Josiah White's

09/10/2025

A Special Visit to Josiah White’s

Yesterday we had the joy of welcoming Jadyn back to campus, yes, that Jadyn, the namesake of Jadyn’s Hope Barn! Her visit was nothing short of inspiring.

“My vision has come true,” she said.

She toured the barn that now serves our campus, a lively space filled with chickens whose eggs will help feed our campus community. Beyond providing food, it’s become a hands-on classroom where students learn about farming, responsibility, and the rhythms of life which introduces new possibilities for our students.

Jadyn also spent time with our beloved cows, and one in particular— #7, affectionately named Bonnie, was especially smitten, following her around the pasture!

Most meaningful of all, Jadyn expressed how powerful it was to know that students are working with the animals. She shared how being in a farm environment helped shape who she is and taught her the value of hard work. Now she gets to witness how her vision of this barn has inspired many.

We are so grateful to Jadyn for taking the time to visit and see firsthand the good that’s growing here because of her and her family’s generosity. 🌱✨

09/09/2025

💚 Today was a heartwarming day on campus for two very special reasons.

First, we remembered our dear friend in heaven, Greg Shultz, who would have celebrated his birthday today. In his honor, we planted a Buckeye tree—perfect for our Buckeye fan—outside of Cottage 7, the very place where Greg poured his heart, humor, and love into the lives of young people every single day. This tree will now stand as a lasting reminder of his presence and the impact he made.

We are grateful to Fort Wayne Trees for helping us secure and plant the Buckeye this morning. The moment was made even more meaningful with heartfelt words shared by Greg’s dear friend, our Vice President of Family Services, Tracey Riggle, followed by a chorus of “Happy Birthday” sung by those gathered—his coworkers, friends, family, and all who loved him.

Happy Birthday in Heaven, Greg—we know you felt the love today!💚

09/08/2025

💚 In honor of , we’re celebrating Kevin’s second chance!

What began with one difficult moment has grown into a story of courage, resilience, and the beautiful things that can happen when someone feels truly believed in!

At Josiah White’s, Kevin found healing through therapy interventions and the steady encouragement of a loving community committed to his success.

He poured himself into the hard work of recovery—and six months later, his journey stands as a powerful reminder of our “why.” Why do we exist? For Kevin. For every teenager who walks onto our campus seeking hope—sometimes without even realizing it—and a genuine second chance.

Kevin, keep going—we’re so proud of you, and we’re praying for you!

To read Kevin's full story, visit: josiahwhites.org/new-possibilities-for-recovery-kevins-story/

09/05/2025

🌟 Honoring 175 Years of Impactful Ministry 🌟 As we celebrate Josiah White’s enduring legacy of compassion and service, we’re lifting up the voices that have helped shape our mission. This week, we’re proud to feature Heather Cruz, whose heartfelt words embody the spirit of dedication that drives our work forward.

Heather Cruz shares: "In my experience every student at Josiah Whites who truly makes a turnaround can point to at least one caring staff member as the catalyst. These young people are our living legacy.

Every young person so impacted positively affects their home community. I also feel that the Wabash community as a whole treasures Josiah Whites and the concept of "second chances" it represents for young people."

josiahwhites.org/celebrating-175-years-of-josiah-whites/

09/05/2025

Congratulations, Tracey!💙

Your heart for serving families shines through in all you do. It’s clear this is more than a job—it’s your calling. We’re grateful for the way you faithfully stand with our families, support our team, and share the love of Jesus in every interaction.

We’re grateful to celebrate Tracey Riggle, who recently transitioned from Foster Care Program Director to Vice President of Family Services! With more than 30 years of faithful commitment to Josiah White’s, Tracey continues to pour her heart into serving children & teens, families, and the foster parents who make our mission possible.

She wanted to share this message directly with our foster parents:

To our Josiah White's Foster Parents:
"It is an honor to get to work with all of you in a new capacity. As I step into this position and begin learning the needs of our programs from this vantage point, please know that you, our foster parents, are my heroes! My heart has always been to be an advocate for foster families. My parents became foster and adoptive parents when I was in second grade, and I have lived through the successes and heartaches that accompany the journey. Our foster care program does not exist without you. We will continue diving deeper into Teaching Family Model together and other trauma informed approaches to ensure that you are provided with the best support and training. I look forward to this journey with you, and I thank you for welcoming "our children" into your homes and hearts!"

