The Bay Area Crisis Nursery (BACN) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is child abuse prevention. The purpose of the Bay area Crisis Nursery is to prevent abuse and neglect of young children by providing support to families who are under stress or crisis. After a 5-month search, the Bay Area Crisis Nursery is excited to announce that Tara Bartholomew has joined the organization as the new executive director.

Tara follows the nursery’s Founder Sister Ann Weltz, of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, who ran the nursery for 37 years. Sister Ann dreamt of opening up a crisis nursery in the Bay Area after working as an assistant director at a crisis nursery in Arizona. She single-handedly raised the necessary funding to open what now still is the only crisis nursery in the Bay Area.

“The nursery was built on the faith, love, and dedication of Sister Ann. I have admired and looked up to her for years. I remember being a young fundraising professional and hearing Sister Ann speak. She was so powerful and such an amazing storyteller. Her passion for the children, families, and the work would move the whole room,” says Tara. “I can’t fill her shoes but we will make sure that her legacy lives on and that the nursery continues to thrive.”

Tara grew up in the East Bay and has been dedicated to working with children and families for twenty years. Her experience includes working in child abuse prevention and treatment agencies and in the childcare field. The board is impressed with her admiration for the nursery itself as well as her overwhelming commitment to working with children and families, her strong leadership skills, and her success in fundraising.

“It is a pleasure to welcome Tara to the Bay Area Crisis Nursery,” says Lynne Vuskovic, Board President. “Tara’s experience working in various roles supporting children is a perfect fit with BACN’s mission. The board of directors are looking forward to Tara’s enthusiasm and can do attitude while we all work together and continue to fulfil the mission of the nursery. We are confident that she has the right skills to lead us to future successes, while honoring and respecting our past accomplishments.” The mission of the nursery is to prevent abuse and neglect. At the heart of the agency is the staff and numerous volunteers who care for the children every day.