Why a Crisis Nursery?
For over five years, our team has worked to create the first crisis nursery in West Virginia. What began as a vision for one facility has grown into something bigger — a statewide village of crisis child care providers serving families in every community.
We’ve seen firsthand what happens when families have nowhere safe to turn.
- A foster mother working 12-hour hospital shifts with a newborn too young for traditional childcare.
- A mother torn between staying with her hospitalized child or leaving her baby without trusted care.
- Families wanting to foster but fearing they won’t have support when emergencies arise.
These are not rare situations. They are daily realities.
A crisis nursery ensures that no parent has to choose between their children, their education, their job, or their future.
What is a Crisis Nursery?
A Crisis Nursery provides:
- Short-term emergency child care
- Support for foster and kinship families
- Care during medical emergencies
- Coverage for nontraditional work hours
- Respite for families experiencing overwhelming stress
- A safe, nurturing environment during times of instability
Unlike traditional child care, crisis care is flexible, responsive, and designed specifically for urgent, temporary situations.
This is not just a building.
It is a lifeline.
Why it Matters
Because Crisis Doesn’t Wait
Crisis doesn’t operate on a 10-hour daycare schedule.
Crisis happens:
- During overnight hospital shifts
- When a sibling is rushed into surgery
- When a foster placement happens unexpectedly
- When a parent has nowhere safe to turn
Without safe options, families face impossible choices.
With a crisis nursery, they gain:
- Stability
- Safety
- Dignity
- Hope
And children gain what matters most — protection and care.
A Village When You Need It Most
West Virginia’s First Crisis Nursery & Statewide Crisis Child Care Network
When families face the unexpected, no parent should have to choose between their child’s safety and their livelihood. The Village Crisis Nursery exists to be the safe place families turn to in moments of crisis — offering short-term, emergency child care and building a network of trusted providers across West Virginia.
Because every child deserves to be safe.
And every family deserves support.
From One Nursery to a Network
We are not only opening a physical nursery — we are building a statewide crisis child care network.
Our vision includes:
- Licensed crisis providers in multiple communities
- Partnerships with foster care systems
- Collaboration with hospitals and social services
- Policy and licensing pathways for sustainable support
- A team dedicated to expanding access across West Virginia
It truly takes a village to raise a child — and we are committed to building that village.
Where We Are Now
We have:
- Secured our first building
- Hired a Director of Operations
- Begun forming our initial staff team
- Developed the framework for statewide expansion
Our next steps include:
- Renovations
- Licensing and policy alignment
- Community partnerships
- Sustainable funding
The vision is becoming reality — but we still need our village.
Be Part of the Village
You can help us ensure that every West Virginia child has a safe place during crisis.
- Support our mission
- Partner with us
- Pray for this work
- Share our story
Together, we are building something West Virginia has never had before.
And we will not stop until every child knows they matter.
In the News…
Crisis Nursery
Crisis Nursery Advisory Board of Directors
Kathy Barton, The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston – kbarton@dwc.org
Michael Baum, Edmond & Baum, PLLC – mbaum@edmondbaumpllc.com
Amanda Cummins, PA-C, FARMacyWV & Project HOPE – ajecummins@gmail.com
Susan Harrison, CASA for Children, Inc. – executivedirector@wvcasaforchildren.com
Mikisha Lee, WVU Wheeling Hospital – lee.mikisha@yahoo.com
Andrew Moretz, Bel-O-Mar Regional Council – amoretz@belomar.org
Dr. Judy Romano, MD – drjtromano@gmail.com
