About STAR House
What we will offer
STAR House, a non-profit crisis nursery in Saint Paul, MN will offer free, safe, holistic, and trauma-informed care to children in an overnight care facility.
Parents/guardians will be recipients of our family support network and are encouraged to care for themselves. STAR House Family Advocates will be available to inform parents about additional resources and de-escalation tools to benefit the overall health and well-being of the family.
We will offer services to overcome barriers or life stressors families may be facing (housing instability, financial instability, inadequate childcare, domestic violence, etc.).
We will partner with other community services to make available the resources, care, and support that the families desire.
Why it's important
Families can face immense stress from issues like unemployment, homelessness, mental health needs, medical problems, domestic violence, or simply the need for a break. In such crises, many parents turn to their network of family and friends for help.
Unfortunately, some families lack a trusted support system to care for their children during these challenging times.
This is where STAR House comes in as a reliable ally, offering free, safe overnight care for children and supportive services for caregivers. Turning to STAR House during tough times is a testament to both their trust in us and their dedication to their family's well-being. It reflects their exceptional parenting skills, and we are honored to welcome them with open arms and without judgment. At STAR House, our ongoing mission is to support caregivers in a respectful and non-intrusive way.
STAR HOUSE OPENING TIMELINE
Exciting things are happening at STAR House!
Since there wasn't a precedent for an overnight crisis nursery in the city, zoning was initially unsure how to classify us. However, we have now received approval to operate under a childcare designation and are cleared to move forward with our building plans!
Update: August 1, 2024
We received approval of our building code review from the city of Saint Paul! We're now onto a new phase of operations. As we transition our focus from opening our doors to actively serving families, we are thrilled to share some important leadership changes. A familiar face will be moving into the Executive Director role and we are welcoming a couple new board members! These changes reflect our commitment to strengthening our organization and enhancing our ability to serve our community.
Leadership Changes:
-Sarah Ellefson will resign as Board President and move into the interim Executive Director role
-Kayla Ulsby will resign as Board Secretary and move into the interim Associate Director role
-Sarah Anderson will transition from Board Vice President to Board President
-Becki Emerfoll will transition from Treasurer to Board Secretary
-Marissa Pitterle will transition to Treasurer
Additionally, we are excited to welcome two new board members, Alejandra Roisen and Lexie Marsh!
These interim roles allow us to leverage established expertise and maintain our momentum while we move through the inevitable bumps of opening our doors. Once we are through these growing pains, we will resume our search for a long-term Executive Director.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication to STAR House. Together, we are making a significant impact in the lives of the families we serve!
