Who can come to the Oblong Children's Christian Home?
• Children
who are 5 to 16 years of age
• Children who are at-risk, neglected, or abused
• Children whose behaviors are
appropriate for a family setting
• Children who are willing to cooperate with our program
What
kind of facility is the Oblong Children's Christian Home?
• Our campus includes three family-style group homes and one
relief home.
•
Full-time Christian houseparents model Christian values, teach Biblical truths, and provide loving discipline.
• Approximately
eight children may reside in each home.
• We are based in a rural country setting.
• Our facility is licensed by
the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services.
How much does it cost to place a child at the Oblong
Children's Christian Home?
• We never turn away children based on a family's income or ability to pay.
• A placement
fee and monthly board charges are based on a sliding scale.
Do the parents give up any rights when placing
a child at the Oblong Children's Christian Home?
• No! No parental rights or guardianship is given up when parents place
their child.
•
Children are voluntarily placed by their parents and/or legal guardians.
How long does a child stay at the
Oblong Children's Christian Home?
•
Children stay not less than one school year.
• Time is allowed for the child and family to make significant progress on their
goals toward successful family reunification.
• Some children stay through high school graduation and beyond.
How
is the family involved with the Oblong Children's Christian Home?
• Weekly phone calls to the child after an initial two-week "settling-in" period
• Monthly
participation in our Family Development Program
• Monthly family counseling/progress meetings
• Monthly visitation, based on
the needs of the child and his/her family
What are day-to-day activities like for the children?
•
Children attend one of the schools in the community or our on-campus high school.
• Children practice skills of living in a family setting: chores, gardening,
playing, and participating in community and church events as well as other normal family activities.
• Members
of each group home attend a local Christian Church/Church of Christ as a family and are also involved in youth group, Christian
summer camps, etc.
