[ Family Support Services ]

Courthouse Children's Center

The Courthouse Children's Center is a free drop-in child care center. Due to budget cuts the center is now  only open on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays. The center accepts children from 6 weeks to 12 years of age and is a safe place for children whose adults have Family Court business to attend to.  The Children's Center staff are Early Childhood Education trained Family Enrichment Network employees and are not employed by the court system.

In the Center the children are offered a wide range of educational and fun experiences with the sensory table being a special favourite of most children.  Sand, water, dirt , snow, birdseed and other sensory items are utilized with activities being changed each month.  The sensory table offers children a soothing activity as they enjoy the feel of all the different textures while they dig and play with the buckets, funnels, little shovels and a variety of other tools. For some children the sensory table is their first stop during their stay in the center.

Every month, activities based on a different theme are offered and easel painting is always available. The Center also has a separate play area for infants and toddlers with aga appropriate toys.

For our Literacy Program the staff give parents different literacy information each month and every child can take home a book. In the literacy packets parents find information on different child related topics and a fun and simple activity they can do at home with their children. The Courthouse Children's Center staff work hard at incorporating into the literacy packets, home activities that tie into the center's theme for the month.

The staff are happy to make referrals to any community resources that families may need as another service for the families who use the center

Please let you family, friends and co-workers know that the Courthouse Children's Center is available Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays following the court's daily schedule. The staff are happiest when the center is full of children. The Courthouse Children's Center is a place where children can have fun, learn, be safe, and just be children away from the drama of the family court waiting room.

If you have any questions about the center at all please call Patty or Nancy at the Courthouse Children's Center, 607-778-3518