History

Since it's planning and construction in the early 1920's The Marsh Foundation has had as it's mission to provide a continuing benefit to mankind by helping needy children.

Following the Last Will and Testament of George H. Marsh, The Marsh Foundation was first developed as an orphanage to serve Van Wert and surrounding counties in Ohio. "The Marsh" became the home to hundreds of children with no families or families who for one reason or another were unable to care for them. Times have a way of changing and The Marsh Foundation has moved when necessary with the times.

Since its inception, The Marsh Foundation has been governed by a three person Board of Trustees. They are appointed, first by George Marsh, thereafter by the Federal Appellate Court out of Lima. Each Trustee is a respected member of the Van Wert community and receives their appointment for life. Our current Board consists of Mr. Paul W. (Wally) Purmort, Mr. Donald Sutton and Mr. Gerald Thatcher.

There were changes in the type of children placed here at The Marsh beginning in the 1980's that paralleled the nationwide change in the orphanage system. Fewer true orphans were needing placement because the extended family had stepped in to help. More and more often those children being placed here and elsewhere were in need of behavioral interventions. They were truants, runaways, troublemakers, many were victims of abuse and neglect. The Marsh Foundation as it was could not be prepared to deal with youth behavioral problems on a full time basis. These radical changes in client needs and some overdue but drastic revisions of State and Federal childcare regulations and laws forced the Trustees to look for a program designed to help children and their families with severe behavioral difficulties while meeting the new rules.

After a long search and much research they settled on the Teaching-Family Model of Care. (link to Teaching-Family Association page) The Teaching-Family Model assured the Trustees that they could expect a continuation of the high expectations for quality, humane treatment for the children of Northwest Ohio. The actual implementation of The Teaching-Family program began in 1990 and continues to this day.

The Teaching-Family Program is a systems based approach to behavioral intervention for children that incorporates intensive initial training, consistent support, supervision and on-going training of the direct care staff. The Teaching-Family Model also includes an evaluation component responsible for reviewing all aspects of the direct care program for quality, effectiveness and consumer satisfaction. To further insure quality there is an annual review of the overall agencies systems and personnel qualifications using a peer reviewer network set up through national Teaching Family Association Office.

The Marsh Foundation serves children without regard to race, sex, religion, creed, national origin or handicap, (within the program's ability to care for the child).