The Miami Herald, Inc.; Sunday, SUN December 8, 1991
Jon O'Neill, Herald Staff Writer

It wasn't easy. The 25-year-old mother had no money to pay for day care. She was separated from the children's father. Her family lives in St. Croix.

So she called the Crisis Nursery, the only agency in Dade County that gives free care to kids whose parents have become overwhelmed. "I'm so grateful for them," Gordon said Saturday during an open house at the Carol City nursery. "When you don't have anyone, it's rough. They helped me so much because I know my kids are well cared for here."

The nursery is one of three run by the Parent Resource Center of Dade County, a nonprofit group. The facilities provide a haven for abused and neglected kids, from newborns to 10-year-olds. Many of them are removed from their homes by the state Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services.

The nurseries get money from HRS, the United Way, Kids in Crisis and other local groups. In addition to providing emergency care, the nurseries also give training classes for parents.

"No one is born knowing how to be a parent," said Mary Oldiges, executive director of the Parent Resource Center. "A lot of them don't know what to expect from their kids. Some don't know that it's not OK to leave little children alone."

The group's main mission is to prevent child abuse. Which is one reason the nurseries offer a place for parents to leave their kids when things get too tough at home. Kids often can be made the scapegoats for parents' frustrations.

"Parents can bring their kids here while they sort things out," Oldiges said. "It's another option that could help stop the cycle of abuse or neglect, and we want people to know it exists."

Saturday's open house was named in honor of "Baby Lollipops," the 3-year-old boy found dead under a pile of leaves in Miami Beach last year. His mother and a companion were charged with murder.

"We want to prevent any more unnecessary deaths," Oldiges said.

The nurseries have space for 40 kids and are nearly full most of the time, said Gwendolyn Cockfield, Crisis Nursery's director. That's because Florida ranks second only to California in the number of reported child abuse cases.

The center has one wing for infants and toddlers, and another for older kids. Its staff includes social workers and trained volunteers. They have their hands full because they're seeing things now they didn't see two years ago -- more violence, sexual abuse, HIV and cocaine babies, Oldiges said. * The Crisis Nursery is operated by the Parent Resource Center, a nonprofit group dedicated to helping child-abuse victims and preventing abuse. Three nurseries serve as havens for abused kids and also care for children whose parents are in a crisis.

* The center also offers home parenting classes for free. For information, call 358-8283. For emergency help, call Switchboard of Miami at 358-4357 anytime.

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