'The Nurturing Center's goal is to ensure that children are treated with

respect and live in safety with secure, healthy relationships.'

Employment Opportunities

Job Title:       Child Care Resource & Referral Specialist

Reports to:     Child Care Resource & Referral Manager

Work Hours:   Full-time, 40 hours/week

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Case Management

• Field inquiries from the public in reference to the Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship program
• Determine eligibility for Child Care services for all new and renewing Non-TANF applicants using the CCUBS system
• Coordinate with participants regarding eligibility and use of Child Care assistance
• Assist providers with payment procedures and advise of participant eligibility
• Determine and complete authorizations on eligible participants, which creates invoices for providers
• Review eligibility for child care services semi-annually (or more often if necessary) for the Best Beginnings Scholarship Program

Other Duties

• Daily clerical duties (mailings for cases; making files)
• Maintaining and ordering of forms needed for case management
• Creating and maintaining shared databases and documents
• Attend weekly staff meetings
• Attend conferences and trainings as required
• Honor the right to privacy, confidentiality and dignity of each individual served
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Prefer 2 years of customer service or casework experience
• Requires excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Must have ability to read, interpret and apply policy
• Requires solid math skills
• 10 key proficiency
• Competent in Excel, Microsoft Office

Physical Demands:  sitting, standing

Work Environment: Mostly indoors in an office environment

Special Requirements:  Some travel to meetings required. Must provide own vehicle, have a clean driving record and provide proof of vehicle liability insurance.

To apply send a cover letter and resume to info@nurturingcenter.org, fax 406-756-1410 or mail to 146 3rd Avenue W., Kalispell, MT 59901.

The Nurturing Center’s New Executive Director

The Nurturing Center is pleased to announce that a new Executive Director, Eileen Donohoue of Helena, has been hired to lead the organization.

Ms. Donohoue joins the Nurturing Center staff on August 25, 2009.  She brings wide experience in the nonprofit sector and with programs serving families, preparing her well for her new role at The Nurturing Center.  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. 

“Eileen has not only the background but the heart to be a stabilizing force in this organization after the tragic loss of Susan earlier this year.  She understands and believes in our mission, she understands the challenges faced by parents and families, as well as the complexity of our particular situation here,” said Barbara Calm, President of the Nurturing Center’s Board of Directors.  “She brings strength, warmth and ability, and we are very happy to welcome her.”

Ms. Donohoue replaces Susan Christofferson, Founding Executive Director, who died on February 25, 2009. 

Supporters and friends of the Nurturing Center can meet Ms. Donohoue at The Nurturing Center at 146 3rd Avenue West in Kalispell, email her at Eileen@nurturingcenter.org or call at 406-756-1414.

The Nurturing Center is currently accepting applications for volunteers in the following areas:

• Genini Program Mentors
• DreamBuilders Playhouse Raffle Committee

See a description of these programs on our PROGRAMS & SERVICES page.

Contact Jennifer Rogge if you are interested in volunteering with The Nurturing Center at jennifer@nurturingcenter.org or 756-1414.

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 foundation

for 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 mission 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?

• Founder
  Susan Christofferson

October 19, 1949 - February 25, 2009

Susan was the first executive director and one of the founders of the organization and during her career worked tirelessly to advocate for parents and children.   She practiced the philosophy of treating each family with respect and dignity and was passionate about fostering their success.  She was committed to supporting the needs of families of all kinds, with parenting encouragement, parenting education, ensuring the availability of quality child care and providing prevention services.  The Nurturing Center is committed to continuing her philosophy and her work.

Our Board of Directors

• President

Barbara Calm, DVM – Calm Animal Care

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 Gemini 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.

• Vice-President

Darrell Worm – Ogle & Worm Law Offices

• Secretary

Gregory R. Cornell, PhD – Clinical Director of Stillwater Therapeutic

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.

• Molly McCabe – Hayden Tanner LLC

Molly McCabe has over 17 years of corporate

experience in banking and finance. She is the CEO of Hayden Tanner, LLC, a strategic consulting and executive coaching firm that helps organizations meet their goals for growth and profitability by maximizing the value of sustainability through innovation, environmental excellence and corporate responsibility.  People, planet & profit.

• Cheryl Steenson – Teacher

 

Cheryl Steenson was born and raised in the Flathead Valley. She is an educator, teaching college freshman English and High School English. Her first experience with early education was during a year of volunteer service with Americorp.

• Mike Burr – West One Bank

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.

 

• Jill Zignego -Five Star Rentals &  Property  Management

Jill Zignego is the owner/operator of Five Star Rentals &  Property  Management in Whitefish.  She was born and raised in Miles City and educated at the University of Montana in Missoula.  Prior to returning to Montana in 1994, Jill worked in the film business in San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles and Paris.  The lure of the Big Sky Country was finally too strong to resist so she returned to Montana and reinvented herself as a property manager.  Jill is very committed to the mission of the Nurturing Center, providing care and support to our most precious asset – our children.   

 

Our Citizen’s Advisory Group

• Mick Blodnick
  President, CEO – Glacier Bankcorp, Inc.

• Pam Carbonari
  

• Rosemary McKinnon
  MSW, Director of Admissions/Owner
  Montana Academy

• Wendy Ostrom-Price
  Communications Director
  Flathead Electric Cooperative

• Marcia Sheffels
  County Superintendent of Schools

• Joe Unterreiner
  ED, Kalispell Chamber of Commerce

• Wallace Wilder, MD
  Pediatrician

THE NURTURING CENTER STAFF

SPRING 2007

Front row: Gayle Parker, Susan Christofferson, Rhonda Miller

2nd row: Colleen Downing, Angel Bonny, Joleen Ogle, Lori Riley, Pati Jones

Back row: Diane Clark, Kathleen White, Lorrie Bennett, Melody Domph,

Mary Lyons. Not pictured: Michelle Wheat, Clariese Lyons

Child Care Providers Needed:

• Would you like to own your own business?

• Do you like working with children?

Then opening an in-home child care may be for you.

Benefits of operating your own child care include:

• Ability to stay home with your own children

• Be your own boss

• Great tax deductions

• Reimbursement for feeding the children in your care

• Qualification for Merit Pay (State incentive for taking training)

• Qualification for State mini-grants

• Support of The Nurturing Center, your local Resource & Referral

agency - devoted to the care of young children

• Free referral services to your program

For more information about becoming an in-home child care provider,

call 406-756-1414 or email us at info@nurturingcenter.org.