BASHOR CHILDREN’S HOME HISTORY
Bashor Children’s Home began as the Bashor Deaconess Orphanage on land donated to the United Methodist Church by John and Emaline Bashor in 1923.
The church governed a boys orphanage until it suspended operations during World War II. It was reopened in 1950 and remained an orphanage through 1968.
Bashor Children’s Home refocused its mission on residential child care in 1969 and launched a period of rapid growth as the agency adapted to the changing needs of the community:
· 1971 – Completed construction of four residential cottages and an administration building.
· 1974 – Established alternative school (BAS) a remedial education program at the junior high school level. A high school program was adopted two years later, began admitting girls
· 1977 – Established an off-campus emergency shelter care program for boys and girls. The shelter program was relocated on campus in 1994.
· 1981 – Completed construction of the Bergwall school and activities center.
· 1989 – A residential treatment program was established to address the needs of children with severe emotional handicaps.
· 1996 – began HOPE residential program, targeted for sexually maladaptive boys ages 8-13, was established in cooperation with Oaklawn and Holy Cross.
· 1997 – Completed work on the Lung/Stull Complex, which provides a secure residential unit, classrooms, family group rooms and office space.
· 1998 – A drug and alcohol addictions program for adolescents was created to provide treatment, counseling and family therapy.
· 2001 – Completed a major campus-wide improvement project that included complete renovation of the residential cottages, new roads and remodeling an old maintenance garage for classroom and computer space. Recreational facilities expanded with the addition of The Pekarek Adventures Course, a softball diamond and a soccer field.
· 2002 – Expanded the FAITH program to encompass a seamless continuum of care in four phases: locked secure, staff secure, substance abuse treatment and independent living.
· 2004 – Established BEEP short-term elementary education day program in cooperation with area school districts.
· 2005 – Established Therapeutic Foster Care program.
· 2007 – Competed construction and opened Community Resource Center, including classrooms, media center, computer lab, science lab, arts & crafts room, dining hall and office space.
· 2009 – Mental Health of America joined Bashor’s family of services and Community Based Program Department was created
Today, Bashor Children’s Home is focused on six major areas of service to children – emergency shelter care, long term residential treatment, therapeutic foster care, substance abuse treatment, and alternative education day programs