Friends of the Haven
PO Box 102375
Denver, CO 80250
(303) 585-1834

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 24, 2010

New Baby Haven Almost a Reality

A therapeutic nursery to be built for infants with mothers in addiction recovery

Located in Denver, Colo., the Haven is a residential substance abuse treatment program for the most disadvantaged pregnant women and mothers with infant children, where women can recover from addictions and co-occurring illnesses; deliver healthy, drug-free infants; and become self-sufficient, confident, and productive members of the community. These women enter treatment impoverished, frequently homeless, and are often referred from the justice system. The mothers are addicted to methamphetamines, alcohol, cocaine, and other substances. Without the Haven many of these mothers would be in jail or prison, have their babies born under guard, see their babies placed in foster care and lose the chance to bond with their babies during critical developmental years. During the average 12-month stay, a client of the Haven receives substance abuse treatment, participates in a therapeutic community and learns how to build a new and positive life path for herself and her baby. The program restores the otherwise destroyed life of the mother and gives the child a chance in the world thus breaking the cycle of foster care, dependence on the welfare system and later involvement in drugs and crime.

The Haven currently resides in buildings that are approximately 118 years old, and that are not currently programmatically or structurally able to meet the needs of a growing therapeutic nursery and early childhood education center for babies. In 2008, Friends of the Haven, a not-for-profit 501c3 organization, set out to secure the financial resources to build a new Baby Haven building to expand and improve care for the Haven babies. The new Baby Haven building will allow for an increase in the number of babies served from 14 to 32, increased staff so infants can receive more personalized attention, and expanded services for infants and mothers. These expanded services will include mental health; Doula programs to assist with labor, delivery and parenting skills; physical, speech and language therapists; infant developmental testing; nutritional classes; parenting classes; first-aid courses; and family bonding time with extended family members of recovering mothers and their babies. An outdoor infant play area will round out the opportunities for learning and appropriate play.

Through the generosity of numerous individual donors and foundations, the new Baby Haven is close to becoming a reality. An additional $400,000 in funding is needed to cover the more than $3.675 million dollar construction project. A donor is showing their continuing commitment to this project by issuing a $200,000 challenge grant whereby the donor will match $200,000 when a total of $200,000 has been raised from the community.

Donations to the Friends of the Haven, a 501c3 organization, support the growth and development of these mothers and babies and also offers a tax benefit to donors with a 50-percent Colorado State Income Tax Credit.. Click here for more information on this Child Care Contribution Tax Credit.

Donations and inquiries can be made online, by mailing a check to PO Box 102375, Denver, CO 80250, or by calling (303) 324-5047 (303) 324-5047 or (303) 761-7626.