Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you feel the need for a children's home community?
Lisa and I have been personally and professionally involved in the lives of hurting children and their families for more than 18 years. During this time we have served in the child welfare system, the courts, on our community’s Child Protection Team, in the schools, and in the administration of a large children’s home (White’s). We were county foster parents for the Office of Family and Children in Whitley and Kosciusko Counties for seven years. These experiences gave us an understanding of the pain that children are experiencing because of abuse and neglect. Most abused kids feel unlovable, unworthy, and incapable. They feel helpless and hopeless and believe that they have no future.
Some of the hurting kids we will help are headed for placement in the child welfare system—a system that is financially challenged and which needs the help of private non-profit organizations. We will work with courts, providing judges and child welfare officials with an alternative to offer parents. Other children who need care are not involved in the system, but their situations are no less tragic. These are kids who are living in situations where their parents are incapable of raising them due to drug addiction or other series issues. We will offer parents an option of hope for their kids.
Each year nearly 20,000 ordinary children in Indiana are abused and neglected by their parents. That’s 442 kids each week or 63 every day who suffer.
On any given day in our state there are more than 10,000 children living in temporary foster homes and facilities; most, from poorer families.
Each year in Indiana:
- 7,000 children and teens live in temporary foster homes
- 3,000 children live in shelters and other state-funded facilities
- 200 legal orphans whose parents’ rights have been terminated remain unadopted in state care
And in our region, the annual numbers are also substantial:
- 3,000 children in Marion County suffer from abuse and neglect
- 1,400 kids from Brown County and its neighboring communities are abuse and neglect victims
- 2,000 of these kids from central and south-central Indiana are removed from their homes and made temporary wards of the state
We’re faced with children living in real pain, and a system stretched beyond its ability to help all of the kids the way the loving people employed by the system wish that it could. Unless a swift, long-term intervention is made, many of these children will be further hurt.
Why Brown County?
There are children in Brown County and south-central Indiana who need help. There are no foster care communities in the six counties surrounding Brown County that have a warm, friendly, neighborhood setting. Abuse and neglect rates in these counties remain high, and the serious methamphetamine use among parents in these communities is creating very dangerous situations for their children. South-central Indiana kids need help, and we hope to provide them loving and affirming homes.
The amazing landscape and natural beauty of Brown County makes it a wonderful place to raise children. The peaceful setting is an ideal place for hurting kids to experience the healing power of nature, and the rugged terrain allows them to have exciting adventures in their own back yard.
With the beautiful landscape, it’s easy to picture kids playing in the hills, hollers, creeks and woods, or fishing in the large pond that we’ll put in, or riding horses in the woods. The environment fits kids like a good pair of sneakers.
The ministry’s location in Brown County, between the two relatively affluent and populated communities of Bloomington and Columbus, has proven to be of incredible value. We now have several hundred supporters and volunteers from these communities.
We also think that Brown County is the right place for the ministry because of all of the creative, artistic folks in the community. It is incredibly fun and therapeutic for kids to work with their hands, learning how to spin a pottery wheel or making something special out of wood. We will invite local artists to come out as volunteers and teach the children. Through sharing their talents they may help heal a child.
Who are the kids you will care for?
The children will be Indiana kids, most from the southern half of the state. The majority of the parents who place their kids with us will have had some dealings with courts for mistreating or neglecting their kids. Some of the parents will be facing the removal of their kids from their homes by the courts. We will give these parents and court officials another wonderful option for the kids.
The parents will probably think of us as more of a boarding school that provides an excellent education, rather than a “children’s home”. On occasion we may also receive a child directly from the state in cases where the child has no parents because of abandonment or because their parents’ rights have been terminated by the courts. If that child fits the criteria we have established and has no one else to care for him or her, we want to help.
The kids will come to us generally between the ages of 6-12 years old. We generally will not accept kids who are older than 13. We will not take in kids who are violent or kids who have histories of sexual misconduct. These kids just won’t fit within the homes and open campus environment that we will be providing. The kids that we will serve will just be kids—hurting kids, but still just kids. Through the help of similar non-profit organizations we have developed a thorough, five phase admissions process that we will use with each family.
