The Nest plans transitional living for young women
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The Nest sounds like a place downy owlets or fuzzy baby chickens shelter. That’s pretty much the idea, although this Nest will be a refuge for human mothers and babies.
The Nest is the brainchild of Jenifer Blumberg. Blumberg served as executive director for Domestic Violence and Education Services and now works with the Parents as Teachers program with the Lake County Health Department.
During her tenure with DOVES, she saw many young mothers who were involved with violent abusers.
She has also been reading research about the affect of violence on babies’ brains. Violence affects children, whether they are in the womb, tiny babies, toddlers or older kids.
“We need to get kids out of those situations,” Blumberg said.
She’s found the perfect home to turn into The Nest. First of all it’s large — seven bedrooms — and the property has a large garden area and fruit trees. Women and children in residence at The Nest can learn to garden, cook with fresh foods, as well as can and sell excess produce.
Nest clientele will be young pregnant or parenting women escaping abusive situations.
Blumberg said The Nest would probably have room for three to five families and will be transitional housing, not emergency housing. Women will be encouraged to stay for at least six months and may stay for up to two years. During their stay, young mothers can learn job and parenting skills.
“There will be counseling and lots of role modeling,” Blumberg said, adding that there will be volunteers and “lots of grandmas.”
Intersted women will need to apply for residency, and those with an “I-want-to-change-my-life” attitude will be given priority.
Blumberg said residents will work on getting their GEDs and completing their educations.
“We’ll definitely help if they want to go to Salish Kootenai College,” she said.
She envisions a variety of educational choices for the women, including literacy classes, learning about healthy relationships, nutrition and making exercise a regular part of each day.
As executive director of The Nest, Blumberg has formed her board of directors. She’s called on Lisa Skalsky, Brooke Roberts, Emily Colomeda, Lake County Sheriff Don Bell and other hard working advisors. The board will be busy raising funds to buy the house Blumberg has found as well as writing grants to keep The Nest going.
One of their first fundraising ventures was a “Feather the Nest” luncheon held on Jan. 22 at the KwaTaqNuk Resort and Casino.
There are only three second-chance homes in Montana specifically for pregnant or parenting moms — Florence Crittendon Home in Helena; Mountain Home Montana in Missoula and Harmony House in Billings. Gypsy Ray, who started Mountain Home Montana, spoke at the fundraising luncheon. Her guidance is helping Blumberg develop The Nest.
Ray said Mountain Home Montana strove to give young women basic job skills and provide them with clothes, childcare and basic transportation.
Dana Eisenberg, a counselor at Arlee Schools, also spoke at the fundraiser. She described the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study, done between 1995-97. The study was a collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and Kaiser Permanente where more than 17,000 people were given a standardized physical exam and asked to fill out a confidential survey about their childhood including maltreatment and family dysfunction.
The study showed that as the number of ACEs rise, so do the number of problems children have as grown ups, including “smoking more often, drinking more often and missing work more often.” The study also showed increased rates of depression, obesity, liver disease and suicide attempts.
ACEs include abuse, neglect and household dysfunction. Adverse childhood experiences include physical, mental or sexual abuse; an incarcerated household member; divorced or separated parents; a child witnessing his or her mother or stepmother being hit, punched, slapped, kicked, bitten, having things thrown at them or being threaened with a gun or knife; lack of clean clothes, food or a place to sleep; or a family member who has used drugs or alcohol, was depressed or mentally ill.
According to Eisenberg, 43 percent of Montanans have one to three ACEs during their childhood.
“We are one of the top four states with children having more than four ACEs,” Eisenberg said, with most of the ACEs for children from 0 to 5 years old being caused by adult drug or
alcohol abuse.
“The good news is prevention works,” Blumberg said. “But if we can get mom involved, it’s so much better.”
Those who would like to contribute to The Nest should visit: www.facebook.com/TheNestMontana or send a check to The Nest, P. O. Box 113, Charlo, MT 59824.
