About Us
Court and Community Care is a collaborative program between Mid-Valley Court and Community Care (MCLCC) and the Oregon Childcare Coalition (OCC) that provides free, high-quality drop-in childcare for families navigating court-related matters or in need of short-term care to support personal and household well-being.
This program serves as a vital resource to ensure access to justice, promote family stability, and protect young children from traumatic courtroom exposure. By removing childcare as a barrier to participation in legal processes and social services, Court and Community Care plays a critical role in promoting justice, child welfare, and community well-being. It allows parents and guardians to attend court hearings, seek protective orders, access treatment, or fulfill other urgent needs, knowing their children are cared for in a supportive and developmentally appropriate setting
The History
Founded in 2017 at the YMCA and Family Building Blocks, Mid-Valley Court and Community Care was established to protect children from the emotional harm associated with courtroom environments. Before its launch, hundreds of children each year had no choice but to accompany their caregivers into legal proceedings, exposed to traumatic content and high-stress situations that no child should ever witness or relive.
Between 2017 and 2019, the program served over 500 children, providing a nurturing and joyful space while caregivers focused on court hearings, treatment programs, and essential services. By easing the burden on both families and the court system, Mid-Valley Court and Community Care became a quiet but powerful force for healing and justice.
It stands as a reminder that even during life’s hardest moments, children deserve safety, comfort, and care.
Childcare is provided at the Amuitos and Family Childcare Center, located at 790 Marion St NE, Salem, OR 97301, about five blocks away from the Marion County Courthouse.
Operating Hours:
Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
Services Provided:
- Drop-in childcare at no-cost to parents & caregivers
- Safe, secure, and professionally operated environment
- Age-appropriate curriculum, activities, and meals/snacks
- Fully staffed by qualified childcare professionals
- Licensed and compliant with all Oregon childcare regulations
This program helps parents shield their children from parental conflict related to separation or divorce. Over 8 sessions (16-20 hours), parents learn to defuse conflict by minimizing blame and taking responsibility for their contribution while establishing a positive, long-term, cooperative relationship with the other parent.
Scholarships available. Pairs of Parents will receive Priority. Register online through at Oregon Childcare Coalition Events | Eventbrite
On a frequent basis, people with urgent business before the Court — often related to personal safety, housing, or other critical issues — arrive at the courthouse with children in tow, because they have no better option.
Everyone — from court staff and judges to attorneys to the general population using the courthouse — benefits by giving parents the option to utilize childcare at the courthouse
If I hadn’t had access to childcare that day—so I could file for an emergency protection order and stand before a judge—I honestly think I would have gone back to the person who was hurting me. I felt like there was no help and no safe way out. That access to childcare gave me the chance to choose safety for my kids and to start over.
