Junior League Receives $30,000 from CFO for Crisis Nursery

(Springfield, MO) The Junior League of Springfield (JLS) was recently awarded a grant of $30,000 from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO). CFO awards discretionary grants to non-profit agencies meeting community needs. The grant will support the JLS initiative of addressing child abuse and neglect.

The problem of child abuse and neglect in the Ozarks was designated as a "red flag" in the Community Report Card, of which JLS is an underwriter. To address this issue, JLS will use the CFO grant to develop a local crisis nursery, in partnership with Burrell Behavioral Health, CoxHealth, Community Partnership of the Ozarks, St. John's Health System, Missouri State University, and United Way.

A crisis nursery is a proven tool in the prevention of child abuse and neglect. It provides 24/7 residential care for kids when there is trouble at home. Families in crisis receive education, respite, support, and counseling services. JLS is committed to opening a crisis nursery in spring 2007.

Since 1959, JLS has contributed over $2 million and more than 1.2 million hours of volunteer service to the local community. The Junior League of Springfield is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action of trained volunteers. Its purposes are exclusively educational and charitable.

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