Lifeline Youth & Family Services, Inc. began more than 40 years ago when a small group of business leaders felt compelled to do something to help kids in trouble who desperately needed a safe and loving home.  Their grassroots efforts led to the purchase of the home and property known as “Blacklake Lodge” in Columbia City, followed by the incorporation of the organization on January 25, 1968.

The first group home, Blacklake Lodge North opened in October 1969.  Over the years, Lifeline continued to grow as a second group home was constructed and the staff roster began to expand.  In the early 80’s it became clear that while providing a temporary home for these young men was effective, there were older children who weren’t quite ready to be on their own at the end of their stay.  This led to Lifeline’s first Independent Living Program, Spencer Home, in 1985 housed at that time in New Haven, Indiana.  It would later grow to become the only three-phased program of its kind in the state with primary facilities in Fort Wayne and Warsaw, Indiana, as well as multiple scattered-site apartments to meet the needs of kids transitioning to adulthood.   

While the focus had been on helping kids and families in crisis—those who had been impacted by abuse, neglect, or delinquency—the organization began to turn its attention toward prevention efforts as well. In 1987, Lifeline began programs focused on a specific community in central Fort Wayne:  Brookmill Court Apartments.  Through after-school programs, one-on-one relationship building, and ultimately a preschool for the families of this government-subsidized community, Lifeline was able to impact children and families before  any potential risks came into play.  Elsewhere, the concept of prevention “courses” for teens was being developed and became official when the Center for Responsible Thinking was established in 1995.  Using multi-week curriculum, Lifeline’s staff were able to take principles on thinking patterns—and the impact they have on our behavior—into probation departments, classrooms, and organizations throughout the community and, later, throughout the state.

It was about this same time that the organization realized the needs of the youth placed in our residential group homes often exceeded the resources and attention of the public school systems.  While the public schools had much to offer, the trauma and emotional needs that many of the youth carried into Lifeline’s programs required specific, individualized attention.  In October 1995, Blacklake Alternative School was opened for this very reason.  By providing on-grounds education for the youth in Lifeline’s group homes, Lifeline’s was able to provide the concentrated academic attention required given the unique needs of the youth in placement—not  the least of which was the fact that most had fallen woefully behind their peers academically.  Lifeline’s alternative school—now known as Pierceton Woods Academy Alternative School—was accredited in 2002 by the Indiana Department of Education and continues to help kids catch up, keep up, and get ahead today.

The beginning of the new millennium brought significant changes for the organization as Lifeline joined forces with New Frontiers, Inc. of Warsaw, Indiana in July 2000.  Having strikingly similar missions and approaches to addressing the needs of families and kids impacted by abuse, neglect, and delinquency, it made perfect sense to combine efforts and resources—together the organizations could serve many more youth than either could alone.  With this surge of energy and resources, Lifeline began operating group homes in Warsaw, Indiana and could now offer Home-Based Services to families as an alternative to residential placement.Now an organization offering a full continuum of services, Lifeline’s growth began to surge.  As the demand for services continued to grow, Lifeline responded.  In June 2006, Lifeline opened its first-ever residential program for girls—a multi-phased Independent Living Program starting at Riverwood Ranch in Warsaw, Indiana.  But perhaps the most significant response to the growth was the construction of a centralized residential campus for our boys’ programs in September 2008: Pierceton Woods Academy.  This single campus encompasses all varieties of boys’ residential services—from behavior modification and sexually maladaptive behavior programs to a secured residential, or “detention” wing—as well as our alternative school and case management / counseling offices.  By consolidated resources and adding detention services, Lifeline was not only able to serve more youth and families, they were able to serve them better.

Most recently, Lifeline began the construction of a gymnasium—complete with a climbing wall and high ropes course—at the Pierceton Woods Academy campus.  This welcome addition will provide year-round physical activity for program residents and staff, as well as opportunities for the community at large.  Completion of this construction is anticipated in late summer 2010.