Posted on

McKenna Foundation approves final grants of the year

The McKenna Foundation’s Board of Trustees approved $108,000 in grant funding during the final grantmaking session of the year.

Trustees voted to distribute this amount among nine nonprofit organizations within the McKenna Foundation’s Family Relationships Portfolio. The funding will support initiatives aimed at meeting the needs of our local senior population, children, youth, and families.

One of the organizations receiving funding is the Bulverde Spring Branch Activity Center (BSBAC), which was approved for $22,500. The BSBAC provides comprehensive programs designed to support older adults, promote independent living, and battle isolation. Serving rural Comal County, the BSBAC also serves approximately 87 individuals through its Meals on Wheels program, addressing seniors’ nutritional needs, health, socialization, and overall quality of life.

Trustees also approved $8,000 of funding for Project 10:27. According to the CDC, socially isolated seniors face a 50% increased risk of developing dementia, a 29% higher likelihood of heart disease, and a 32% increased risk of a stroke. Project 10:27 aims to alleviate these risks by reducing loneliness and social isolation among our neighbors through programs that cater to their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

“We are immensely thankful to the McKenna Foundation for their generous support of our mission. This grant not only validates our efforts to combat loneliness among seniors but also invigorates our commitment to this cause.,” said Project 10:27 founder and executive director Shane Carter. “Their partnership is instrumental in enabling us to expand our reach and deepen our impact, ensuring that every senior we serve feels truly valued, connected, and cared for. Together, we are building a strong community where no senior has to endure isolation alone.”

1HOPE for Kids was approved for $10,000 by the McKenna Board. The organization offers foster care services, supporting children and families by recruiting and training foster parents, facilitating matches, providing education, and more. Since its inception, 1HOPE for Kids has licensed over 400 families, served more than 1,000 children, facilitated 340 adoptions, and helped over 480 children reunite with their families.

New Braunfels Angels, a nonprofit based in New Braunfels, will receive $7,500 in funding to support its Dare to Dream program. This initiative provides one-on-one mentorship to foster youth at risk of aging out of the foster care system. With a 72% rise in youth experiencing mental health issues and nearly 50% of local students identified as “at-risk,” the Dare to Dream program aims to provide foster youth with stability, mentorship, and trauma-informed care.

This third and final round of grantmaking for the year concentrated on the Foundation’s Family Relationships Portfolio, which aims at empowering all generations with the skills and support required to strengthen family bonds. Funding areas include child and youth development, parenting support, abuse and neglect prevention and recovery, and senior services.

With the final grants approved, the Foundation has distributed over $1.4 million to local nonprofit organizations in 2024 alone. In June, the Foundation allocated $575,000 in grant funding under its Basic Needs Portfolio, and in August, it distributed $564,000 to nonprofits within the Education and Health Portfolios.

Since 2009, the McKenna Foundation has granted nearly $30 million to local nonprofits. In 2025, the Foundation looks forward to continuing its legacy and investing in local nonprofit organizations to create a lasting impact on the community.

For more information please visit the McKenna Foundation website or follow us on Instagram @mckennafoundation.

Posted on

McKenna Foundation launches early childhood care initiative

The McKenna Foundation, in collaboration with Early Matters San Antonio and the New Braunfels Economic Development Foundation, has officially launched the Path Forward for Early Learning and Care initiative following the inaugural session on August 24.

The event marked a significant milestone, uniting over 20 local childcare providers and 25 local business leaders in two separate but parallel sessions. These sessions provided a platform to voice concerns, share knowledge, and initiate the development of an improved early childhood ecosystem in New Braunfels.

In the session for providers, they were guided to posters on the walls displaying statements regarding the current state of early childcare in New Braunfels and tasked with identifying which ones resonated most with them. One of the statements that resonated most was, “The System is broken – it costs parents too much and we cannot pay educators enough.”

The numbers support this reality. In Comal County, an average of 11.5% of a family’s income is allocated to childcare, significantly surpassing the 7% threshold considered to be affordable. This was underscored by one provider who noted that a colleague could not afford childcare for their child at their center. Another highlighted that low wages are driving employees away from the sector, often to the food service or retail industries, where the pay is higher and the work less demanding.

