Program

A Family Gathering Place Relief Nursery offers therapeutic early childhood classrooms and home-based outreach services. We have Toddler classes (age 24 months to 36 months) on Mondays and Thursdays. Wobbler classes (age 12 months to 24 months) are on Wednesdays and Fridays. All classes run from 9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. Preschool classes (3-5 years) are Monday-Thursday from 1:00 p.m. –4:00 p.m.

There is no cost to participate in the program.

We will be your partner as you and your family develop the following tools:

• A better understanding of your child’s needs
• Healthier connections with family & friends
• The ability to find & access community resources
• A network of parenting support

As a program of Lutheran Community Services Northwest, we are able to provide even more comprehensive services for families. We can provide enrolled families with direct access to mental health clinicians, substance use disorder specialists, and programs/classes for individual, family and group work.

Whatever you and your family are going through, we are here to help!

Our classroom is child-centered. Although there is a consistent pattern to each day, children largely decide in which activity they will engage. Our well-trained staff use what they know about the child, their current home situation, and the activity they have chosen to help them move toward their goals.

Children enrolled at A Family Gathering Place Relief Nursery attend this therapeutic classroom for 47 weeks of the year. The focus of the classroom is on social-emotional skills, helping children develop a strong sense of self as well as communication skills so they can advocate for their own needs. Children who may initially respond to their environment with fear, anger, and outbursts often make significant strides toward a calmer, less reactive way of engaging with their world.

Our model also lends itself to kindergarten readiness. By helping children develop a strong sense of self as well as social and emotional skills, children are better prepared for kindergarten. Kindergarten teachers can then focus on instruction instead of having to discipline children who misbehave.

Our home visits center on child development and parenting strategies. By better understanding the ages and stages of infants, toddlers, and young children, parents can have more reasonable expectations for their child’s behavior. We also help set goals so families can get where they want to be.

We conduct home visits to observe the family and offer on-site parent education and coaching. During these visits, parents can ask questions about child development and ways to help prepare their children for kindergarten. We can provide referrals to other services based on the family’s unique needs. These visits offer parents an opportunity to talk to someone they trust. And the children always get excited to have their Teacher (or Outreach Interventionist) visit their home!

OTHER RESOURCES

Staff organize Family Engagement Nights and Parent Education Cafes monthly. Family Engagement Nights include a fun activity, meal and short presentation at the Relief Nursery or out in the community. We’re helping parents discover low- or no-cost family activities and connecting them to community resources. Parent Education Cafes are held at the Relief Nursery. In these sessions we use a Nurturing Parenting Curriculum and discuss topics like child development, parenting strategies, and how to have hard conversations.

Our team can help meet basic needs so families can thrive. Children sometimes have growth spurts that don’t coincide with pay days. We assist families with new and gently used clothing plus diapers and wipes as needed. We also collect non-perishable food items to give to clients experiencing food insecurity, as well as partnering with the Klamath County Food Bank to provide weekly food boxes. Bus tokens are available to parents participating in our programs based on need and availability.

We provide respite care services for children ages 6 weeks to 6 years as situations arise. Parents may feel especially overwhelmed and need a break, or they may have an appointment or an emergency situation and need childcare. Respite is scheduled monthly but may also be available on an as needed basis upon request.

Funders:

Ford Family Foundation   –   JTMF Foundation   –   Cow Creek Foundation   –   DELC   –

Oregon Community Foundation   –   Quota Club/ Klamath Falls Chapter

Community Partners:

Communities United Resource Network   –   Community UPLiFT   –

Oregon Dept. of Human Services   –   Foster Grandparents Program   –   Friends of the Children   –

Head Start   –   Healthy Klamath Connect   –   Klamath Basin Behavioral Health   –

Klamath County Education Service District   –   Klamath County Food Bank   –

Klamath County Health Department   –   Klamath County Library   –   Klamath Tribes   –

Safe Families for Children   –   South Central Early Learning Hub   –

Take Root Parenting Connection   –   Trends on Thriving (TOTs) Coalition   –   YMCA