Vanessa Behan’s vision is to provide immediate refuge for children and support to strengthen families. This evolved from the tragic story of Vanessa Kay Behan, a Spokane girl who died from child abuse injuries at the age of two. Following her death, a group of local business people established our organization so that parents would have a safe place to bring their children in the face of crises. Our primary services are: 24-hour childcare for infants and children under the age of seven (ages seven to twelve on a case-by-case basis) Parent education Crisis counseling for parents Referrals to other community agencies Who We Help Vanessa Behan helps parents who are having difficulty providing safe shelter and care for their children. They may be dealing with issues as complex as substance abuse, domestic violence and homelessness. Or, they may just be exhausted and worn-out from the demands of parenting.