Children's Haven of Southwest Missouri

The mission of Children's Haven is to provide temporary shelter to children in a safe, secure environment while their parents resolve a family crisis. Each year hundreds of children ages birth through 17 years receive the nurturing care of our trained professionals while families retain custody and dignity while being individually assisted to directly access appropriate community resources to help resolve the often multifaceted crisis. A family crisis may include but is not limited to: homelessness or unsafe living accommodations, lack of utilities or food, parents or sibling hospitalization, fear of abusing or neglecting children and parent seeking mental health or substance abuse treatment. Through the services provided, the organization works to protect children, prevent child abuse and neglect, reduce family stress and keep families together. Crisis care is available for up to 24 children with future and/or emergency capacity of 42. Children's Haven provides care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. While there are no income requirements to access our services, more than 90% of our children and families fall below the federal poverty guidelines. Due to the nature of crisis, most of the children we serve arrive with only the clothing they are wearing, in urgent need of a meal, clean pajamas, medical assessment and immunizations to promote healthy living, hygiene supples, educational materials and encouragement, along with a soft, safe bed to catch up on much needed rest. Education services support and transport children to their "home" school when possible. Children's Haven provides holistically for each vulnerable child that utilizes crisis care and provides for the emotional, medical, educational, physical and social needs that arise.