A call is made to Child Protective Services caseworker Mary Smith at midnight. She is asked to check into a report on three children ages 2, 5, and 7. Their mother had left them with a baby-sitter three days earlier while she was looking for work in another city. The baby-sitter stayed only one night and left the next morning. The children have been home alone since.

Mary discovers the home contains rotting garbage and is infested with bugs. There is no food and Mary finally gives up her search for a dry diaper for the 2 year old. Mary realizes that in order to protect the children she must remove them from their home. She gathers the children’s meager belongings in the only container she can find–a black plastic garbage bag–and drives away with the three frightened children in her car.

Luckily for Mary there is a source of immediate help. Her town recently opened a Rainbow Room, an emergency resource room that stocks items such as diapers, formula, car seats, clothing, lice shampoo and other necessities for caseworkers who find themselves in Mary’s situation. Just one year ago, this wasn’t the case. Mary would have searched for an all-night convenience store and bought the necessary items with her own money.

The most basic needs of a family in crisis are often unavailable, and caseworkers typically cannot provide the necessities from their personal resources. With the introduction of the Rainbow Room, assistance with basic needs becomes available. This helps keep families together through traumatic times and can be equally critical in developing a helping relationship between caseworkers and the families they serve.

The Rainbow Room motto is, “Abused and neglected children do not deserve abused and neglected things.  “You can be a ray of hope to these children.

Make a cash or in-kind donation to your Brown County Rainbow Room located inside the CPS Office at 2400 Crockett Drive, Brownwood on April 16^th from 12:00 noon until 3:00 p.m. at Heartland Mall.  Members of the Child Welfare Board sponsor the Rainbow Room and will be at Heartland Mall accepting donations.  KOXE will be broadcasting live asking for your support.   Financial support allows the Rainbow Room to purchase specific items as they are depleted.  Posters on Child Abuse Prevention created by area youth will be on display at the Mall during the event.

Rainbow Room Wish List Top items

diapers	car seats	school supplies
formula	personal hygiene items	toys/children’s books.
new children’s clothing	household cleaning supplies	blankets