Responding with God's love to serve and strengthen children and families.

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1. History

Shults-Lewis started in 1956 following the generous donation of 500 acres of northern Indiana farm land from Elmer and Deborah (Shults) Lewis for the purpose of helping children in need.

The agency continues to operate as a benevolent ministry of the churches of Christ, with all members of the Board of Trustees and Staff being faithful members of the churches of Christ.

Financial support since the beginning has been centered around donations of money, goods and services, and volunteer time from individual members and congregations of the churches of Christ.

Significant donations over the years have allowed Shults-Lewis to develop a campus of seven residential units, administrations building, school facility, shop and farm buildings and recreational settings.

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2. Services

Shults-Lewis serves children ages 12-18 with a residential treatment program. The agency utilizes full-time, live-in house parents in residential units to care for children who are victims of abuse and neglect, and children who are experiencing behavior and emotional problems that cause significant disruptions in the family and school setting.

Shults-Lewis provides a highly structured environment in a treatment approach with a qualified and trained staff. The treatment plan for each child is framed in a behavior modification program utilizing the level system. A professional social serves staff provides individual, group and family therapy on a frequent and consistent schedule.

Shults-Lewis operates a fully-functioning, state approved, private school for the residents of the children's home. The free-standing school facility, dedicated in 1991, house a trained faculty providing a well-rounded curriculum in preparation for high school graduation or GED completion. The faculty are trained and certified in their specific curriculum area, as well as in special education, behavior disorders, emotional handicaps, and learning disorders.

Shults-Lewis also provides services in the areas of foster care and adoptions, professional counseling, parenting classes, professional training in human services, and financial planning.

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3. Professional Membership

Shults-Lewis has been recognized and continues to hold licenses from the state of Indiana as a child caring institution and child placing agency.

The agency holds professional memberships in the following:

Indiana Association of Residential Child Care Agencies

National Association of Homes and Services for Children

Christian Child and Family Services Association

National Christian Schools Association

Indiana Foster Care and Adoption Association

Indiana Adoption Agencies United

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4. Financial Support

Shults-Lewis encourages individuals to give financial support in several ways.

•Helping Hands

Designed to encourage regular monthly giving, this program is the backbone of individual support.

•Change Can Program

Distributed in churches, change cans offer a unique way to collect financial support for Shults-Lewis.

•Phone Campaign

Operated by volunteers and staff each March, the phone campaign calls thousands of friends of the agency to encourage a financial gift.

•Memorial and Honor Giving

Friends of Shults-Lewis are encouraged to send gifts in lieu of flowers on the occasion of a birthday, anniversary, retirement, special event, or the death of a loved one.

•Commodities Program

Regular collections are made of donated groceries, pantry, and household items, primarily through congregations in upper Midwestern states. Also collected during these pickups are financial gifts used specifically to offset our food expense.

•Associated Women for Shults-Lewis

Several ladies' auxiliary chapters organized through congregations work to raise money for Shults-Lewis through bake sales, garage sales, chili suppers and other fund-raising and "fun" raising activities.

•Planned Giving

Individuals are encouraged to remember Shults-Lewis in their estate planning, through wills, trust agreements, retirement plans, gifts of appreciated property and major gifts.

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5. Annual Day Celebration

Each year, on the third Saturday of September, Shults-Lewis presents Annual Day. The public is invited to come and enjoy the arts and crafts fair, food and drink booths, entertainment, guest speakers and open house tours of the campus. Other annual events during this weekend include the staff appreciation banquet, golf tournament, 5K run, youth rally, and track and field contests.

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6. Referral Information

Please contact e-mail address below.

Shults-Lewis Objectives

Every child with whom we come in contact will draw closer to Christ.

Every family with whom we come in contact will draw closer to Christ.

Shults-Lewis will provide quality services for children and families.

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Shults-Lewis Child & Family Services

PO Box 471 Valparaiso, Indiana 46384 (219) 462-0513 (FAX) 464-7828

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