Keeping Kids Safe: Stories from 40 Years — A Conversation with Our Clinical Director & Senior Program Director, Kara & Katie
As the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery celebrates 40 years of Keeping Kids Safe and Building Strong Families, we are reflecting on the staff whose leadership, compassion, and dedication have shaped our mission and the lives of countless children and families.
Today, we’re honored to share a conversation with Kara Knight, Clinical Director, and Katie Corrigan, Senior Program Director. Their years of service and commitment to children and families have helped strengthen the Nursery’s programs, expand its reach, and ensure that every family who walks through our doors feels supported and valued. Their reflections illuminate the heart of the Nursery’s mission: hope, empowerment, and unwavering care for those we serve.
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When you think about the Crisis Nursery, what’s the first memory, image, or feeling that comes to mind?
Kara: “The feeling of unwavering hope, love, and community.”
Katie: “I will never forget my first intake with a parent. She was so tired, overwhelmed, and made limited eye contact. I am so thankful that I was there to see her when she came to pick her children up because she was unrecognizable. She was well rested and refreshed, and I remember saying to her that she looked wonderful and it was so good to see her. She looked me in the eyes for the first time, slightly smiled, and I remember guiding her to the intake office. When she sat down, I shared how strong I believed she was, and she immediately said that she didn’t feel strong. I told her that it was a sign of strength to ask for help, and before my eyes, her shoulders relaxed, and she shared even more of what was happening in their lives. I think of her often and what a privilege it is to have the opportunity to serve families.”
What does the Crisis Nursery mean to each of you personally—and how has that meaning evolved over time?
Kara: “I love everything about our mission and our belief in our families. The Nursery team truly does everything we can each day to support our community and children. The unwavering hope, enthusiasm, and willingness to do whatever it takes is truly unmatched. I feel so connected to our mission.”
Katie: “The Crisis Nursery means YES! I am so proud that there is a way that we serve every family that comes into contact with us. I love that 24 hours a day, parents have a kind voice they can talk to about their situation and receive referrals—and oftentimes bring their children to the Nursery. What first drew me here were the children and their resilience and joy. As the years have passed and I became a parent, my focus has expanded to our parents. I have tremendous empathy for their situations and greatly admire their strength.”
From your perspectives, what do you wish more people understood about the Crisis Nursery?
Kara: “I wish people knew that we can support in so many ways and tailor our approach to each family’s needs. Whether a family needs emotional support, guidance on navigating a child’s behaviors, or help with basic needs, we meet them where they are to help them reach their goals.”
Katie: “I wish people knew that we truly partner with parents in their journey. Families are not punished for asking for help—they are celebrated for wanting more for themselves and their children.”
How does the Nursery support children and families in ways that feel truly unique or standout?
Kara: “I love that our programs are free, accessible, and completely voluntary. Families choose their level of involvement, and everything we do is strengths-based, trauma-informed, and non-judgmental. Our staff truly live and breathe our mission and are experts in the field.”
Katie: “The Nursery meets families right where they are and removes barriers that often make people nervous to ask for help. We make support accessible and welcoming.”
What do you hope every child feels while they’re here? What about parents or caregivers?
Kara: “We hope every child, parent, or caregiver feels loved, that they matter, and that they have a supportive network alongside them. We link arms with families so they do not feel alone and want the Nursery to be the safe place they can land. You belong here.”
Katie: “My hope is that every child can come as they are and feel unconditional love and support for all that makes them who they are. My wish is the same for our parents.”
Why do you think the Crisis Nursery needed to exist when it began? What values was it built on? If it didn’t exist, what would our community be missing?
Kara: “Often, clients tell me we are the place they can go when they don’t know what to do next. It means the world to us that clients feel safe in our care. We listen to their story, support their goals, and decrease stress. We also connect families with a wide range of resources so they can get the care and support they need. It takes all of us!”
Katie: “Since the very beginning, the Nursery has been a safety net for children and their parents until they feel their own strength to navigate life’s challenges. We meet families where they are, take the worry out of asking for help, and walk alongside them, encouraging and empowering them.”
When you think about the future, what do you envision for the Crisis Nursery? What do you hope never changes? What would you want future families to feel the moment they walk through these doors?
Katie: “I love that even as we’ve grown—from one Nursery to five, from one Outreach Center to ten—we’ve never strayed from our mission. We remain a pillar of hope in the community for families.”
Kara: “Safe, seen, and heard. That their lives and stories matter.”
In one sentence, what does the Crisis Nursery offer families?
Katie: “The Crisis Nursery offers hope with dignity.”