VAN WERT, Ohio – Bridges is a statewide program administered by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services through a contract with The Child and Family Health Collaborative of Ohio.  As a member of this Collaborative, The Marsh Foundation was given the opportunity to help deliver this program to young adults who are transitioning out of foster care and into the community.  Therefore, The Marsh Foundation is excited to add a full time person to work as a Bridges Liaison in the Northwest region of Ohio.

Kyle Pressley, who has worked as a Family Teacher at The Marsh Foundation for the past two-and-a-half years, has been promoted to the position. Pressley holds a bachelor’s degree in clinical and counseling psychology from Ohio Northern University.

Pressley said he’s looking forward to the opportunity to work with young adults in Northwest Ohio. “I hope to establish trust in the young adults I work with and become a person they look up to,” he said. “My ultimate goal is to provide them with direction and help them become successful and happy adults.

The Bridges program was established in December 2017 to extend housing and case management services to eligible young adults who leave foster care on or after their 18^th birthday but have not yet turned 21.  Pressley will work with young adults in this age range who have recently emancipated from foster care. He’ll supply them with resources and help them with tasks such as finding affordable housing, finding a job, creating a budget and transportation. Essentially, he’ll help with anything that helps them transition to adult life.

“I’m excited about this position because in the past, young adults leaving foster care did not receive the help they needed,” he said. “Now, being able to help these young adults during this important transition period will hopefully result in more successful adults later in life.”

In his free time, Pressley enjoys collecting vinyl records, going to concerts and bowling in leagues.

The Marsh Foundation is a not-for-profit children’s services agency that provides services in a variety of settings. Services include group homes, family foster care (ages 0-17), an intensive treatment program, adoption and independent living. Located in Van Wert, Ohio, the organization’s group homes are licensed for up to 36 children ages 7 – 17, offers an on-campus school for grades 2 – 12 and provides a variety of clinical services to group home residents, foster care children and community members.

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Photo caption: The Marsh Foundation has promoted Kyle Pressley to Bridges Liaison.

VAN WERT, Ohio – Transitioning to adulthood is one of the most difficult times of a person’s life. It’s even more difficult for youth who are in residential or foster care. Without a parent to travel this journey with, these youth sometimes are lacking the important skills and knowledge needed to become a successful adult. This is why the Independent Living Program (IDL) at The Marsh is such an integral part of the continuum of care.  There is a commitment to helping ensure youth at The Marsh start off strong with a good foundation of experience and skills when they leave care.

Christina Flinn, Community Psychiatric Support (CPST), works directly with the youth at The Marsh that are aged 15 ½ and over in the IDL group on campus. Many recent projects have been related to money. They have worked on a bill paying project, paying monthly bills, balancing a checkbook and managing a budget. Lessons have included talking about credit, understanding the language and the math of borrowing money.

“Being able to manage your money is one of the most important things an adult has to learn to do,” said Flinn. “Often our youth have no idea how to begin, then they suddenly have to do it when they go out on their own. With projects we do as part of IDL, they are able to make mistakes, ask questions, and learn so that when they have to do these things for real, it is not so scary,” she said.

Another focus of the IDL group has been cooking. A cooking class has been held once a month at the First Presbyterian Church in Van Wert. These classes not only teach hands-on meal preparation skills like measuring, chopping and serving, but they also teach the planning and budgeting aspect. Youth are responsible for planning the meal on a specified budget, purchasing the needed ingredients and then preparing the meal.

It’s a learning experience they say they enjoy. One girl in the program stated practical reasons for liking the cooking class. “This will help you survive,” she said. “It isn’t possible to eat raw food; this cooking is something you need to know how to do.”

Another stated that she likes to cook and it’s beneficial to her well-being. “It helps me to cope,” she said. Another said she hopes to go to Vantage and study culinary arts in the future. Moving forward, these skills are something that they will be able to take with them when they leave The Marsh’s program.

Over the past summer, monthly activities were held that promoted social awareness. Activities included things like visiting a car dealership and taking public transportation. These are things that many of the youth will need to do in the future but as of yet have never been exposed to. Future plans also include first aid and CPR training.

According to Flinn, a lot of people tend to learn better by doing, and the youth at The Marsh are no different. “It is boring to talk about money but when you have to balance a checkbook and figure out how to pay the bills on time and still have money left over to eat, there is more of an impact,” she said. Physically doing these types of tasks helps the youth to remember them. “We talk about healthy eating but actually going to the grocery store or farmer’s market, touching the food and then bringing it home to cook it makes it more memorable,” she added.

