The two Hoop Type Greenhouses are taking shape, thanks to the GE Volunteers 

Construction update of the residential homes/Hatton Center: 
Thanks to Fishbaugh & Sons Construction Company, they are making great progress!! Construction of the four residential houses has been completed !! See the photos above. Each house has four bedrooms and will house 4 "farmers".  All the homes are now fully occupied and day activities are full .  This is an exciting time for all of us as we see our long sought dream become a reality !!!  This is a parent driven initiative that would not happen without the focused dedication of many people. Construction of two additional homes will occur in 2011. The Hatton Center is currently under construction.  The Hatton Center will house day activities for resident "farmers" and day participants. Evenings and weekends, it will be used for special events, conferences,and workshops for training parents and professionals. For more information about these construction projects see the menu on the left: "Photos/Plans" and "Hatton Center ".  While we have received significant financial gifts to make this happen, we are still in need of gifts to furnish the Day Services so that we can offer a variety of Educational, Therapeutic and Vocational Programs.  Plans are also underway to begin a Therapeutics Riding Program.  All gifts are greatly appreciated. see menu item: "make a donation".

Safe Haven Farms in the News !!!  The farm was officially purchased on Wednesday, October 14, 2009  and it began serving adults with autism on May 19, 2010 !!  This has all been made possible because of many volunteers and the willingness and generosity of many individuals and foundations  that have provided financial support.  Collectively these contributions have allowed us to purchase and construct this much needed farm facility.  If you have volunteered your time and effort or have given money to help support this farm please know that your contributions of money, time, and effort are greatly appreciated.   Please see the menu on the left for earlier news articles about the farm that has been published: "News Article About Safe Haven Farms".       

History

Safe Haven Farms, Inc. was founded by a group of parents with young adult children with autism, in response to the lack of residential and vocational services for persons with autism. They visited the few existing farmsteads in other parts of the country to gain first-hand experience and advice from groups who have been successful with the farming model. Safe Haven Farms, Inc. is working to create a model program for adults with autism in rural southwest Ohio.

Save Haven Farms offers an integrated day vocational and residential setting where each individual is part of a close-knit supportive farm family. Their participation in the therapeutic cycle of farm life fosters self-sufficiency, independence, and a sense of achievement.

This 60-acre farm property located in a rural area of Middletown, Ohio. The working farm is being funded and developed by Safe Haven Farms, Inc. When construction is completed, this farm will also serve adults with autism that can commute to the farm as well as serve those adults who elect to live as well as work on the farm.

Phase 1 is in the final phases of completion. The four house are now occupied.  Until the buildiing for day Services is completed, day services  are being will be held in the Farm House ,in new rooms constructed in the barn and on the grounds of the Safe Haven Farms.  Construction of the Hatton Center which will house the day services Building is expected to open in November of 2010. Once the Hatton Center is built and equipped, it will offer a variety of Therapeutic and Vocational  services for adults with autism, and offer workshops and seminars for parents and professionals that want to learn more about how to best serve the needs of adults with autism.

Phase 2 will involve the construction of two additional residential homes for eight additional residents and is expected to be completed by late 2011. 

The residential homes have been designed to meet the special needs of adults with autism, with ample community and private space. They are universally accessible and energy efficient.

The residents of Safe Haven Farms are being served by staff extensively trained in autism. There are significant opportunities to learn new skills and develop friendships with their housemates, staff and neighbors. Safe Haven Farms, Inc. has selected an experienced service agency partner to provide around-the-clock support for residential and day programs. The service provider is responsible for hiring and training direct care staff, and providing on-site management oversight.

Once construction is complete, Safe Haven Farms will be self-sufficient, utilizing each individual’s existing funding streams from federal, state and local Medicaid, Social Security and MRDD funding.

Those living on the farm, along with staff, are participating in community events and volunteer opportunities. The community will be invited to attend special events on the Farm and to volunteer their farming expertise, interacting with and teaching residents.

Beyond the immediate project goals, the organization plans to educate and train future professionals and direct care staff about autism. Toward that end, local universities have been contacted to promote opportunities for students with an interest in autism seeking a meaningful work/study experience.

To address a critical community need, training programs and seminars will periodically be held at Safe Haven to teach direct care staff, professionals and parents from throughout the area about autism and how to help and care for individuals with autism. These goals constitute ways of giving back and reaching beyond the farm to make lives better for individuals and families living with autism.

The service provider for Safe Haven Farms is RMS, a privately owned human services organization that has been licensed and funded by the state of Ohio since 1987.  Every person hired to work at Safe Haven Farms has received extensive training on autism and have receive dspecific instructions for each individual that is a resident or attends the day program. This is being done to ensure that each participant receives the love and care that they need. For more information about this service provider please see their website: http://www.teamrms.com or contact Ashley Cartell at acartell@teamrms.com  Their office at Safe Haven Farms can also be contacted via phone: 513-422-4863

Safe Haven Farms from the perspective of one of the parents: Kathy Bolduc is a professional writer and the mother of an autistic son, Joel who will be moving to Safe Haven Farms in the spring of 2010. You are encouraged to read her Blog: http://kathleenbolduc.com/wp/   Also please see her web page in which Kathy, through her professional writings, reflects on parenting a special child. http://kathleenbolduc.com