NANA'S HOUSE (NOT ALONE - NOT AFRAID) - In February, 2002 we opened NaNa's House where we provide temporary daytime and overnight care for infants and small children when there is a crisis in their home. The children we serve live in low income, inner-city families suffering from loss of employment, loss of housing, or the illness, addiction, hospitalization, incarceration, divorce or death of a parent. Our goal is to help keep the family together by caring for the children while their parent(s) work to resolve the issues causing turmoil and loss. Children are referred to NaNa's House by teachers, social workers, homeless shelters and other agencies. Infants and toddlers may be with us a few hours during the day while their moms seek housing, employment or attend to a family crisis (such as medical emergencies, court dates and household evictions). The children who stay overnight are usually with us a few days because their mothers are ill, in the hospital, or need help during a very stressful time. In 2002, our first eleven months of operation, NaNa's House served 40 children. Our volunteer staff provided 176 days of care, 30% of which was overnight. Of the 40 children, ten needed our care only one day, five came for two days, but 25 received three to twelve days of care. 29 of the children were staying in a homeless shelter when first referred. 80% of the children were African American. The youngest child served was one week old, the oldest was eleven. In 2003 we provided care on site at NaNa's House for 63 children who stayed an average of 4.6 days. CITY KIDS CLUB - Magnificat Center also operates the "City Kids Club" which provides after school and summer programs for neighborhood children. This program got started in the summer of 2003. Ten children participated in a one week "City Kids Bible Camp" on site at NaNa's House. Another 14 children participated in a 7-day musical theater workshop and performance at Froebel Elementary School. "Latch key" children, in grades K through 5 in our immediate neighborhood come to NaNa's House after school for help with their homework, and to play games, read books and participate in other activities that encourage physical and intellectual development. We feed them nourishing snacks and listen to stories of their day as we help them learn how to get along with others and encourage them to be proud of who they are and what they can become. The goals and intent of the City Kids Club include keeping the children safe and healthy, reinforcing lessons learned in school and helping the children develop skills that will help them to function successfully in society. Our long term objective is to help the children achieve the physical and emotional wellness and academic and communication skills they will need to break the cycle of poverty, homelessness and abuse that is passed from generation to generation. The B.E.S.T. Parent Award Program was developed by Magnificat Center in collaboration with the Dutchtown Caring Community Hub in early 2001 and introduced at two elementary schools in September, 2001. Over the years this program has been supported by grants from United Way Neighborhood Plan Enhancement Grants, the Saint Louis Neighborhood Network, the Tenet Healthcare Foundation and others. Today, the B.E.S.T. Parent program is offered in three elementary schools, reaching over 1,100 children and their families. The goal of the B.E.S.T. Parent Award program is to help adults in the targeted neighborhoods become better parents today and help their children be better parents in the future, making it a valuable tool in breaking the generational cycle of abuse and neglect. The B.E.S.T. Parent nomination forms are currently distributed monthly to 1,100 students attending three elementary schools in our immediate neighborhood. The children take the forms home and fill them out with the help of their parent or another adult. Each month the nomination forms list several reasons why a parent might be considered the "BEST" (parents who are Building an Environment of Security and Trust for their children). The suggested reasons for nomination are actually tips for good parenting.