Early Childhood

When Kia Hansen had gall bladder surgery last November, doctors told her she couldn't lift more than 15 pounds as she recovered. That included the most important weight Kia lifts every day – her then nine-month-old son Logan.

"At night I had my family to help with him, but during the day they were all at work," she said.

Logan attends an Early Head Start program, where a staff member told Kia, a single mother, about LSI's crisis child care.

Crisis child care is a program LSI provides in Boone, Dallas and Story counties. When families experience a crisis or emergency and lack adequate child care, they can call LSI's crisis care hotline that operates 24-7.

When LSI gets a call, staff begins making arrangements for the child to stay with a registered, trained day care provider. LSI coordinates transportation to and from the day care home, and parents fill out information that will be helpful to the provider in caring for the child or children.

Families can access the child care at no cost to themselves for up to 72 hours per admission per child. All families in the three counties are eligible for the service, regardless of income.

A resident of Nevada, Kia called the crisis line and had arrangements made for the week after her surgery. LSI staff came to her home each day to take Logan to a registered day care provider in Roland and then brought him back home in the evenings.

Since July of 2008, there have been 145 placements of children in crisis child care in all three counties, including children whose families have used the program more than once.

The program can be a key resource to prevent child neglect, said LSI caseworker Jennifer Wilson.

"Many of these families have limited resources," she said. "Without us, none of their options would be good. The child could be left in an unsafe situation or an ill mother might not be able to take care of herself. It lessens the risk of neglect and avoids putting the child or entire family at risk."

Families have used the program because of situations such as homelessness, domestic abuse or an unexpected family emergency, Wilson said. Another example is a new family in town who may not have nearby friends or family that can assist in a crisis. Others use the program for only a few hours until they can make other arrangements.

For Kia, the program allowed her to fully recover while knowing her son was in safe hands.

Logan is now a one-year-old, happily busy toddling about and talking. Kia said she hopes she never has to use crisis child care again, but she is glad it's there if she needs it.

"It's just the best program ever."

To access crisis child care, call 515.460.2423 in Boone and Story counties or call 515.230.8955 in Dallas County. LSI's crisis child care program is also currently looking for more registered day care homes in Story and Boone counties who would like to provide care.