Here’s the typical profile of the children that we’ll care for:
Typical Child Profile
Children will come to New Song while between the ages of 2nd to 6th grade. They will be:
- Boys and girls who are 6-12 years old
- Children whose parents are unable to adequately care for them due to the parents’ physical, economical, emotional or other difficulties
- Children who are neglected or who have been abandoned
- Children who are victims of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
How long will the children stay and how will their parents be involved?
Children will come to New Song while ages 6-12 and will be offered care and guidance until high school graduation, with their parent’s permission. We hope to provide such a great environment for the kids that their parents will want them to stay until graduation. We also hope that the kids have such good, affirming, successful experiences on campus that they will feel at home and want to remain with us until they complete high school. We will ask parents to place their kids for a minimum of two years. Some of the kids will return home before high school graduation, and because of this, we must always be preparing children for a possible transition back home. We will encourage parents to maintain a good relationship with their kids while they are in our care through phone calls, letters, and home visits, when appropriate.
Are there similar places to New Song?
There are many highly successful, similar places throughout the country; for a list of a few of these click here. Lisa and I have traveled to children’s homes in Oklahoma, Virginia and Tennessee, spending 2-3 days during each visit. We have also talked a great deal with founders and administrators over the phone who have similar ministries in Arizona, Alabama, Michigan, Missouri, Georgia, and Florida. Many of these organizations have been around for 20-50 years. They are all privately funded and do not take kids from the courts. They also educate the kids on site, mainly because many of the kids are academically behind and in need of more individual help with their school work. Below is a list of Model Organizations that are similar in their vision. We have either visited or have been in contact with a number of these children’s homes; homes which have saved the lives of thousands of children over the years.
What will the homes and families be like?
Designed by Nashville resident and architects, Dave Kreie and Michael Chamblee, the homes are beautiful, country-style homes with big front porches and walk-out basements. Up to 8 kids will live in each home, with full-time house moms and dads caring for them. Also living in each home will be a recent college graduate with an education degree who will serve as teacher on campus and a “big brother/big sister” mentor in the homes.
What are the house parent qualifications?
The supervision of the children is obviously very important to us, for the safety and well being of the kids. Generally, there will be one adult for every two children in our care. Like normal families, the house moms and dads will be directly responsible for taking care of the kids, providing them with the love and guidance they need in order to grow into mature, responsible adults.
House moms and dads will be the heart of the ministry. Before they are hired, house parents will undergo an extensive application process, including background checks, reference checks, and personal interviews. They will have to show that they are naturally gentle and loving people, that they have a high degree of patience, and that they can provide the structure that kids need. Some will be college educated, while others will have had great life experiences—all of them will be very sharp people. Each of our moms and dads will have to show that they have been successful in mentoring kids in the past; either their own children or those of others. In addition, they will receive specialized foster parent training before they begin caring for kids, and ongoing training thereafter. The house parents will have the added benefit of having a mentor living in the homes who is a recent college graduate with an education degree who will help supervise the children.
How did you develop the master site plan?
All of the people who are involved in creating the master site plan are experts who have volunteered their professional services. These folks—civil engineers, architects, surveyors, landscapers, and builders—have donated several hundred hours of their combined time toward creating the site layout and the home design.
The master site plan was created with kids and families in mind. We tried to think of what would make for a happy, healthy, exciting environment for children, and considered this throughout the site planning process. In fact, a group of 15-20 young teens were interviewed during the site planning process to get their input. It was a great process and they had some very good ideas. The kids responded really well to having animals such as horses and miniature goats of which to take care. They also liked the thought of kids being raised in a natural, beautiful environment.
How will the kids be educated?
Kids will be educated in our multi-purpose educational center by qualified teachers, most of whom live at New Song. The teachers will be recent college graduates with teaching degrees who agree to serve for 1-2 years. In addition, some of the house moms and dads will also have backgrounds as teachers. Teachers will follow Indiana state standards for Math, Language Arts and Science classes, using our state’s Scope and Sequence. In addition, we will offer courses in the arts, drawing on some of Brown County’s creative residents to teach the kids painting, pottery, woodworking, and music. We hope to be able to provide work experiences for children in the area of raising livestock or participating in growing crops on nearby farms.
