About Watson Children's Shelter

Watson Children's Shelter is dedicated to providing a safe, nurturing environment for children who are victims of abuse, neglect, abandonment or family crisis.

Janice Watson
WCS Founder

Founded in 1977, Watson Children’s Shelter is the only emergency shelter available for young children in Missoula and the entire western Montana region. Janice Watson opened her home, then known as Watson's Receiving Home, when the police and state child protection services had nowhere else to turn.

Today, Watson Children's Shelter continues to follow Jan’s compassionate spirit, providing shelter to children, infant to age 14, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The average length of stay is 45 days, though some children remain longer until their family crisis is resolved, or until a relative, foster home, treatment center or other suitable home can be located. The capacity at Watson Children's Shelter is 16 children at one time. We care for 70 to 100 children annually.

Watson Children's Shelter receives funding through fees for service from the Department of Public Health and Human Services and others authorized to place children as well as grants from United Way, Missoula County, and private donations.

If you would like more information, are interested in a tour, or would like to support Watson Children’s Shelter in some form, please contact Fran Albrecht, Executive Director, at (406) 549-0058 or email us at shelter@montana.com. Watson Children's Shelter is a private, non-profit organization. All contributions are tax-deductible.