Regarding employment, guest speaker Sara Redington of The Best Place for Working Parents highlighted to local business leaders the advantages of investing in childcare policies, noting that 83% of millennials would switch jobs for one that offers stronger family support and policies.

The assembly of childcare professionals also expressed concerns over a lack of awareness of the crucial brain development in the earliest stages of life. This topic was not only prevalent among the childcare providers but also among local business leaders who attended the corresponding session.

During the meeting with local business leaders, Pre-K 4 SA CEO Sarah Baray emphasized that 90% of brain development occurs before age five. This period is marked by a surge in synapse development, crucial for learning and memory formation. Within this realm, childcare professionals voiced concerns that their pivotal role in this stage is not widely recognized, emphasizing that they are seen as babysitters rather than educators.

Local providers further shared their worries about the increasing complexity of regulations, mandates, and certification demands. “The regulations that they have make it nearly impossible to take care of a child,” stated one local provider. Another added that we “need to find a way to regulate it without squeezing our necks.”

Mark Larson, the Executive Director of Early Matters San Antonio, supported these concerns. He noted that as of the beginning of April, only three of the 26 centers in New Braunfels will be eligible to accept scholarships and subsidies due to stringent regulations come October 2024. Specifically, centers will have to achieve a Texas Rising Star rating to receive scholarships, a process that is lengthy and expensive.

Though these initial discussions focused on brainstorming and education, they laid the groundwork for tackling the challenges faced by the early childcare sector in New Braunfels. With a draft of goals, strategies, and actions set into motion, future sessions will focus on implementing measures to advance this initiative and enhance the early childhood environment in the community.

McKenna would like to extend its gratitude to the following stakeholders and providers for sharing your expertise and perspectives in the first Path Forward for Early Learning and Care session: First Protestant School, CRRC, The Pillars Christian Learning Center, Gruene Tree Learning Center, Learning Their Way, Triple L Ranch, the Family Life Center, St. Paul Lutheran, Belong, the New Braunfels Food Bank, Ms. Debbie’s Darlings Preschool, the City of New Braunfels, and all else involved.

The next meeting is scheduled for October 5, from 10 am to 1 pm at the McKenna Events Center. If you did not attend the first session but would like to participate in the upcoming sessions, RSVP by emailing kfain@mckenna.org.

Posted on

McKenna Foundation seeking input from local childcare providers

The Mckenna Foundation is seeking support and participation from local early childcare providers to push forward in creating an ambitious yet practical future for our youngest learners.

The McKenna Foundation is organizing a series of collaborative sessions to address the challenges faced by local childcare providers and parents. These sessions aim to create a pathway toward affordable and high-quality early childhood care while simultaneously running a successful business.

To accomplish this, the Foundation is seeking the unique insights and experiences of local childcare providers to help shape a promising future for our children.

Local childcare providers are invited to join us and participate in the first Path Forward for Early Learning and Care meeting on August 24, from 10 am to 1 pm at the McKenna Events Center. Local providers who participate in all three sessions will be entered to win a complimentary field trip to the McKenna Children’s Museum for up to 50 children currently enrolled at their center.

If you are a local childcare provider and would like to participate in the Path Forward for Early Learning and Care sessions, RSVP by emailing Kristen Fain at kfain@mckenna.org.

The McKenna Foundation recognizes that the challenges in early childhood care are significant and multifaceted, with a few of the key issues including:

HIGH COSTS: Childcare often costs more than in-state college tuition, making it a significant financial burden for families.

LOW WAGES: Childcare workers earn significantly less than workers in other sectors, such as retail.

LEGISLATION: Changes in licensure and business models are causing many childcare centers in Texas to close.

FUNDING GAPS: There is insufficient funding and support for early childhood education compared to K-12 education.

STAFFING: There is a high turnover rate and a shortage of trained teachers in the field.

 

These challenges highlight the need for increased investment and support for early childhood education to ensure that children, families, and childcare workers can thrive in our community.

For more information on early childhood care and education, click here.

Posted on

Texas Tribune: In the Texas Panhandle, a nonprofit is fighting rural child care deserts

In the Texas Panhandle, a nonprofit is fighting rural child care deserts

By Jayme Lozano Carver, The Texas Tribune

“In the Texas Panhandle, a nonprofit is fighting rural child care deserts” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.

