Crisis Nursery Services

Why do Parents and Guardians use the Crisis Nursery? 

Families voluntarily bring their children to our center for a variety of reasons, including:

• Overwhelming parental stress
• Lack of healthy family support system 
• Lack of utilities, food or shelter
• Emergency medical need
• Other emergency situations which jeopardize the safety and well being of the child and necessitate temporary parent-child separation.
• Health/medical issues of parent or other family member (ie. siblings).

What is the Average stay? 

The average stay for a child is three overnights. During his or her stay at the Crisis Nursery each child receives care by trained, loving staff and volunteers. These professionals provide individual attention to children who are coming from stressful environments. Parents are encouraged to visit with their children by phone or in person each day.

How do I use the Crisis Nursery? 

For Overnight Clients: Please call ahead (717-845-5771) and schedule an appointment to be placed on the waiting list 

For Day Respite Clients: For clients who wish to use the Crisis Nursery for Day Respite services only, it's requested that they make an appointment when they know the date(s) they would like to utilize the Crisis Nursery. Priority in scheduling is given to overnight respite clients. 

Walk ins are accepted (if space is available).

Intake process:

Please plan approximately one-hour (depending on the number of children) on your first visit for the intake process and approximately 30 minutes for future stays in the Crisis Nursery. This is where we will need to complete paperwork related to your child in our care.