The IDL group has been credited with several youth successes. They have discussions about saving money and how they will be able to live within their means instead of on credit. The youth that have jobs have been actively saving money. “I have also seen some IDL youth make their own medical appointments and actively take a role in their personal health,” Flinn said. They fill out their own medical paperwork, memorized their social security number and educate themselves about side effects to their medications.

Some of these things may be taken for granted by most, but for youth in care they are often things that can get overlooked. It is important to The Marsh Foundation to not only provide housing and meals for youth, but to also impart knowledge and lessons that will stick with them well into their future.

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Photo caption: The IDL group has recently started a series of cooking classes which involve planning, budgeting and preparing the meal.

VAN WERT, Ohio – In order to meet growing needs at The Marsh Foster Care and Adoption Center, the organization has hired a third foster care consultant. Megan Riemesch, LSW, is excited to join the team and brings with her experience and education that will benefit the youth at The Marsh Foundation.

“Becoming a foster parent is a brave decision. I’m excited to support families of all kinds through the good, bad, frustrating, most amazing times of their lives,” Riemesch said.

Riemesch obtained her degree in social work from The Ohio State University. Previous positions at Westwood Behavioral Health and Allen County Children’s Services have given her a broad base of experience to draw from.

As a case manager, Riemesch has worked with individuals of all ages. “I truly want to help others and that is why I chose a career in social work in the first place. This position will allow me to do just that,” she said.

The foster care and adoption division at The Marsh Foundation continues to grow to meet the increasing number of children in care. “We are excited about the opportunity to have Megan join our team,” said Marsh foster care supervisor, Melissa Snyder. “Unfortunately, we are seeing more and more children needing care. Thankfully, we are fortunate to have a strong, compassionate staff that use their talents to work closely with these families and children,” she added.

Riemesch recently married her husband Brent and the couple resides in Lima with their two dogs, Runner and Calvin.

The Marsh Foundation is a not-for-profit children’s services agency that provides services in a variety of settings. Services include group homes, family foster care (ages 0-17), an intensive treatment program, adoption and independent living. Located in Van Wert, Ohio, the organization’s group homes are licensed for up to 36 children ages 7 – 17, offers an on-campus school for grades 2 – 12 and provides a variety of clinical services to group home residents, foster care children and community members.

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Photo caption: The Marsh Foundation has hired Megan Riemesch, LSW, as a foster care consultant.

VAN WERT, Ohio – Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a foster parent? Do you have questions about the process? Are you concerned you don’t have what it takes? Are you interested in adoption? The Marsh Foundation Foster Care and Adoption Center is holding a free event that can help answer these questions and more.

On Thursday, November 8, between 6 and 8 p.m. you can attend an informational open house and have all of your questions answered. This event offers a no obligation opportunity to ask questions.  Information will be provided in a relaxed environment.

Did you know?

• The licensing process takes 3-6 months.
• Couples and single individuals are eligible.
• Complete, extensive training is provided prior to child placement (36 hours).
• Supportive, 24-hour on-call consultation available.
• Substantial reimbursement for those who qualify.
• We only place kids in your home that you accept.
• Potential parents must be 21 or older.
• Parents may own or rent their home.

Join us at 102 W. Main Street in Van Wert on November 8 between 6 and 8 p.m. Marsh Foundation representatives will be on hand to answer questions. Refreshments will also be provided.

The Marsh Foundation is a not-for-profit children’s services agency that provides services in a variety of settings. Services include group homes, family foster care (ages 0-17), an intensive treatment program, adoption and independent living. Located in Van Wert, Ohio, the organization’s group homes are licensed for up to 36 children ages 7 – 17, offers an on-campus school for grades 2 – 12 and provides a variety of clinical services to group home residents, foster care children and community members.

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VAN WERT, Ohio – As The Marsh Foundation Foster Care and Adoption division continues to grow, a grand opening and ribbon cutting was held last week at their new location downtown. The Foster Care and Adoption Center, 102 W. Main Street in Van Wert, will now house office space as well as a training and visitation area.

“We are so grateful to the Van Wert community for their ongoing support,” said Melissa Snyder, foster care supervisor. “There are so many children needing help and our community has really stepped up to help us meet that need.” In the past year, The Marsh has licensed an additional 10 foster families. “This is incredible, and crucial to our mission,” Snyder added.

As May begins, the agency will be celebrating National Foster Care Appreciation Month. “We are so appreciative of our foster families, their dedication, and the sacrifices they make in order to give kids a loving home,” said Kim Mullins, executive director of Child and Family Services at The Marsh. “The month of May gives us an extra opportunity to show them our appreciation.”

The Marsh Foundation is continuing to grow. In addition to their consistent effort to recruit more foster families, they are also hiring another licensed social worker for the downtown Van Wert office. For more information, visit www.marshfoundation.org.

