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We
require a minimum commitment of one year. To bring about lasting
change one must take the long look ahead. The girls did not develop bad
attitudes and habits overnight and will not change them overnight. We
have a level system that each girl must progress through in order to be
recommended to go home. The lengthy stay enables each girl to progress,
make mistakes, learn from them, and show themselves, the staff, and their
parents over time the consistency level that is necessary for lasting
change or real change in destiny.
We are a Christian
program. Our staff are dedicated Christian individuals who care
for and love each girl in this ministry. We accept girls from many different
religious backgrounds and some from no particular religious persuasion
at all. We do believe that the Christian atmosphere and ethic is one of
the reasons for our success at reaching the heart of the girls who come
here. Parents who place their child here need to feel comfortable with
this and therefore give us the authority to educate their daughters in
basic Christian teachings. Most of the parents who contact us would be
thrilled to see their daughter behaving in a respectful and loving way,
no matter what the spiritual emphasis is.
The
Steppin’ Stone Farm program is very structured and centered on teaching
a work ethic. We develop positive self-esteem within the girls
by teaching them how to develop a strong moral character. We emphasize
character traits such as having a good a work ethic and following through
on projects until their completion. The 4-H projects with plants and animals
are a few of many projects that provide the setting for learning these
important life skills.
Counseling is a
constant part of life at the “farm”. Although counseling
is offered individually and regularly, we purposefully counsel the girls
informally. Often they are used to the office appointment type counseling
and are callused to opening up. By design we counsel the girls informally
while performing tasks like cooking or other chores. This helps them to
let their guard down and have real conversations.
We have parent seminars over the summer, individual counseling with families,
and frequent conversations over the phone to help restore the relationship
between the parents and their daughter.
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