On a frequent basis, people with urgent business before the Court -- often related to personal safety, housing, or other critical issues -- arrive at the courthouse with children in tow, because they have no better option. Everyone -- from court staff and judges to attorneys to the general population using the courthouse -- benefits by giving parents the option to utilize childcare at the courthouse |
Mid-Valley Court and Community CareEffective May 1, 2024, Mid-Valley Court and Community Care is pleased to announce the re-opening of its site
in Salem! Mid-Valley Court and Community Care provides free, drop-in childcare to families in Marion and Polk Counties that require short-duration childcare to attend to court-related or other business. The Salem site is located at the downtown Salem YMCA, 685 Court St NE, and operated by the YCMA. The current hours of operation are as follows: Monday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (extended hours) Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. To register for a timeslot, visit the YMCA’s website at https://theyonline.org/child-care-and-camps or contact America Flores, Early Learning Director, Family YMCA of Marion and Polk Counties at [email protected] or 503.305.4405. For general information about Mid-Valley Court and Community Care, email [email protected] or follow us on Facebook. Stay tuned for future updates on expanded hours of operation and capacity. History of Mid-Valley Court and Community Care Mid-Valley Court and Community Care originally opened its doors in 2017 at the YMCA and Family Building Blocks. From 2017 through 2019, Mid-Valley Court and Community Care provided care to over 500 children. Before the creation of Mid-Valley Court and Community Care, hundreds of children were brought into courtrooms each year because caregivers lacked other options. In courtrooms, children were often exposed to sensitive, graphic, or frightening information and behavior. Those experiences may cause children psychological harm and negatively impact their relationships with family members and the justice system. Children also disrupted court proceedings, placing additional burdens on a judicial system strained by overflowing dockets. Mid-Valley Court and Community Care protects children, permits caregivers to focus on court-related and other business, and reduces disruptions in the courtroom. Beyond the courtroom, it allows caregivers to comply with court-ordered treatments and receive necessary health care, while giving children a fun and safe place to go. How you can support Mid-Valley Court and Community Care To make a direct financial contribution, contact Rebecca Kueny, Treasurer of Marion County Lawyers Charitable Corporation, at [email protected]. Save the date of July 14, 2024, for the “Day Out for Court and Community Care” fundraiser at the Mission Mill in Salem. For more information or to sponsor the event, go to: www.owlsmaryleonardchapter.org/2024-salem-day-out-sponsorships.html. |