FRIONA — The economy in this Panhandle town of about 4,100 people has long rested on the backs of its working-class residents, who for decades have dutifully filled the ranks at meatpacking facilities, school buildings and other vital businesses.

But city officials noticed a shift after the COVID-19 pandemic. Fewer residents were interested in taking in-person jobs at companies in the town. One key reason: It was too difficult and costly to find child care.

For about as long as anyone can remember, Parmer County, where Friona resides southwest of Amarillo, didn’t have a single day care center. Parents were largely paying the price through long morning commutes to far-flung child care providers in the region. According to the National Database of Childcare Prices, the cost of child care in Texas can range from $6,000 to nearly $11,000 annually.

The rise of remote jobs and telework during the pandemic made day-to-day life a little bit easier. Afterward, many Friona residents, 73% of whom are Hispanic, seemed reluctant to take jobs at the business that kept the town running. And for some parents, the high cost of child care forced them to make difficult decisions about whether they could continue living or working there at all.

“We determined the problem is not that people didn’t want to work, it’s that they don’t have the means to afford child care,” said Leander Davila, Friona’s city manager.

From mental health treatment to primary care doctors, the Panhandle has starved for critical resources that are largely out of reach for people in the far corner of the state. When it comes to lacking child care within driving distance, however, the problem is not exclusive to the Panhandle. Data from the Center of American Progress, a nonpartisan policy institute, shows 63% of rural families in the Lone Star state live in a child care desert.

Happy Tribe Academy daycare is seen Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Friona.
Happy Tribe Academy day care is seen Wednesday in Friona. Credit: Mark Rogers for The Texas Tribune

Maureen Coffey, an early childhood policy analyst for CAP, said day care centers often close in rural communities because low enrollment prevents them from bringing in enough revenue to operate. And with the rising cost of child care, Coffey said families reach an inevitable breaking point where one parent drops out of the labor force to take care of the children.

“These are issues that are entrenched and systemic and underlie the entire child care sector,” Coffey said. “So we have to address the root sources of our issues in child care if we want the situation to stabilize and improve.”

Coffey added, “By taking families out of the workforce, we’re hurting businesses in the Texas Panhandle.”

In Friona, though, parental relief — and a potential economic solution for the city — arrived after the Amarillo Area Foundation provided a grant for more than $114,000 to the City of Friona to open a day care center in town. The foundation, which is a nonprofit that focuses on addressing health and economic challenges in the Panhandle, worked with the city on its mission. In November, the Happy Tribe Academy opened.

“I’ve noticed the need for years here, especially with the Cargill plant and other employers in Friona and surrounding areas,” said Mariza Licerio, the center’s director.

The center is located in the town’s former Girl Scout building. Some renovations were needed — including a $16,000 roof. They received an additional $45,000 from the foundation through a fund gifted by Cargill, the beef processing facility, for that and other work.

The academy has started small, something Licerio is grateful for. She and her small crew take care of 11 children, three of whom are there part-time. Their curriculum consists of the basics — colors, shapes, numbers — as well as time for lunch and crafts. They are accepting children as young as six weeks old through school age.

There is still room to grow, though, as the building is large enough to house up to 42 children. Licerio said six more people reached out to her since the start of the year, which makes her excited for the future. Some aren’t even Friona residents — they’re from nearby towns — which proves to Licerio how needed child care is in the region.

Mariza Licerio, Director of Happy Tribe Academy daycare, poses for a photo in one of her classrooms Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in Friona.
Mariza Licerio, director of Happy Tribe Academy in Friona, poses for a photo in one of her classrooms. Credit: Mark Rogers for The Texas Tribune

“There were faithful nannies and some babysitters, but not a day care,” said Licerio, who is fulfilling a lifelong dream by opening one in her hometown.

Davila said the day care will open the door for more opportunities in his hometown. Friona’s business owners have become more diverse in recent years, and he hopes the day care will help continue that trend.

“We’ve been able to bridge that gap and bring people who already loved this community together,” Davila said. “In order to make change, it’s going to take some time, and we’re in it for the long haul.”

