Our Services

We are dedicated to prevention at MountainStar. Sometimes we're providing help to families whose children are safe; they just need help to keep things that way. Other times, we are the last step before foster care. No matter what, our highest priority is each child's health and safety.

WHO WE SERVE
Most families who enroll at MountainStar are living in crisis, facing a range of challenges that together create toxic levels of stress, preventing them from functioning in a healthy way. They may be homeless, unemployed, or struggling to consistently put food on the table. Many families are coping with mental illness or substance dependence—often both. Some parents in our program are survivors of domestic violence, or past physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. In our initial interactions, we assess the number of stressors each family is facing. On average, families are dealing with 16 family stressors, with some facing as many as 40.

We connect with vulnerable families through word of mouth, and referrals from doctors, social workers, law enforcement, and partner agencies. No matter how they find us, parents voluntarily join our program because they want the best for their children. We find it profound that parents reach out to a child abuse prevention program for help, and that’s why we are committed to providing our services in a non-judgmental and compassionate way.

HOW WE HELP
At MountainStar, we provide families with comprehensive support in a variety of areas, helping parents create a safe and healthy environment for their children while addressing the root causes of challenges impacting their family’s well-being. Guided by trauma-informed care, we tailor our services to meet each family’s unique needs, ensuring that both children and parents are supported emotionally, physically, and mentally. Families in all of our programs receive:

Crisis intervention and support
Home visits once a month or more Therapeutic classrooms
Individualized parent coaching
Mental health therapy for kids + adults
Parent training classes + family activities
Basic needs (food, diapers, clothing)
Connections to community resources
Transportation for visits, classes, etc.

MOUNTAINSTAR PROGRAMS

  • Therapeutic Early Childhood Program

    We offer therapeutic classes for babies and toddlers to help them heal from the effects of living in a high stress and often chaotic home. Using a trauma-informed approach, our highly trained staff provide loving, one-on-one attention to each child, addressing both their emotional needs and developmental challenges. Children ages two and three attend class twice a week for three hours, while infants come once per week. This therapeutic class time is integrated with home visits and individualized parent coaching, ensuring comprehensive family support.

    Our trauma-informed, labor-intensive model provides over 300 contact hours per family each year, allowing us to truly understand and address the needs of both children and parents. We are proud to report that this approach is highly effective in preventing child abuse and neglect, giving families the support they need to thrive.

  • Outreach Program

    The Outreach Program formally known as our Safety-Net Program, has evolved as MountainStar has grown, allowing us to extend our support to families who are not enrolled in our therapeutic classroom program. The Outreach Program is designed to be flexible, empowering families to choose the services that best meet their needs.

    Some parents engage with regular home visits, while others may only need occasional resources, like a box of diapers. Families can also receive parenting support and access emergency supplies. This individualized approach meets families where they are, whether they need consistent support or are simply looking for a helping hand from time to time.

    Through this program, we also prioritize families with the highest needs and best potential for success when openings arise in our therapeutic classrooms.

  • Preschool Promise

    MountainStar operates Preschool Promise classrooms in Bend, Redmond, Madras, and Prineville, as part of Oregon’s Early Learning Division’s initiative to expand access to high-quality, publicly funded preschool for low to moderate-income families. These classrooms serve families who are at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, ensuring more children have access to early childhood education.

    At MountainStar, we use our expertise in trauma-informed care to enrich these preschool programs, integrating therapeutic support and early intervention into the traditional early care model. Our goal is to build healthy, resilient children, support and strengthen parents, and preserve families by offering a comprehensive, wraparound approach to early childhood education. Through the Preschool Promise, we provide not only educational services but also family-centered support to help children succeed and thrive both in and out of the classroom.