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Olive Crest 

Description

Olive Crest meets the needs of kids in crisis by strengthening families to prevent abuse and neglect; by matching children with loving homes to heal and protect them; and by working to restore children to strong families, through adoption or reunification with their families.

Since 1973, Olive Crest has transformed the lives of more than 50,000 abused, neglected, and at-risk children and families. We work tirelessly to meet the needs of kids in crisis by providing safe homes, counseling, and education for both youth and parents. Our innovative programs reflect our conviction that strengthening the family is one of the most powerful ways to help heal children. Established, proven, and respected, Olive Crest serves over 350 children and families each day in Washington State.

Mission Statement
Olive Crest is dedicated to preventing child abuse, to treating and educating at-risk children and to preserving the family… "One life at a time." ®

Every Child deserves a safe family 

Olive Crest understands the transforming power of the family. Our communities rely on us to fulfill our mission with profound and effective solutions for children and families in crisis.
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Olive Crest
515 116th Ave NE Ste 174 
Bellevue 
WA
98004-5224 
(425) 462-1612 Ext 1304 

Jeff Judy 
Executive Director 

Programs

Olive Crest Programs

Olive Crest offers programs in three areas - Safety, Healing and creating Strong Families for at-risk children.  We provide support for children from birth to age 22 and cover a broad range of interventions from prevention and safety to healing and restoration.

SAFE FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN
A collaboration between churches, volunteers and child care professionals, offers parents in crisis short-term childcare with trained Safe Families volunteers.  This initiative is a highly effective and efficient means to mobilize a broad set of compassionate citizens to provide safe homes for children at risk of abuse.

FAMILY PRESERVATION 
Olive Crest works with biological families who have lost—or are at risk of losing—their children to foster care. We do this by providing counseling; connecting families to long term services; conducting parenting assessments for the court; and arranging supervised visits between the children and their families.

FOSTER CARE
Olive Crest recruits, trains, and certifies foster families to provide a warm, safe, home for children who are unable to live with their biological parents due to abuse or neglect. Our staff works to facilitate a permanent family situation for every child that comes into our care. All of our interventions are aimed at finding a permanent family situation. 

This progam includes screening and education of foster families; placement services; ongoing home visits and monitoring; case management and advocacy; medical liaison services; educational liaison services; tutoring; mentoring; respite services; mental health counseling; a 24/7 help line; online support group; and a facilitated support group.

Recent Successes and Current Challenges

Olive Crest comes alongside boys and girls during the darkest hours of their lives. Out of those difficult times, many children are restored to peace and wholeness through a relationship with a forever family. When Jacob, 3, arrived at Olive Crest, he was beaten and bruised. He was born addicted without the love and care of a family. Our staff placed Jacob with a foster family. In time he bonded with the foster parents. He could soon talk, play, and laugh. Jacob was later successfully adopted.

Jacob represent thousands of children still waiting for help. The state funds a portion of each child's care and treatment; however, more than half of the responsibility falls on the foster agency. We ask you to consider partnering with us to support the many critical services provided to Olive Crest children. A gift of $83 will provide a safe loving home for a child and the healing services essential for the child to thrive in a forever family for one month. Other giving opportunities are available upon request.

Evaluation


Olive Crest provides services for children in crisis through counseling, skilled foster homes, family preservation, and respite care for parents in emergency situations.

Proven Success
Olive Crest was awarded a major contract through Washington State in July of 2012. Olive Crest was selected as the sole awardee to implement a statewide foster parent Recruitment and Retention program. The three year, renewable contract will involve hiring 20 new staff members and includes a major statewide marketing campaign for recruiting new foster parents and over 40 support groups for current foster parents.

Leadership
Olive Crest has strong executive leadership and a highly engaged board of directors serving the Puget Sound Region. The new Vision 2020 Strategic Plan promotes a 10% annual growth plan in both fundraising and program delivery. They are striving to accomplish this through growth of the Safe Families program and the new Business Development Committee. The Vision 2020 Plan includes building organizational cash reserves through cultivating individual donors and corporate philanthropy.
Use of Best Practices
Olive Crest is a regional contractor with the nationally based organization Safe Families. The Safe Families program works primarily with local churches to create short term, emergency, and volunteer foster family placements for children in crisis. Safe Families are supported by church congregations and might house a child anywhere from a few days to six weeks. Olive Crest recruits, trains, and supports church liaisons who administer their individual program. Olive Crest also screens Safe Family volunteers before admitting them to the program. Safe Families is becoming a viable alternative to CPS referrals to foster homes when parents need short term care for their children during a crisis. A highlight of the program is that parents maintain full rights and have visitation access while they get the help they need to re-stabilize their family.

Accessibility and Cultural Competency
Culturally based services are incorporated into the treatment plan of every child in an Olive Crest foster home. When cultural services are not available within the home, Olive Crest ensures that the child has access to programs and activities in the community. An example of this is the large number of Native American children in foster care. Olive Crest works with local tribes to coordinate drum making, boating, and other cultural activities that help to keep the child connected to their community.

Grant History with The Seattle Foundation:

Grants Awarded through The Seattle Foundation Grantmaking Program:

DateAmountPurpose
12/10/2012 $10,000.00provide general operating support.
12/10/2011 $15,000.00support general operating expenses.
12/10/2010 $15,000.00support general operating expenses.
9/17/2008 $25,000.00support general operating expenses.
6/21/2006 $25,000.00support general operating expenses.

Financials

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