Mission / Vision / Values

Mission

The Respite Center is a child centered, family focused, culturally responsive agency that is useful to families in times of stress and transition. We provide child care, crisis intervention, and support for parents, and a safe nurturing place for children.

Vision

The Respite Center commits itself to this vision:

In Dane County, children and parents with the fewest resources will have hope for themselves and the future.

To be hopeful, children will be functional and parents capable.

Functional children will have safe environments, will grow emotionally, cope with rules and regulations, be confident and contribute to the community.

Capable parents will have the support needed to be nurturing, knowledgeable about child development, responsible, able to provide for their family’s needs, be confident and able to cope with day to day challenges.

For these children and parents to have hope, the community will:

• respect, value and be responsible for children;
• be committed to a continuum of care for all families;
• have work places and employers who recognize the value of family life where the employees are supported as parents and family members;
• have a more open attitude about giving and receiving help;
• believe that a family is defined by its members.

Values

Our values are the tools we use to carry out our mission. Through the use of our skills and knowledge, we apply our values in our work with children, parents, staff and the community. Our values help us realize our vision for the community. The values of the Respite Center are to:

• create safety
• build trust
• support growth
• exercise compassion
• practice professionalism
• respect differences
• advocate fairness.

Putting Mission, Vision, and Values into Practice

The goal of the Respite Center is to improve the quality of life for families. By providing respite and crisis child care to parents experiencing high levels of stress, we strengthen families. Through this work, we developed a vision for families. This vision is supported by a set of values to which we are committed. Each day, a diverse professional staff provides respectful parent support and quality child care to achieve this vision. Our daily actions are reflected in our mission.