a plan because the 2001 (legislative session) to fund this is obviously a ways off yet," said Henderson.
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