The Child Crisis Center Of El Paso

The Child Crisis Center is an emergency shelter for children ages newborn to 13. The Center provides 31 beds to care for children who are abuse and/or neglected, at risk of abuse and/or neglect or are suffering a family crisis. Children under the age of 5 are sheltered in the Circle of Love, Crisis Nursery and children 5 to 13 receive care in the Children's Shelter. While at the Center, the children receive good healthy food, clean clothing, appropriate health care and a warm comfortable bed to sleep in. Children are cared for by caring childcare staff. They are taken on outings, play in the recreation room or outdoor playground. Every effort is made to keep children occupied so that they do not reflect on the crisis and trauma that has led to them being admitted into the shelter. The Family Support Program offers a Family Visitation and Exchange program for children of divorced or separated parents, parenting education and training, and the No Kidding - Two Should Know program where peer to peer discussions educate teens of the responsibilities of parenting at a young age.

It is the mission of the Child Crisis Center of El Paso to prevent and reduce incidents of child abuse and neglect in El Paso and surrounding areas by providing emergency shelter for children age newborn to 13 and to support families and help them prevent and reduce incidents of child abuse and neglect in their families by providing assistance, education and awareness. The Center was opened in 1980 by Ms. Mary Russell who's grandson was blinded by an incident of child abuse. Ms. Russell was moved to action when she discovered that El Paso had no resources for parents who were at the point of hurting their children to to stress and the difficulties of life. After visiting a Center in Tuscon, Ms. Russell opened the first Child Crisis Center in a 3 bedroom house, donated by the Catholic Church, and cared for babies and toddlers 5 years and under. Today, the Center has 31 beds, cares for children up to 13 years of age and provides family support services to families aimed at helping them become better parents.