CourtCare

CourtCare is open Monday through Friday.

Information for families is available here.

Before CourtCare, children were often left alone in the hall, or had to come into the courtroom and try to be quiet, patient and still, at times witnessing family upset and conflicts. CourtCare increases access to justice and gives parents and guardians peace of mind. Please support Multnomah CourtCare and the work of the MBF with your tax-deductible contribution to the Multnomah Bar Foundation. Use the "Donate Now" button at the top of the page or contact Pamela Hubbs (503.854.5237, pamela@mbabar.org) for other giving options. Every dollar makes a difference.

Before CourtCare, children often had to wait alone in the hall or come into the courtroom and try to be patient, quiet and still

Feedback from parents and guardians

"Thank you for the help, it’s nice to have peace of mind while going through our custody battle."

"Thank you for opening early for my five children. The extra snacks, diapers, formula, and bottled water to take home helped. It was helpful knowing they were safe."

"Thank you, staff were helpful. I love all the art projects they did."

About Multnomah CourtCare

Multnomah CourtCare^(c) improves access to justice by making free, drop-in childcare available for families who have business at the court. The program is located in the downtown Central Courthouse.

CourtCare is operated by Volunteers of America Oregon and has served more than 19,000 children and their families since opening in December 2001. In addition to being a safe, convenient location for parents to leave their children, this program reduces the number of rescheduled court appointments and removes the potential that children might witness conflicts or disrupt court business.

While the program receives some public funding, it depends primarily on the financial support of the legal community, which contributes through the MBF. The MBF is tax exempt under section 501(c)(3), and contributions are tax deductible.

CourtCare Protects Children, Increases Access to Justice and Allows the Court to Operate More Efficiently

People who have business at the courthouse, but are without options for childcare, may bring their children, six weeks to 12 years of age, to CourtCare and be assured their children will be safe and well cared for while they attend to matters in the courthouse. Your donation to the MBF will help CourtCare continue to make a positive difference:

In the lives of the children who are welcomed into a cheerful place where they are sheltered from adult issues in court;
In the lives of these children's families, who know that their children have a safe place to stay, free-of-charge, while they conduct their business in the courthouse;
And in the administration of justice, because courts operate more efficiently without the interruptions created by having children in the courtrooms and hallways.

Another way to support the families who use CourtCare is to contribute supplies

Disposable baby bottles of any size, new and in original packaging
Similac Advanced or Similac Total Comfort infant formula in powder form
Disposable diapers in sizes 2-5
New coloring books for children up to 12 years of age

These may be taken directly to CourtCare, located on the first floor in the Central Courthouse at 1200 SW First Avenue, Portland. Questions should be directed to Crystal Ross.

What Kids are Saying about CourtCare

"Thank you for helping me make money for the cash register and for coming to my store we made. And thank you for eating my sandwich I made you. And I told my Mom that you would save my Batman for me, because I forgot him last time, she didn't think so, but I knew you would." (from a seven-year-old boy who loves playing "restaurant")

"I love you can make my baby brother quiet. He is always bugging me. Can you come to my house and hold onto him so I can build things? I wish we can bring you and the blocks to home."

"What I like is puzzles. I love them here so good because you guys always help me to stick them together, and I get to do all of them I want. You never get mad at me." (from a six-year-old)

The mission of the Multnomah Bar Foundation

"To increase the public's understanding of the legal system, to promote civic education, public participation and respect for the law, to improve the quality and administration of the legal system, and to support programs and projects related to the MBF's purpose."

Founded in 2005, the Multnomah Bar Foundation (MBF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.