Baker County Offers Temporary Short-Term Child Care for Expectant Mothers

BAKER COUNTY — Baker County has identified an opportunity for families who need help with temporary respite care for children during their pregnancy or delivery. This announcement comes as the County looks for ways to help pregnant women and their families after the closure of the St. Alphonsus birthing center in Baker City. The county says the Baker County Chapter of Safe Families for Children is offering to be a resource for families needing temporary respite care for needs related to pregnancy from scheduled appointments to unscheduled hospital stays.

Safe Families for Children is operated through the Northeast Oregon Compassion Center and

has non-compensated volunteers who provide safe homes to support families in our local

communities. Safe Families Director for Children Andy Micka said, “We currently have seven

vetted host homes that are part of the local Safe Families for Children program, but we need

more.” Mr. Micka says to be a host family, you must be at least 25 years old, emotionally and

financially stable, mature, law abiding, healthy and active.

 Here are the steps to become a host family:

1. Fill out an application.

2. Expect a home visit. Complete the training.

3. Complete and pass a background check.

4. Submit three references.

Additional information about the program can be found online at https://safe-families.org or go

directly to the Baker County Chapter page at https://baker-county.safe-families.org/

If you or someone you know needs temporary respite care, or if you would like to volunteer and

help families in this way, please reach out to Safe Families at 541-523-9845 or visit the website.

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Elkhorn Media Group