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'The Nurturing Center's goal is to ensure that children are treated with respect and live in safety with secure, healthy relationships.'
The Nurturing Center, Inc. has provided a model for innovative family based prevention services to both the community and the region since its inception. The organization is grounded in the belief that diverse methods and programs are the foundationfor prevention efforts that strengthen families. The Nurturing Center was founded in 1978 to provide comprehensive support, education and resources to families in a non-stigmatizing, accessible facility, centrally located in the heart of Kalispell. The m ission reaches out to all families, focusing on culturally sensitive services to parents acknowledging the societal stresses that could result in potential family failure. The organization’s mission statement and goals are, “to provide supportive, respectful services that strengthen families, increasing the number of children raised in healthy, nurturing environments" and, “to implement a highly coordinated continuum of support and services to families and to address the need for and acknowledge the importance of quality, accessible, affordable child care.” Waiting until families fail is very costly to the community – both in financial resources and human costs. When families fail, children may be placed in foster care and must deal with intervention services such as counseling. Children whose needs are not met as a young child may become involved in criminal activity and the juvenile court system. Children who are abused or neglected often become prematurely sexually active producing teenage pregnancy. The Children’s Defense Fund, a national child advocacy group states that “for every dollar we invest in a child before they reach school, we save $6.75” in remedial and health care services. Prevention just makes good economic sense and taxpayers should be aware of that savings. Yet prevention can be a nebulous term. How can we prove what doesn’t happen to families?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) 1. What is The Nurturing Center? 2. How do you help?
4. What is your service area? 5. What does it cost? 6. Why do you do it? 7. How can I help?
Our Board of Directors
Born and raised in the Flathead Valley, Anna Stone is a Junior at Flathead High School. She is an IB student, a varsity player on the Flathead tennis team, is incredibly dedicated to choir and music, passionate about cooking, french culture and art, is a part of "Interact" (Kalispell kids rotary club,) and enjoys spending time with her friends and family in her down time. Anna believes in peace, happiness, love and recycling.
Our Citizen’s Advisory Group
THE NURTURING CENTER STAFF Winter 2011
Front row: Roberta Crane, Kym Dimmer, Joleen Ogle, Deanna Mackin, Colleen Downing, Ashley Willis Middle row: Sherrie Smith, Rhonda Miller, Eileen Donohoue, Nikki Bergmann, Alicia Moody Back row: Adrienne Newlon, Brittany MacLean, Debbie Kaber, Diane Clark, Jen White, Shannon Johnson
The Nurturing Center is Proud to Participate in Membership of the Following Organizations: The Nurturing Center is proud to participate in membership of the following The National Association of Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) “Our Nations Leading Voice for Child Care”: www.naccrra.net The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) “Promoting Excellence in Early Childhood Education”: www.naeyc.org Flathead Chapter of the Montana Association for the Education of Young Children: www.mtaeyc.org The Montana Nonprofit Association (MNA) “Strengthening Montana’s Nonprofits”: www.mtnonprofit.org The Montana Child Care Resource and Referral Network (MCCR&R Network) which provides statewide leadership in shaping collaborations and strengthening local resource and referral agencies for the purpose of collectively building a diverse, high quality early care and education system accessible to all Montana families: www.montanachildcare.com The Child and Adult Care Food Program Sponsor's Association (TSA – The Sponsors Association) provides valuable tools to help early care educators with menu planning, technical assistance and training: www.cacfp.org The Kalispell Chamber of Commerce: www.kalispellchamber.com United Way of Flathead County: “Live United” www.liveunited.org |
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The Nurturing Center is a family resource center founded over 30 years ago; we provide programs and services that support the needs of families. We offer educational programs and supportive services so parents can raise happy, healthy children.
parents and can help some families pay for their child care costs. We have a nutrition program that helps child care providers serve healthy meals; we train and offer technical support to all registered child care providers in our region. We offer parenting education and support. We have a mentoring program for 9th grade girls. We offer supervised visits to families so children can safely interact with parents who are referred to us by the Court system. 
We endeavor to find the solutions families are looking for to meet the needs of their children.
Eileen joined the Nurturing Center staff on August 25, 2009. She brings wide experience in the nonprofit sector and with programs serving families. She most recently worked with Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies in Helena. She has been a child care provider; worked in the Child and Adult Care Food Programs in both Colorado and Montana; and has extensive non-profit education and experience. Ms. Donohoue holds a Bachelors of Science degree in accounting with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education. 
Carl & his wife Amy own Glimm Homes, with their children Matt & Rylee helping out too. Carl is also active in the local and state Building Associations, as a volunteer firefighter for the Smith Valley Fire Department, as well as his church. They have built three playhouses for the annual playhouse raffle and are strong believers in kids with good influences and parenting, produce more successful, strong and productive citizens.
Dr. Gregory Cornell is the clinical director of Stillwater Therapeutic Services, a program of the Western Montana Mental Health Center. Dr. Cornell's work with the Nurturing Center is an extension of his belief that prevention of mental health problems is best accomplished by ensuring that our community has an adequate infrastructure to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of children.
Mike is Vice President at West One Bank, a local community Bank established in 2003. Previously he worked for many years at First Security Bank (now Three Rivers Bank) in Kalispell and also owned a business in Lakeside for eight years. Mike and his wife Cindy have three children and five grand children. Mike has direct experience in utilizing programs offered by The Nurturing Center and believes strongly in role the organization plays in developing a better and safer community.
Barbara Calm came to the Flathead Valley in 1984 to practice veterinary medicine, and opened Calm Animal Care in Kila. Her involvement with the Nurturing Center began in 1989 when sons Wes and Neil were 3 and 6 months, and a Parent Share group was there to help with this professional veterinarian's development into an effective parent. Barbara was a GEM Program mentor in the mid 1990's and has served on the Nurturing Center board since 2002. She is committed to the Nurturing Center's mission of sharing parenting resources and information with people of all backgrounds in the Flathead Valley. 
John is recently retired after 33 years at the Flathead County Office of Public Assistance. He is currently serving his 29th year on the Board of the Flathead Food Bank as well as his 8th year as a Head Start Board member. Other Boards he has served on are School District #5, Kalispell Golf Association and 4 years on the Health Center Board. John is an avid golfer and movie goer.
Julie is a certified nurse-midwife and the coordinator of midwifery services at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. Her involvement with the Nurturing Center Board reflects a belief that effective parenting is the foundation of all healthy relationships, which are vital to the future of our community and our world. 
