Childhaven Opens Lake City Branch; New North Seattle Branch Adds 34 Children to Agency's Enrollment.

SEATTLE -- Childhaven, a non-profit provider of therapeutic child care for abused, neglected and at-risk infants and preschool children, today opened a Lake City Branch. The leased facility, located on the Ryther Child Center campus, will provide space for four classrooms, increasing the total number of children that can be served daily by Childhaven from 267 to 301.

"Childhaven has long been concerned about lack of service in the North End of Seattle and King County for our youngest children and families in need," said Debra Ronnholm, President and COO. "This is an opportunity for Childhaven to reach out to a significantly underserved part of our community."

Jon Flora, Childhaven's CEO, stated, "When the opportunity came to rent a facility that could be opened to serve families well outside of our usual service area, Childhaven's board and staff leadership were compelled to pursue it as a possible model for future expansion in other areas. We are especially pleased to have Ryther Child Center as our landlord for this new initiative. With nearly 4,000 accepted CPS referrals last year of children birth through five in King County alone, such expansion is needed."

About Childhaven

Childhaven is a Seattle-King County based non-profit that provides daily therapeutic child care to abused, neglected and drug/alcohol impacted children ages one month through five years. Through its Therapeutic Child Care Program (TCC), also known as Medicaid Treatment Child Care, children are provided with hearing, dental, vision and growth screening upon entry as well as comprehensive health plans, developmental assessment within 30 days, and Individual Treatment Plans. Developmental therapies are provided for qualifying children in areas of speech, occupational therapy, special education, play, art and music therapies. Van transportation and two nutritious meals are part of the daily program. Parent involvement includes Parent Education, Parent Support Group, in-classroom Applied Parenting Technique and Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Childhaven now operates four branches in King County, including the new Lake City branch, First Hill Broadway Center, the Patrick L. Gogerty Branch in Auburn, and the Eli Creekmore Memorial in Burien.