Is the local Brown County community involved?
Several Brown County folks were involved in the designing of the campus and homes, and many more have helped with construction. Eight Brown County pastors have given us feedback and advice, and they have endorsed what we are trying to do. Our family has attended several of the churches in Brown County and have found them to be very supportive. When we receive our first children, we will ask folks from the area to come out and volunteer, teaching pottery, painting, woodworking, music and cross-stitching, or as teacher’s aids. Some may come to help with yard work, house repairs, or other campus maintenance.
How will the ministry impact Brown County?
Our first priority will be to provide care to the needy children of Brown County. Over the years, we will give many Brown County kids a second chance at childhood. The kids will receive the love and attention and affirmation that they have not had before. This will be great for the kids, and also for the community. We would anticipate that approximately 10% of the New Song kids will have come to us from Brown County.
Will the kids be involved in the local community?
We hope to have the kids involved in things like 4H, Little League baseball, and the local soccer leagues. Older kids will also help out in the community with Habitat for Humanity or by helping elderly neighbors with yard work. On Sundays, families will choose their own church to attend in Brown County or in one of the surrounding communities. Interaction with the community is very important and healthy for kids because it helps them grow and mature.
What is the religious background of the organization?
New Song Mission is a nonprofit, Christ-centered nondenominational ministry. New Song is administered by a Board of Directors and also has a strong and sizeable Advisory Council. These folks attend a variety of churches. We have several dozen supportive churches from a variety of denominations and many from non-denominational churches. From Baptists to Catholics, and from the Christian Churches to the Nazarenes, people are coming forward because they are following the call of Christ Jesus to care for children who are suffering. We think it’s wonderful that folks are laying aside denominational barriers to unite over the cause of helping the weak and vulnerable children living in our communities.
How is New Song financed?
The ministry of New Song operates solely through the generous and sacrificial contributions of those who care about children. About 80% of our resources, including gifts of cash, services, or materials, come through gifts from individuals. The remaining 20% comes from churches, businesses, civic groups, and foundations. As a 501(c)(3) organization, all donations are tax deductible. We do not receive government funds.
Do you have a list of model organizations?
Listed below are successful model organizations, most of which we have either been in contact with or visited.
Shiloh Christian Children's Ranch
Box 606
Shelbina, MO 63468
(573) 588-2191
www.shilohranch.org
Eagle Ranch
PO Box 7200
Chestnut Mountain, GA 30502
770-967-8500
www.eagleranch.org
Promise Village
P.O. Box 210
Davisburg, MI 48350
248-328-2445
www.promisevillage.com
Big Oak Boy's Ranch
250 Jake Mintz Road
Gadsden, AL 35905
Ph (256) 892-0773
Fx (256) 892-2488
www.bigoak.org
Cookson Hills Christian Ministries
Rt. 3 Box 200
Kansas, OK 74347
Phone: (918) 597-2192
Fax (918) 597-2200
www.cooksonhills.org
Bethel Bible Village Children's Home
3001 Hamill Road
PO Box 729
Hixson, TN 37343
423.842.5757
www.bbv.org
Mercy Ministries
PO Box 111060
Nashville, TN 37222-1060
(615) 831-6987
www.mercyministries.com
Mountain Mission School
1 Hurley Steet
Grundy, Virginia 24614
276-935-2954
www.mountainmissionschool.org
Sunshine Acres
3405 N. Higley Rd.
Mesa, AZ 85215-9741
480-832-2540
www.sunshineacres.org
Wears Valley Ranch
3601 Lyon Springs Road
Sevierville, TN 37862
Phone: (865) 429-KIDS
Fax: (865) 429-2104
www.wvr.org
Tennessee Baptist Children's Homes, Inc.
P.O. Box 2206
Brentwood, TN 37024
1-800-624-8591
www.tbch4kids.org
Watersprings Ranch
7707 Sanderson Lane
Texarkana, Arkansas 71854
870-772-7187
www.watersprings.com