The Amarillo Area Foundation also awarded funds to Claude, 96 miles northeast of Friona, to address the same issue last year. Keralee Clay, senior vice president for the foundation, said their investment is to ensure families in the Panhandle have the support they need to continue working and sending their children to safe learning environments.

However, Clay said, it needs to be a multi-pronged effort that includes financial help from other communities and businesses.

“We know we cannot fund a child care center in every community and solve this problem,” Clay said. “We’d love to, but that’s not the systemic change we need. We need to help communities understand that this is affecting everyone.”

When it comes to solving such a large problem — about 51% of all people in the U.S. live in a child care desert — Clay said there will also need to be some kind of help from state lawmakers.

“There are some changes that can only come from Austin,” Clay said.

Last year, the Texas Legislature had an opportunity to approve a $2.3 billion proposal that would have funded child care providers. The proposal was left out of the final budget.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/11/texas-panhandle-childcare-desert-friona/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.

Posted on

McKenna Foundation awards $200,000 in funding to strengthen local family relationship programs

Oct. 26, 2023: The McKenna Foundation awarded $200,000 in grant funding to eight nonprofit organizations in Comal County in this year’s third and final round of grantmaking.

The Foundation awarded family relationship program grants to first-time recipients 1HOPE for Kids and Project 10:27 Inc.

1HOPE for Kids, a licensing foster and adoption agency, received funding for its Providing Hope and a Home for Kids in Crisis program, which offers a multifaceted approach to foster family assistance, recruiting, training and verifying families, as well as working alongside biological families to make necessary changes toward restoration. The agency also provides adoption services and partners with churches to establish and foster adoption ministries while developing support for foster families within their home churches.

Assisting Project 10:27 Inc. in its commitment to alleviating loneliness and social isolation experienced by senior adults, the Foundation granted funds for the agency’s planned expansion of engagement and outreach efforts with Comal County seniors, which includes its Caring Connections Card program and support of home and nursing home visits.

The Foundation also awarded grants to Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas, Bulverde Spring Branch Activity Center, CASA of Central Texas, Chosen Care Inc., Hope Hospice Foundation and New Braunfels Angels for its family relationship programs.

“The McKenna Foundation values families and funds programs that support all generations – kids, adults, and seniors,” said CEO Alice Jewell. “Ultimately, children thrive when their parents do. People’s needs change over time based on internal and external conditions, and Comal County is fortunate to have nonprofits with strong programs that meet needs for a lifetime.”

Foundation board members approved the grant requests during their October meeting.

McKenna’s family relationships portfolio is designed to fund nonprofit organizations providing skills and support to strengthen the family bond.

Funding areas for family relationship grants include youth development, parenting support, abuse/neglect prevention and recovery and senior services.

This year, the Foundation gifted nearly $2.1 million in grants to 42 nonprofit organizations in Comal County.

The Foundation accepts applications from verified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving New Braunfels and Comal County residents. In addition, the Foundation maintains a geographic limitation that requires grant funds to be used for residents in Comal County.

McKenna began making grants to community nonprofits in 2009 and has since awarded nearly $30 million in grants to nonprofit organizations serving New Braunfels and Comal County residents.

Contact McKenna’s grant team at 830-606-9500 or email grants@mckenna.org for more information. Visit the Foundation’s website at www.mckenna.org.

Posted on

Connections breaks ground on new 28,000-square-foot facility

Oct. 9, 2023: A New Braunfels-based nonprofit organization has taken the next step in its mission to support at-risk youth, breaking ground on a new 28,000-square-foot facility that will expand its service capacity.

Connections Individual and Family Services on Oct. 5 marked the start of the first phase of the project, which will provide residents of the emergency children’s shelter and transitional living home with improved facilities to support youth recovering from trauma.

Established in 1981, Connections offers support services for homeless, abused and at-risk youths, families and the communities in which they live. The agency serves 17 counties with counseling, prevention programming, an emergency children’s shelter and a youth transitional living program.

Connection’s chief executive officer, Jacob Huereca, described the expansion as a “once-in-a-generation” project.

“This is going to be a difference maker for the westside of this community,” Huereca said. “We’re going to revitalize this side of town. We’re going to bring hope for generations to come.”

The new campus at the agency’s West San Antonio Street address will bring together the emergency shelter and transitional living program, allowing youth to benefit from individual and group meeting spaces, therapy rooms and bedrooms designed for youth experiencing trauma.

