Childhaven's new Broadway Center facility, unique in the nation, will double the daily capacity of the branch it replaces. Childhaven treats a total of 267 children on a daily basis. It will also provide new space for the groundbreaking research Childhaven has conducted on the impacts and effective treatment models for abused and neglected children for more than three decades.
"As important as this facility will be, the need is that much greater," said Debra Ronnholm, President & COO of Childhaven, a non-profit organization. "Even at full capacity, Childhaven can only begin to address the magnitude of the crisis our state and nation are facing from early childhood abuse and neglect."
Child abuse and neglect is a serious and growing problem. Experts estimate its direct and indirect costs to taxpayers approaches $2 Billion annually in Washington State alone. These costs are incurred in numerous social institutions, including the juvenile court and prison systems, healthcare, welfare, education and housing.
Childhaven's programs, including Therapeutic Child Care, Drug-Affected Infant Program and a 24-hour Crisis Nursery, as well as parenting education, have produced formidable results, and offered a model for replication in other states and countries.
Established in 1909 as the Seattle Day Nursery, one of the first of 50 child care centers in America, Childhaven is a national pioneer in helping families end the devastating cycle of abuse and neglect.
Source: Childhaven
Web site: www.childhaven.org
