Oblong Children's Christian Home

The Oblong Children's Christian Home provides out-of-home placement to children, typically ages 5 to 18, who are in need of services due to parental illness, incarceration, or the inability to set appropriate structure in the Home. The ministry provides for all of the Children's needs, assuming all responsibility for their care 24 hrs a day, seven days a week, until the goals that were established for them upon entry into the program are met. Children are placed into family-style homes where a married couple serve as house parents. The ministry employs five sets of full-time house parents and one set that works part-time. Children may attend a local public school, a local private Christian school (grades k - 8), or the Children's Home private Christian high school (new life academy). Children participate in community activities (soccer, 4-h, gymnastics, etc.) And when of age, hold part-time jobs in the area. The goal of the ministry is to reunite children with their families after significant changes are made in both their Home life and behavior/decision-making. Parents/guardians are asked to take part in the reform by attending monthly family development sessions, talking with the counselor and house parents regularly, participating in weekly phone calls and engaging in Home visits. The Home employs a full-time counselor to meet with children weekly, and a portion of our therapy comes through horsemanship. The ministry cares for horses and has constructed an indoor riding arena for inclement weather.