The new campus will also enable growth within the counseling program to combat growing challenges with mental health.

The current residential homes have sheltered more than 5,000 youth during the agency’s 42-year history, according to Huereca. The agency has also provided counseling services to more than 10,000 children and substance abuse prevention services to more than 15,000 youth.

The expected completion of the first phase of the project is fall 2024. The second phase includes training and meeting spaces, community resource areas, counseling and prevention offices, play therapy and sensory rooms, intake rooms and administrative areas.

In addition to its emergency shelter and transitional living program, the agency offers free or reduced-cost counseling for youth and families and in-school and community events that support positive youth development and family stability.

Vanessa Dean, a former “foster kid” who had experienced homelessness as a youth, spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony about the difference the organization made in her life, stating that “these walls have a lot of stories.”

“When you walk into a place like this, it can be pretty terrifying,” Dean said. “You feel very alone but, yet you are surrounded by 20 other children. They don’t let you feel that way for very long here. They fill you up pretty quickly. I didn’t know what it was like to be loved on. I didn’t have much self-worth. Connections really made a difference.”

Huereca said that the agency has raised $5.4 million for the new project but has about $2.2 million to go.

“We’re going to be able to serve more kids,” he said. “And we’re going to be here 42 years from now, still bringing hope to the community.”

In 2021, the McKenna Foundation provided funding that allowed Connections to purchase land for the project.

For more information on Connections or to donate to its capital campaign, visit connectionsifs.org or call 830-629-6571 ext. 221.

Posted on

Community-based care model provides increased chance of foster children remaining in the community

August 28, 2023:

Through the Community-Based Care model, a new way of providing foster care and case management systems, children who have been removed from their homes due to experiencing suspected abuse and neglect have an increased chance of remaining in their community with families who have answered the call to open their hearts and homes to needy kids.

The public received an entire evening’s worth of education on local child protection and abuse prevention resource coordination efforts during a meeting of the New Braunfels IDEA Forum hosted by the Children’s Advocacy Center of Comal County.

Presenters included Kane Jaggers from Belong, a division of SJRC Texas, and Kristin Evens from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).

Traditionally, DFPS is responsible for locating a foster home or other living arrangements for that child.

In the Community-Based Care model, Belong, rather than DFPS, finds foster homes and other suitable living arrangements for foster children and youth in the 27-county area of South Central Texas and the Hill Country.

In April 2021, SJRC Texas, formerly St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, was awarded a contract through DFPS for its division Belong to serve as the lead provider of Community-Based Care. Belong launched its services in October 2021.

Last year, Belong transitioned to a second stage of Community-Based Care. The second stage allowed the agency to assume additional responsibilities of case management services of the child welfare system.

Belong staffers work alongside the DFPS to support children and families impacted by trauma through prevention services and ongoing support. The agency collaborates with various organizations within Comal County to help bring the community together to create a safety net for children and families and help bridge resources to those in need.

According to statistics presented by Jaggers, 35% of children removed from homes this year due to suspected abuse are placed in living arrangements inside Comal County. In addition, 45% of those are placed with kinship family members. Other placements include shelters, foster homes and other accommodations inside and outside the county. The ultimate goal, Jaggers said, is family reunification or adoption.

Jaggers cited some reasons those in-county or kinship placement numbers aren’t higher.

“The kids coming into care are children who are older, who have high mental health needs, who are of minority status, who come in large sibling groups,” Jaggers said. “A lot of individuals in the community have a stigma of what it looks like to be a foster home. But we’re in the home once a month. CASA is in the home once a month. If there’s another agency involved, they’re in the home once a month. We as a culture do not support those who answer the call to be part of the solution.”

Of the 175 Comal County children under Belong’s care, 45% are ages 0-5, 34% are ages 6-13, 13% are aged 14-17 and 8% are aged 18 and up.

The Belong statistics show by gender, 96 of the children removed are girls, while 79 are boys. Broken down by race or ethnicity, 49% are Hispanic, 31% are white, 9% are black and the remainder of the children are multiple races or “unable to determine.”