The Marsh Foundation is a not-for-profit children’s services agency that provides services in a variety of settings. Services include group homes, family foster care (ages 0-17), an intensive treatment program, adoption and independent living. Located in Van Wert, Ohio, the organization’s group homes are licensed for up to 36 children ages 7 – 17, offers an on-campus school for grades 2 – 12 and provides a variety of clinical services to group home residents, foster care children and community members.

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Photo caption: The Marsh Foundation held a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony at their new Foster Care and Adoption Center last week.

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VAN WERT, Ohio – Again this year, an egg hunt was the highlight of Easter weekend on The Marsh Foundation Campus. It was all made possible by the Shirley Haight family, who sponsored the festivities for the eighth consecutive year.

The Easter egg hunt has become an annual tradition on The March campus that youth and staff both anxiously anticipates. The youth enjoy and the staff appreciates the extra smiles it brings to the youths’ faces. “The donations we receive from the Haight family are a double blessing,” said Kim Mullins, executive director of Child and Family Services at The Marsh Foundation. “The special day has an inspirational impact on our kids and the sizable, generous donation helps our resources to go even further.”

Haight’s daughter, Cindy Henderson and her family, went above and beyond again this year to make Easter even more special for youth currently residing at The Marsh Foundation. The family’s generosity and creativity are extremely thoughtful, even down to the smallest details.

“They think of all the details and their generosity each year makes Easter an extra special holiday on our campus.” In the 1940s, Shirley Haight came to live at The Marsh. Now, her daughters and grandson continue to give back to the campus at Easter time. The family provided eggs, baskets and gifts for all of the youth on campus. Although Haight passed away in 1988, her family has made a tradition out of donating. It was a memorable day and enjoyed tremendously by Marsh Foundation youth.

The Marsh Foundation is a not-for-profit children’s services agency that provides services in a variety of settings. Services include group homes, family foster care (ages 0-17), an intensive treatment program, adoption and independent living. Located in Van Wert, Ohio, the organization’s group homes are licensed for up to 36 children ages 7 – 17, offers an on-campus school for grades 2 – 12 and provides a variety of clinical services to group home residents, foster care children and community members.

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VAN WERT, Ohio – The Marsh Foundation will hold a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony for the new Foster Care and Adoption Center on Thursday, April 26 beginning at 11 a.m. An open house will follow until 1 p.m. The building, located at 102 W. Main Street in Van Wert, has been renovated and updated in order to house the new downtown facility. Everyone is welcome to attend the ceremony and tour the Center.

The main level is now equipped to hold office and training space for The Marsh’s growing foster care and adoption division. “As our agency continues to grow and serve more children, it became apparent that we needed additional space that was more accessible to the community,” said Kim Mullins, executive director of Child and Family Services at The Marsh.

In recent months, The Marsh has been focused on recruiting more foster and adoptive families. The increase in efforts has brought several new families onboard. As a result, more training events are taking place, more treatment meetings are being held and more children are being placed in homes. “It is a great feeling to see our number of dedicated foster and adoptive families growing,” said Melissa Snyder, foster care and adoption supervisor. “We are excited to move into this new office space. It will allow us to continue to grow and give us a convenient, accessible location to meet with prospective and current parents.”

Formerly Next, the building received a face lift from Alexander & Bebout over the past several weeks. In addition, The Marsh maintenance crews did a great deal of work painting and moving furniture. The new sign, made by Wilkinson Printing in Van Wert, was recently installed.

Over the past year, The Marsh Foster Care Division has grown and added three new full-time positions in the Van Wert community. Currently, the department is seeking a licensed social worker. The Foster Care and Adoption staff is looking forward to seeing you at the Grand Opening on Thursday, April 26 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

The Marsh Foundation is a not-for-profit children’s services agency that provides services in a variety of settings. Services include group homes, family foster care (ages 0-17), an intensive treatment program, adoption and independent living. Located in Van Wert, Ohio, the organization’s group homes are licensed for up to 36 children ages 7 – 17, offers an on-campus school for grades 2 – 12 and provides a variety of clinical services to group home residents, foster care children and community members.

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Photo caption: Pictured is The Marsh Foundation’s dedicated and caring Foster Care team in front of our new Foster Care and Adoption Center in downtown Van Wert. L to R: Breanna Zipfel, Beth Dye, Melissa Snyder and Pamela Reagan.

VAN WERT, Ohio – For the sixth year in a row, Project Believe has helped to make Christmas a little brighter for youth at The Marsh Foundation. The organization, which originated in 2007, has grown from serving 10 kids at Christmas to 10 entire facilities this year alone.

