MountainStar Family Relief Nursery gets top ranking
MountainStar Family Relief Nursery announces that it has received a five star quality ranking, the highest ranking possible, from Oregon’s Quality Rating and Improvement System.
Based in Bend, MountainStar provides critical support services for high risk families in the community, including a therapeutic early childhood program, food boxes, clothing and parent mentoring.
With an eye toward improving quality and service, QRIS ranks such organizations throughout the state by evaluating their education materials, personnel qualifications, business practices, measurable outcomes and more.
States MountainStar Executive Director Tim Rusk, “We work with children who are living with mental health issues, domestic violence, homelessness and other risk factors for child abuse. One in three child abuse victims are babies or toddlers, so the need for qualified support is evident. QRIS is an important mechanism for monitoring the quality of those services and we are honored to have received their highest ranking.”
In addition to receiving five star status from QRIS, a recent influx of funds has bolstered MountainStar’s ability to serve families in need throughout Central Oregon.
A $50,000 endowment was created by Carl Davis to honor his wife and former MountainStar board president, Gloria Lopez-Davis. The endowment, which reflects Lopez-Davis’ passion for assisting disadvantaged young children, will provide ongoing support for MountainStar’s infant classes Additionally, grants totaling $100,000 have been awarded to MountainStar by the following private foundations:
Meyer Memorial Trust ($30,000); The Collins Foundation ($30,000); Oregon Community Foundation ($10,000); Robert & Marcia Randall Foundation ($10,000); Pacific Source Foundation ($5,000); St. Charles Health Systems ($4,950); Wheeler Foundation ($4,000); Ronald McDonald House Charities ($2,875); and Jubitz Family Foundation ($2,500).
Rusk says, “April is Child Abuse Prevention Month but we strive to bring our best to babies and toddlers and their families every day of the year. These are vulnerable children who rarely have access to high quality child development opportunities. We are so grateful for the Davis endowment and the numerous grants we have received, all of which will help us continue our work in the community.”
About MountainStar Family Relief Nursery
Nationally accredited, MountainStar Family Relief Nursery (“MountainStar”) provides crisis intervention and a therapeutic classroom for 350 babies and young children from six weeks to five-years-old in Deschutes and Jefferson Counties. These children come from families with multiple risk factors for child abuse and neglect, including low income, homelessness, mental health issues, domestic violence, and substance abuse. Children at this critical age represent half of the victims of child abuse and are at a stage in their development when it is essential to have attached and attentive caretakers. Relief Nurseries have documented success in reducing family risk factors for child abuse and neglect, improving family functioning and self-sufficiency and reducing foster care utilization. For more information about MountainStar and its programs, please visit www.mountainstarfamily.org or call (541) 322-6820.
