Yamhill County, OR – Breaking the generational cycle of substance abuse is tough. For two-year-old McKenzie, her parents’ chemical dependency created huge stress at home.
With the help of A Family Place, McKenzie and her family have a brighter future. A Family Place is a stabilization program for at-risk families. The goal is to stop the cycle of child abuse and neglect with a blend of therapeutic early childhood services and comprehensive family support, which includes alcohol and drug recovery.
Services include free professional home visiting, parent education and specialized preschools for children from birth to age 5. McKenzie takes part in the preschool, while her parents are part of connected counseling programs.
A partnership between Lutheran Community Services Northwest and community groups in Yamhill County Oregon, A Family Place opened its doors in October, 2013. The program uses a nationally-recognized Relief Nursery model that is proven to stabilize young families. Key partners in our efforts include Child Protective Services, domestic violence programs, Heads Start and law enforcement.