Tammie Rafferty, the group’s founder, was inspired to help others by her own daughter’s circumstances. Their mission is to enrich the lives of youth and their caregivers in residential treatment centers. They provide gifts at Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter and back-to-school time at various facilities.

Christmas gifts include things like pajamas, blankets, books, board games, art sets and journals. Each group home also received a bag of items to share among the house. Director of Residential Services, Kathleen Davis, graciously accepted all of the gifts on behalf of the staff before they were stashed away in anticipation for Christmas morning.

You can learn more about Project Believe by visiting their website at www.projectbelive.net. Or, you can contact Rafferty directly at .

The Marsh Foundation is a not-for-profit children’s services agency that provides services in a variety of settings. Services include group homes, family foster care (ages 0-17), an intensive treatment program, adoption and independent living. Located in Van Wert, Ohio, the organization’s group homes are licensed for up to 36 children ages 7 – 17, offers an on-campus school for grades 2 – 12 and provides a variety of clinical services to group home residents, foster care children and community members.

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Photo caption: Director of Residential Services, Kathleen Davis, is pictured with Tammie Rafferty and Project Believe’s delivery.

VAN WERT, Ohio – The Marsh Foundation School held its annual holiday celebration before Christmas break. The day included performances by The Marsh School choir as well as 15 individual and group performances. Students were encouraged to choose holiday and winter songs for the audience to enjoy.

In addition to the musical program, a graduation ceremony was held and two students were honored for receiving their high school diplomas.  Zildjian Galliher attended The Marsh for two-and-a-half years and plans to enlist in the military. Xavier Puterbaugh also attended The Marsh for two-and-a-half years and has returned to his home county and enrolled in an independent living program.

Many of the youth’s friends and families, as well as community members joined in the celebration. Following the program in the auditorium, everyone in attendance enjoyed a holiday themed luncheon in the cafeteria.

The Marsh Foundation is a not-for-profit children’s services agency that provides services in a variety of settings. Services include group homes, family foster care (ages 0-17), an intensive treatment program, adoption and independent living. Located in Van Wert, Ohio, the organization’s group homes are licensed for up to 36 children ages 7 – 17, offers an on-campus school for grades 2 – 12 and provides a variety of clinical services to group home residents, foster care children and community members.

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Photo caption: Principal, Robbie Breese, is pictured with The Marsh Foundation School winter graduates, Xavier Puterbaugh (left) and Zildgian Galliher (right).

VAN WERT, Ohio – Beth Dye, LSW, has been a licensed social worker in Ohio for more than 25 years. After obtaining her bachelor’s degrees in social work and psychology from at the University of Bluffton, she originally began her career at The Marsh Foundation and worked there for three years before a programming change. Now, she has been rehired as a foster care clinical provider at The Marsh.

“I am thrilled to once again be working with kids. Children and youth are always where my heart has been,” Dye said. “I went into the field of social work to be able to work with people. I enjoy supporting others as they grow and become successful in whatever they chose to do.”

The foster care and adoption division at The Marsh Foundation continues to grow in order to meet the increasing number of children in care. Because trauma is common with children in foster care, the clinical component of the program continues to be extremely important. “Many of the children we serve have suffered from neglect or various forms of abuse,” said Kim Mullins, executive director of Child and Family Services at The Marsh. “Because of that, we put a strong emphasis on counseling within all of our programs.”

Dye said that she is excited to be a part of the growth of the program at The Marsh. “Life can be tough, and often we are not aware of just what others have experienced or are experiencing. I especially like being an advocate for someone who doesn’t have a voice,” she said. “It is important to let people know that there is someone on their side, who will listen to their concerns and then help them achieve their goals. Everyone needs to know that there is someone in their corner.”

Dye brings with her several years of experience as a medical/hospice social worker at Community Health Professionals. She and her husband, Kelly, have twin daughters Claire and Katie. “The Marsh Foundation is a very important part of Van Wert’s history and their services and outreach to youth and their families is exceptional.  I have many good memories of working here years ago and am   happy to be a part of the Marsh family once again,” Dye added.

The Marsh Foundation is a not-for-profit children’s services agency that provides services in a variety of settings. Services include group homes, family foster care (ages 0-17), an intensive treatment program, adoption and independent living. Located in Van Wert, Ohio, the organization’s group homes are licensed for up to 36 children ages 7 – 17, offers an on-campus school for grades 2 – 12 and provides a variety of clinical services to group home residents, foster care children and community members.

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Photo caption: The Marsh Foundation has hired Beth Dye, LSW, as a foster care clinical provider.