Our History

Clear Creek Farm was a dream of a group of Miami and Shelby county school board members.  They wanted to create a home for emotionally or physically orphaned children.  They wanted to create a place, a home, to instill values, good common sense needed to become adults for a fulfilling life and for them to have their own memories of a good childhood.

This group felt that positive reinforcement was lacking for those children of abuse, neglect or absent parents. History of abuse can lead to a cycle of repeat for those abused or neglected.  For a child to successfully grow, the child needs love, support, understanding and emotional security.  Clear Creek Farm was founded to meet those needs of children emotionally or physically orphaned.

The organizing group of school board members was instrumental in the 1979 planning and development of Clear Creek Farm along with the dedicated involvement of Paul G. Duke who was a major benefactor.  The first home was completed in 1983; and due to its success, a second home was completed in 1987.  Originally incorporated in 1980 as Upper Valley Charitable Non-Profit Corp., the program was referred to as Clear Creek Farm; the corporate name was later changed to Clear Creek Farm in 1992.

An executive director, a volunteer board of trustees and a dedicated staff operate Clear Creek Farm with the sole purpose to provide a loving home for children to develop spiritually, emotionally, physically, mentally and morally as part of a caring family.  A place where kids can develop their own pleasant memories--a place called home.

Offering Two Types of Programs

Traditional Family-Styled Residence

Clear Creek Farm operates a family-styled unit, residence for 8 to 10 kids cared for by house parents 24 hours a day.  Children are expected to participate in the family unit by doing chores and sharing responsibilities, helping with meals, doing their own laundry, and grocery shopping.  They enjoy spiritual as well as recreational activities together as a family and learn to support one another.  Staffed by House Parents.

LODGE Program (Local Opportunity Dedicated & Geared towards Empowerment)

A new program started in March 2011.  In this home, the program is primary focused on accepting adolescents who are in need of intense group home services with a shorter six-month length of stay.  This program is a 3-step process of approximately 60 days each status level.  Staffed 24/7 by a rotating pool of House Managers and a Program Coordinator.

Our children attend Hardin-Houston Local Schools.  They receive extra help as needed with studies or projects by certified tutors twice a week in the home.  They participate in extracurricular activities such as baseball, volleyball, track, basketball, cross-country, Muse Machine and marching band.  Some participate in other activities such as 4-H, YMCA sports and community sports teams.

A new administrative office was built in 1999 by the Upper Valley Joint Vocational School carpentry and electrical trades students and a local general contractor.  The former administrative building, an old farmhouse, was converted into a transition home for those graduating students where they may live while they attend college or start in the work force.  This transition home allows them to learn to adjust to living on their own.

Since the first home opened in 1983, over 160 children have called Clear Creek Farm home.  A place "Where a Child’s Heart Finds a Home."

In 2011, we are celebrating our 28th year of service to over 160 youth.
While the corporation was founded in 1980, it is celebrating it's 31st year.