In uncertain times, struggling families can count on the Nursery.

Right now, too many families are struggling-in-place. Schools and daycare centers are closed, jobs are in peril, and the daily anxiety of an uncertain future weighs heavy. When we’ve stayed home more days than we can count, what can we count on? The Nursery! 

Anytime, day or night, families can rely on a Nursery staff person to answer their call for help. The Bay Area Crisis Nursery (BACN) is a free, 24-hour residential care facility for children ages birth to five. Our goal is to care for your child so you can care for yourself.

We’re located in Concord, but we have no geographical boundaries. Families call us from all over the Greater Bay Area, and for many different reasons, including loss of childcare, homelessness, domestic violence, medical issues, stress, and more. And while each family’s story is different, their shared goal is to keep their children safe, healthy, and happy. Nursery families are courageous! 

The Nursery is designed to feel how a home should feel: welcoming, comfortable, and nurturing. It’s the mission of BACN to provide support services to the family as a whole. In addition to giving parents the gift of time, our knowledgeable case manager helps struggling parents create a roadmap to resolve their crises. 

We follow a 1:3 staff to child ratio for children up to 18 months of age and a 1:6 staff to child ratio for children 18 months and older. Outside of all the fun and play, we provide everything needed to care for a child—clothing, diapers, meals, naps, a bedtime story, comfort toy, and lots of hugs. Children don’t need to bring anything with them when they come to stay with us. All of our children at the Nursery feel cared for and supported during their stay.

Said one grateful mom, “My family was going through an extremely hard time last year, and although I had heard about the Nursery, I was terrified at the thought of leaving my babies in the hands of strangers. I went ahead and took them to the Nursery for a 30-day stay, and the staff was phenomenal! They not only care for the well-being of the kids, but for the entire family.”

Children come and go from the Nursery, but they’re never far from our hearts! When family resources run low, Nursery families know they can turn to BACN’s free Parent’s Pantry—always stocked with food, diapers, formula, wipes, and other personal hygiene products. Since California’s shelter-in-place order took effect, BACN has distributed 117 bags of food, 24 boxes of baby wipes, and a whopping 1,689 diapers to Nursery families in need! 

We understand that most crises cannot be resolved overnight, which is why struggling families can depend on the Nursery for ongoing support. Respite stays are planned 48-hour monthly visits, which for some families, have made dreams come true. 

Last year we were overjoyed to hear from a Nursery mom who had recently graduated from nursing school after overcoming unimaginable adversity. As a new mom, she had immigrated to the U.S. from Vietnam to escape domestic violence and to make a happy life for her baby girl. This mom utilized respite care for many years to study for nursing exams, and today, her dream is a reality.

For 39 years, we have heard many similar stories of despair and loss, and of hope and transformation. BACN is proud to play a role in any family’s healing journey. Call us today at (925) 685-8052 or visit us online at bayareacrisisnursery.org. All young children are welcome at the Nursery. You can count on it. 

Bay Area Crisis Nursery CCL Facility #071405405