09/04/2025

September is Child Welfare Workforce Development Month, and we’re taking a moment to honor the incredible individuals who dedicate their lives to this work.

To our own Josiah White’s staff and to every child welfare worker across the country: thank you. Thank you for showing up every day, for standing in the gap for children and teens, and for giving hope where it’s needed most. Your work often goes unseen, yet it deserves the highest recognition. Your help changes lives in ways that ripple for generations.💙

09/03/2025

💙💚 Today was a special day on our Wabash campus!

Quarterly, our staff from across the state gather in the chapel to celebrate victories, share fellowship, worship together, and be encouraged.

This afternoon we were blessed by a message from former VP of Residential Services, Jay Driskill. He reminded us of the importance of serving the Lord and faithfully pouring into the young lives entrusted to our care—especially when it’s hard. Jay encouraged us to see that God conversations are holy moments that move heaven. His words were a powerful reminder that it takes all of us, loving faithfully even through the difficult days.

Afterward, our Culture and Connection Committee hosted SummerFest! 🌞 Staff and their families enjoyed delicious food from local food trucks, bounce houses, and a co****le tournament—it was truly fun for all ages.

Days like this remind us how vital it is to remain united in both mission and heart. We’re grateful for the impact being made today and look ahead with hope for the mighty ways God will continue to move through this ministry. Our cups are full!

09/02/2025

September is

We are honored to share Kevin’s story—a story of strength, hope, and healthy second chances.

Growing up surrounded by family and friends who struggled with addiction, Kevin soon found himself battling the same cycle. But two life-changing moments shifted his priorities:

1️⃣ The birth of his baby
2️⃣ Coming to Josiah White’s

Today, Kevin is celebrating 6 months of sobriety! 🙌 While the journey ahead will have its challenges, we believe Kevin has the tools to succeed—and a God who can break every chain on his side.💚

📖 Read more about Kevin’s new start at the link below!

Meet Kevin. Just six months ago, his life looked very different than it does today. At 17, Kevin was like many teenagers—he loved spending time with family, playing basketball, and going to the movies. But he was also facing a struggle far too common for teens today: addiction. Addiction consumed ...

09/01/2025

Josiah White’s offices will be closed today in observance of Labor Day.

While we pause, we also want to honor those whose work never stops—our incredible Family Teachers and Direct Care staff. You walk alongside our students every single day, and the mission of creating new possibilities doesn’t take a day off. We are deeply grateful for your dedication and heart.💚

We also celebrate our cherished foster parents. The way you show up day in and day out is true mission work. Even in the moments where you may feel unseen, please know—we see you, and we are praying for you and those in your care!

Wishing all of our community a safe, healthy, and meaningful holiday!

08/29/2025

🌟 Celebrating 175 Years of Ministry 🌟 As we honor Josiah White’s legacy of exceptional care for families, we’re spotlighting voices that helped shape our journey. This week, we’re thrilled to present our very own Brandee Estes, whose quote reflects the passionate vision of our mission.

Brandee Estes: "I have watched my coworkers go above and beyond in emergency situations, remain calm in tough conversations, pray with and for students, and go the extra mile when helping families. I have seen staff support each other during hard days. What they do is nothing short of amazing and the impact they are having on others will make a difference years from now when those children, families and coworkers reflect on how they were treated, assisted, loved, and cared for."

https://josiahwhites.org/celebrating-175-years-of-josiah-whites/

08/28/2025

✨ Today was a good day—a really good day. ✨

We are thrilled to share that both our Foster Care and Residential Programs have been reaccredited in the Teaching-Family Model by the Teaching-Family Association!

This reaccreditation is no small feat. It represents the hard work, dedication, and heart our team pours into the mission every single day. Together, we met and exceeded the highest standards of care and excellence—including humane treatment, effectiveness, individualization, customer satisfaction, trauma-informed care, training, family-sensitive approaches, professionalism, diversity, and more.

This is a big win—not just for us, but for the teens and families we serve. It means we are a well-equipped partner, standing in the gap and creating new possibilities for brighter futures. 💚

As we celebrate this milestone, we remain eager to grow together and to lean on God for the journey ahead.