“We need to do a better job of supporting these people who say ‘I’ll help,'” Jaggers said. “Maybe it’s not to be a foster parent. Maybe it’s to be a mentor. Maybe it’s to help babysit. Maybe it’s to foster a foster family. There are other ways we can be part of the solution.”

With Comal County working together, families can be connected to services to help increase parenting support, mental health services, and community education and awareness to prevent children from being removed and decrease the trauma they experience.

In 2022, there were nearly 57,000 confirmed cases of child abuse and neglect in Texas, according to DFPS statistics. More than 8%, or 1,447 cases, occurred in Comal County.

“It is up to each of us as members of the community to protect children and ensure that they have the resources necessary to lead productive lives,” Evens said. “Every child deserves to be safe and feel secure.”

Jaggers and Evens said child protection agencies hope to increase the number of foster homes, develop and maintain community collaboration with various stakeholders, identify philanthropic donors, establish a motivated group of volunteers and obtain space for a foster home supply closet.

For more information on how to be part of the solution, join Belong on the first Saturday of the month for a virtual informational meeting by registering at https://sjrcbelong.org/events/.

SJRC Texas has been a foster care provider in Texas for about 40 years, operating a residential operation, child-placing agency and prevention programs. Offices are located in San Antonio, Bulverde and New Braunfels.

Find additional information on the IDEA Forum and future events at www.nbideaforum.com.

Posted on

Crisis Center of Comal County settles into new location after devestating 2022 fire

July 25, 2023: In April 2022, the Crisis Center of Comal County lost its emergency shelter and residential facility due to a fire.

Now, the Center is settling into a new home on Landa Street in New Braunfels.

But the agency’s mission hasn’t changed: to provide crisis and prevention services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault while providing a safe environment where individuals can make educated, unbiased decisions about their future.

Mildred Monreal, the Center’s chief development officer, said the new location is advantageous as it provides more space, enabling the organization to expand its offerings.

“It’s great that we moved from a smaller space on East Common Street to this larger space and the chance that we’ll build capacity for the agency,” Monreal said. “It’s very exciting overall as we get more settled into the space and figure out all the new things we can do with it.”

The Center provides services to women, children and men of all ages. These services include a 24-hour crisis line, shelter, counseling, support groups, legal advocacy, assistance with filing for child support, case management, victim advocacy, information and referral, transportation and
community education and prevention.

The new location will eventually serve as the Center’s base of operation — housing its services, thrift store and administrative offices in one place.

“We have our thrift store on site, which is another source of income,” she said. “We’ll be able to have events in the building because we have a ballroom. We plan on changing out our ballroom to a conference-style space, so we can expand our education programs – we can bring in the community to talk to them. Of course, our counseling rooms are available, but now we can go beyond that and work with larger groups because of the larger space. We also have space for our prevention programs.”

The Center is also about to launch a capital campaign to earn funds for a new shelter facility on the Landa Street property that would house the agency’s services and various spaces of living to accommodate families and individuals, as well as a kennel for clients who have pets. The proposed facility would house about 90 people, according to Monreal.

To celebrate the agency’s 37th anniversary and its new location, the Center will host an open house and community partner fair on July 28 from 4-7 p.m. at the facility at 655 Landa St.

The open house will include guided tours and engaging activities for individuals of all ages, making it a family-friendly event.

Additionally, local organizations, businesses and community groups will come together at the event to showcase their services, initiatives and resources.

“We found that now is the right time to open up the doors and share with the community what we are doing as the Crisis Center,” she said. “This is also a way to be transparent with what we are doing and to bond with the community. It is a commitment to make sure that everyone understands what services we provide and is able to get information.”

The Center is a partner organization with the McKenna Foundation. The Foundation’s board recently awarded the Center a $125,000 grant as part of McKenna’s basic living needs portfolio.

If you or someone you know needs immediate help with crisis services, information or referrals, call the Center’s 24-hour crisis line at 800-434-8013 or 830-620-4357 or text 830-310-2199.

Walk-ins are welcome at the office at 655 Landa St. from 9 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. There is no need to make an appointment to receive immediate crisis intervention and advocacy services.

If you are in danger and need immediate assistance, call 9-1-1.

To learn more about the Center and how they serve the community or to volunteer and donate, visit www.crisiscenternb.org.