Did you know that there are many different types of childcare services? Ever heard of a relief nursery? South Coast Family Harbor is a non-profit organization that is part of the Oregon Association of Relief Nurseries (OARN). SCDC recently met with Tracie Skinner, Executive Director, of the South Coast Family Harbor (SCFH), to talk about the special services they offer.
 
The South Coast Family Harbor program is patterned after other relief nurseries throughout the U.S.  The Relief Nursery concept is a nationally recognized non-profit model proven to protect young children while strengthening high-risk, multi-stressed families.  Relief nurseries are supported by private and public partnerships, and gains strength through community involvement, financial donations, and volunteers.

The goal of a relief nursery is to help the family stay safe, together, and thriving by providing therapeutic early childhood development services for children and comprehensive family support. As part of this they offer several programs including therapeutic early childhood classrooms (for children 2-4), home visitations, consultations with Mental Health child therapists, respite care programs (Fridays 1:00-3:30 pm), parenting classes (First and Third Fridays from 12:30-2:30 pm), plus resource and referral services. They hope to add an additional day to their respite care program this spring. 

“We are the first Relief Nursery on the Oregon Coast” Ms. Skinner added. Many of our smaller communities could use some help. The program, she indicated, is growing faster all the time, due to increasing needs related to financial stability and substance abuse.  Coos County has the highest child abuse victim rate per 1,000 children in the State of Oregon.1 

There are many at risk families on the Oregon Coast. At risk families are identified through a weighted risk analysis. Once identified, services provided by the Harbor can be extended to all children in a family that are under the age of 15. The type of services can include recommendations, referrals, mental health consultations, home teacher visits, as well as, therapeutic classrooms for children 2-4. The goal is to create stronger networks for keeping children safe. 

We are “Helping Families Help Themselves” Ms. Skinner said. “Families are coming here,” she continued, “willing to work with us.” “We are not a mandated program,” she summed up indicating that assistance is confidential, and staff are licensed and required to sign confidentiality contracts as established under Oregon Archives 423-045-0101. 

The Oregon Association of Relief Nurseries program was created to help prevent child abuse and neglect by employing individualized community supports, such as the SCFH, to strengthen high-risk families and keep children safe, healthy, and ready to learn. It all started back in 1976. The Junior League of Eugene created the Lane County Relief Nursery and began providing respite care to a handful of children in borrowed space in a church basement. In 1984, Jean Phelps was hired and the Relief Nursery model developed and flourished.
 
The SCFH started out about five years ago here in Coos Bay under the title “Nurturing Center” and evolved the second year as a “Relief Nursery” under the Southwestern Community College umbrella. In 2015, the SCFH received their 501©3 non-profit status. As a non-profit they provide services to qualifying families at no charge. 

In Oregon, the program has grown to include 30-31 locations (both centers and satellite locations).  Ms. Skinner indicated that Oregon will be adding two centers and seven satellite locations this year. They are also looking “for other ways to serve the community.” This could include an infant day care program, classroom expansion, expanded educational services, and increase the number of families in the home based/outreach services.  

To do this, they rely on a public and private partnership which includes grants, fund raising events, and fun events. To check in on the most recent activity follow this link: https://mtyc.co/j04lxf. Two main fund-raising events occur each year: Starry, Starry Night in May and Casino Night in September/October.  

Ms. Skinner indicated that they will also be participating in the Festival of Trees program this year. The SCFH tree will have a Disney theme and will be auctioned off. The tree will then be given back with gifts to a needy family right before Christmas break. Very exciting! 
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There is, depending on the season, a waiting list of families hoping to get in. This time of year, the list is short. If you are interested in learning more, participating, or supporting the Harbor please visit their website at southcoastfamilyharbor.org or call 541-982-3090.  SCFH is located at 250 Hull, Coos Bay, OR on the edge of the Southwestern Oregon Community College campus.  
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1 South Coast Family Harbor Board Manual, 2018, section 10. 

This month Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) reintroduced the “Right Start Child Care and Education Act” which will help to make child care more affordable for working class families. Oregon is notorious for having some of the highest child care costs in the nation1. The goal is to amend the Federal tax code to:

--Increase outdated dollar limits on eligible child care expenses for families. This would raise the overall percentage range, the maximum expense amount, and the maximum income one can have to take advantage of the maximum credit (which has also been raised). The bill also increases the maximum amount for employer-provided flexible spending accounts.

--Make child care tax credit fully refundable. The lowest income families are eligible for the tax credits but often only receive a small share of the benefits due to the lack of tax liabilities. This proposal will make the credit refundable to more low-income families and increase benefits for middle income families.

--Provide a tax credit for educated childcare professionals of $2,000 per year for up to three years. To qualify you would need a degree in early childhood education, child care, or a related subject, and are working at licensed child care facility. 

--Increase tax credits for businesses that support child care benefits for employees. This proposal increases the tax credit, and also increases the total allowable credit. To read more about this proposal go to: http://usa.childcareaware.org/2019/01/new-child-care-affordability-legislation-introduced/

There is also a fee assistance program proposal for supporting military families that are not able to get on-installation care on the horizon and ensure that the families are mission ready. To read more about this program go do: http://usa.childcareaware.org/2018/12/fee-assistance-programs-serving-supporting-military-families/

References
1/ “How unaffordable is childcare in Oregon? New report ranks costs.”  https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2017/12/childcare_is_really_unaffordab.html
How does childcare relate to Business Expansion and Retention (BRE)? Supporting BRE activities is a key part of the South Coast Development Council, Inc. mission. Obtaining quality childcare is critical for attracting and retaining talent in our community. Investments in childcare provide positive short-term economic stimulus on the broader economy, and have positive long-term effects of increasing effective demand and promoting quality. Childcare is also an important predominantly female-owned small business sector that may not know how to leverage BRE resources. This help includes ways to expand their businesses or relocate to larger venues, developing backup service strategies, retaining and recruiting new employees and solving workforce challenges, attracting donors, utilizing grants, and leveraging other business resources and benefits. Bringing awareness to this sector is one way to help educate the public, attract donors, benefit our future generation of workers, and support our community.