The Crisis Nursery: A parent’s best friend

Renee Hipp, a single mother of four young boys, says she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown when she called Childhaven’s Crisis Nursery for the first time last year. Read Renee’s story.

  

Crisis Nursery accessibility

Help in other languages is available. The deaf and hard of hearing may reach the Crisis Nursery through TDD service, 206.587.5500 or 800.833.6388.

 

¡Hablamos español!

La Guardería de Crisis de Childhaven ofrece cuidado de niño  a familias que necesitan un lugar seguro durante tiempos de crisis.  Para más información, llame al 206.328.5437.

Crisis Nursery

Childhaven operates the only crisis nursery in King County. The Crisis Nursery is a 24-hour telephone line to help families with infants and children through the age of six. Our goal is to make sure every child is safe and happy and that parents have the support they need during emergencies.

Counseling, information and emergency child care in family homes are all free to anyone who calls. Parents entering substance abuse treatment must meet certain low-income guidelines to qualify for free 30-day overnight child care. We can help determine eligibility for 30-day care.

Program at a glance

  • Crisis Line: Self-referring parents call the 24-hour crisis line by dialing 206.328.KIDS (206.328.5437). Master's level clinicians provide crisis intervention counseling and community resource referral. They can also arrange for short-term emergency child care in licensed community homes.
  • 72-Hour Child Care: Families may receive up to 72 hours of free, emergency, overnight child care due to stress of parenting, illness or hospitalization, domestic violence, homelessness, job interviews, GED exams, or other crisis concerns.
  • 30-Day Child Care: Parents entering in-patient ADATSA -approved substance abuse detoxification or treatment can receive up to 30 days of free, overnight child care.

When to call

Some parents contact us when they’re feeling burned out and stressed. Others call when they have to stay in the hospital for a few days, attend court proceedings, have lost their jobs or their homes, or have experienced another crisis that makes them feel they can’t provide the best possible care for their children for a short period of time.

Dedicated care providers

Our dedicated counselors are well trained and experienced, providing a total of more than 65,000 hours of care a year. They work for Childhaven, not a government agency.

If you are interested in becoming licensed to care for Crisis Nursery children, please see Foster Parents on our Employment Page.  

Keeping kids safe and families together

Often, crisis situations can lead many loving parents to the breaking point. By giving them a place to call, we keep kids safe and families together.

Download a copy of our Crisis Nursery brochure.