Concord-Based Children’s Crisis Nursery Selected As 2022 Nonprofit Of The Year
CONCORD, CA (July 2, 2022) — Senator Steve Glazer (D-Contra Costa) has chosen the Concord-based Bay Area Crisis Nursery as the 2022 California Nonprofit of the Year for the 7th Senate District.
The crisis nursery has worked to prevent child abuse and neglect since 1981 by providing supportive services to families.
“The Bay Area Crisis Nursery is the only service of its kind in our region,” Sen. Glazer said. “By providing short-term residential care and emergency childcare for children up to five years old, the nursery gives parents time to focus on resolving a crisis or a stressful situation.
“This is invaluable, especially during these times when so many peoples’ lives have been upended by the pandemic.”
Critical services
The families who come to the nursery live in poverty. Many experience homelessness, escaping domestic violence, dealing with medical and/or mental health emergencies, or have suddenly lost their childcare provider. These families can’t conceive of paying for quality childcare, and overnight care.
These services have proven especially critical during the pandemic. In 2021, the demand for the center’s services increased significantly. The number of clients have more than doubled. They’ve seen a 700 percent increase in the hours of emergency child care provided.
Last year, the nursery provided more than 26,000 hours of care. It found nearly 1,800 safe stays for children in crisis, and nearly 800 overnight and respite care services. The center also has a food and diaper bank that served more than 450 families. The center provided 900 holiday meals and 219 backpacks for children to use in school.
Stepping up
This is the seventh year of the California Nonprofit of the Year initiative. In this time of continuing uncertainty and suffering, nonprofits have continued to step up to support our communities as circumstances and needs change swiftly.
“Nonprofit organizations play such a critical role in our communities, and the last two years of the pandemic have only served to highlight that,” noted Jan Masaoka, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits), which serves as a partner for this awards program. “California Nonprofit of the Year gives elected officials the opportunity to shine a light on the important work nonprofits are doing in their districts and for everyone to appreciate the collective impact of nonprofits in our communities.”
The Crisis Nursery will be honored Wednesday with nonprofits from across California at a ceremony on the West Steps of the state Capitol.
Here is a list of previous Non-Profits of the Year honored by Sen. Glazer:
- 2021 – La Clinica de La Raza, Contra Costa County
- 2020 – Trinity Center, Walnut Creek
- 2019 – Monument Crisis Center, Concord
- 2018 – White Pony Express – Pleasant Hill