Mountain States Children's Home

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<MARQUEE width=400 height=19>"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Prov.22:6</MARQUEE>
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<TD vAlign=top align=middle width=91><A title="Types of Services" href="#Types of Services" target=Main><IMG id=fpAnimswapImgFP10 height=103 alt="Types of Services" src="Images/images_services1.jpg" width=89 lowsrc=file:///C:/Inetpub/wwwroot/myweb/images/services2.jpg border=0 name=fpAnimswapImgFP10 dynamicanimation="fpAnimswapImgFP10"></A></TD>
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<H3 style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 0px 0px; WORD-SPACING: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 100%" align=left>Types of Services:<A href="(empty20reference!).html" name=services><A name="Types of Services"></A></A></H3>
 
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Child Placement with a Christian family</TD></TR>
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Individual Christian counseling for each child</TD></TR>
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Group Counseling</TD></TR>
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Family Counseling</TD></TR>
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Casework and Treatment Planning</TD></TR>
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On-Grounds School</TD></TR>
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Information and Referral</TD></TR>
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College Assistance Program</TD></TR>
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<TD>Therapeutic horse program</TD></TR>
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Fully operational farm</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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<H3 style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 0px 0px; WORD-SPACING: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 100%" align=left>Philosophy Statement:<A name=Philosophy></A></H3>
 
<IMG height=16 src="Images/images_bullet.gif" width=17 border=0>Family Focused 
MSCH recognizes and respects the very important part that the child's family plays in his life as far as the past, present, and future psychological and spiritual well-being is concerned.  Regardless of the good or bad situations that might have existed between the child and his family, the child has the God-given right to have access to his family, and they to him.  A major goal of placement, therefore, shall be to rebuild, restore, and otherwise strengthen positive family relationships wherever possible, unless family/child contacts have been terminated by court order.  The child and his family, although separated, shall be considered the client system of the agency.
 
<IMG height=16 src="Images/images_bullet.gif" width=17 border=0>Goal Oriented Goals shall be established for and with every child in placement and the family.  Every child shall have individual goals which he can conceivably attain.  The efforts of our agency shall, therefore, be directed at assisting each child and his family in attaining the stated goals.  Periodic evaluations shall be available in conference with the child, his family and appropriate agency personnel to assess the overall status of the placement.  Our goal is to provide a continuum of care through a systematic, on-going program that meets the child's changing developmental needs as he develops through the different phases of our program.
 
<IMG height=16 src="Images/images_bullet.gif" width=17 border=0>Reality Based Major efforts shall be made to help every placement to gain skills in dealing with reality openly, constructively, and with anticipation of positive results.  Every child shall, therefore, be assisted in gaining skills in accepting individual responsibility and accountability for his own behavior.  Although the influences and experiences of the past are acknowledged, it is the child's choices and behaviors of the present that constitute our efforts and emphasis within our residential system.  The child is helped to learn that his choices determine his destiny; and, that he has control over the positive or negative outcome.  Self-control, positive self-image, and self-concept are the goals of our efforts.  In keeping with our reality oriented philosophy, we also strive to be diligent in addressing the varied needs of our diversified cultural and racial population.
 
<IMG height=16 src="Images/images_bullet.gif" width=17 border=0>Spiritually Centered Since our beginning, we have adhered to a strong conviction that true emotional and mental health, along with getting at the root of problems with self and others, must include a focus on the spiritual needs of the child and his family.  This is in keeping with our Biblical belief that all humanity consists not only of mind and body, but spirits as well.  Consequently, an on-going program of spiritual emphasis plays an important and vital role in the overall therapeutic milieu provided at MSCH.
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Mountain States Children's Home extends services to hurting children in an effort to meet their physical needs, heal their emotional hurts, challenge their minds and teach them moral principles, in order to reach the goals of reuniting them with their families or preparing for independence.
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<H3 style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 0px 0px; WORD-SPACING: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 100%" align=left>History:<A name=History></A></H3>
 
He told them another parable: "The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that birds of the air come and perch in its branches." Matt.17:20
 
As with most great endeavors in life, when traced back to the very beginning, MSCH began as an idea, nurtured initially by one individual.  Elmer L. Richards, served as an Elder of the West Cedar Church of Christ.  West Cedar was located at 175 South Julian (an area then known as Barnum) in Denver, CO.  This congregation was one of the smallest in Denver (about 125), of modest means, but devout in its service to the Lord.  Elders and Deacons serving West Cedar at that time are listed below:
 
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Elders</TD>
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Deacons</TD></TR>
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Bernard A. Byerly James R. Harris John C. Lewis Elmer R. Richards James H. Sims, Sr.</TD>
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Grover M. Key Ray A. Lewis Cecil A. Morton Cleo Paden George E Perfors James H. Sims, Jr. Glenn Thomas </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER></DIV>
  
It had been Elmer Richards responsibility as an Elder to work with the wayard youth of the area.  Taking children to homes for unwed mothers or children's homes in other states wore mightily on him.  After some thought, and a few more trips to children's homes in other states, Elmer Richards attended an Elder's meeting and presented the concept of a Colorado Children's Home and the urgent need in the Front Range area of Colorado.  From the planting of that "mustard seed", a plan began to emerge; the Elders of West Cedar were attached to the idea and decided to accept the challenge.  In October 1960 a delegation from the West Cedar congregation attended the Christian Child Care Conference in Lubbock, TX.  Armed with new enthusiasm, the group returned to Denver to determine where such an endeavor should be rooted.  A key requirement was that the children's home be located away from urban Denver, in a rural environment that had room for expansion.  The group located a 155 acre farm north of Longmont that seemed to fit their requirements.  The existing farm house would serve initially as a children's home, office, storage area for food and clothing, and the superintendent's home.  Louis A. Nowlin, who was the minister at West Cedar, was persuaded to become the first superintendent.  On Saturday, December 17th, 1960, the trustees of the Mountain States Children's Home signed the final papers, took possession of the farm north of Longmont, and began a great work for the Lord.  The purchase price of $52,000 included 155 acres of land ($43,500), a farm house ($7,500) and a barn ($1,000).  Many of us at MSCH wonder what the reaction of those determined Christians must have been when it was announced, "The deal is done. We have committed ourselves for over $50,000 and to an urgent work involving abused and neglected children of this great Rocky Mountain area."  The initial purchase was funded by selling bonds.  Today as we tell the story of MSCH, the property and all buildings are owned free and clear.  From this humble beginning, in the original farm house where the superintendent, children and offices all were housed, MSCH has grown and is poised to grow again. The thoughts of the initial trustees still haunt our mission, "...it may not be exactly like a normal home setting, but it will be as close as we know how to make it."
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<H3 style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 0px 0px; WORD-SPACING: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 100%" align=left>Nonprofit Status:<A name="Nonprofit Status"></A></H3>
 
Mountain States Children's Home is a non-profit residential child care facility (RCCF) licensed by the State of Colorado.  The MSCH approach to caring for children is unique in Colorado; we provide 24 hour residential care for children in a Christian family/home setting.  We accept and provide for children placed by the Colorado Department of Social Services as well as private placements.  We accept children without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national or social origin.  MSCH is licensed to care for children between the ages three and sixteen; up to 24 hours children may be in our care at any one time.  Children are housed, family-style, in large homes managed by Christian house parents who are in residence 24 hours a day.  When house parents are off duty, a relief house parent is provided, minimizing disruption of the children's routine and habits.  
 
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