Stories of Hope and Inspiration

Support

Five Acres has served vulnerable children and families since 1888. We provide family-centered support services on campus and through outreach programs in homes, at schools and in off-site offices.

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Protect
Five Acres cares for and protects the innocent and vulnerable through intervention and counseling, anger management and parenting classes and our domestic violence program.

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Treatment
Five Acres helps children and families heal and thrive. Treatment is personalized and may utilize or combine assessment services, individual, family or group counseling, an individualized education plan (IEP) and an array of other services and mental health therapies.

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Education

Various educational needs are met through our therapeutic school, tutoring and school-based services, scholarship fund, parent support groups and independent living program.

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Advocate
Five Acres advocates for children and families for services, patient rights, access to treatment, standards of care, community awareness and understanding.

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Strengthen Five Acres strengthens individuals and families by building on the strengths of the individual, family and community.

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Provide Homes
Every child deserves security and a loving home. Five Acres works to secure permanent homes through family preservation, family finding, fostering and adoption.

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Mentor Our education and special-friend mentors build trust and act as guides on the path to stability and independence.

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Empower
Five Acres empowers individuals and families through effective collaboration, innovation and partnerships.

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Excellence
Five Acres strives for the highest standards of quality and excellence in services, cultural competence, professionalism, leadership and ethics. We meet or exceed standards of care through research, self-evaluation, advancement and dedication.

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Stories of Hope and Inspiration

LIVES TOUCHED BY FIVE ACRES
All names have been changed to protect clients' privacy.

Recognizing Need

Jessica is ten years old and had problems with extreme outbursts several times a day including arguing, yelling, slamming doors, throwing objects and fits of rage. Her teacher referred Jessica and her mother to Five Acres.
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Preserving a Family

A Five Acres community-based therapist referred John to our Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS). John is an 11-year-old and was at risk for being removed from his biological family because of his aggressive behaviors that included threats to harm or injure others.
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A Call for Help

Jeff is a 17-year-old deaf male who referred himself for counseling to assist with communication problems with his widowed mother which have led to chronic stomach pains.
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Someone to Care

Jill, a 15-year-old female, grew up in the foster care system. At the age of seven, Jill was taken away from her foster family due to their illness and returned to the system. When she first came to Five Acres’ group home, Jill had severe mood swings, impulsive behaviors and depression that hindered her daily functioning in school and at home.
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New Hope

Michael is a 13-year-old child who came to Five Acres from another residential treatment center after living on the streets for almost seven months. Upon arriving at Five Acres, he was withdrawn, distrustful and angry.
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Twice a Victim

One of Grace Center ’s newest Spanish-speaking clients was referred after being arrested for defending herself. The client lived with her perpetrator for eight years. He abused her physically, emotionally, verbally and sexually. The client was court referred to Grace Center after being identified as the actual victim in the criminal case.
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Love to Share

Wes and Kate Olufson became certified as Five Acres foster care-to-adopt parents and quickly welcomed Joey, Laura and Aiden into the Olufson family.
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A New Life for a Young Girl - In Her Own Words

At the age of fifteen all everyone saw Brianne as was a troubled teen. She felt like no one understood her, and this was normal because all teens are misunderstood, RIGHT? Brianne felt angry because of her life situation. Brianne had come to the age where she actually understood her life, or at least she thought she did. She had no parents that she could call her own; Brianne lived with her aunt most of her life. Brianne began to feel very depressed about the way her life had turned out.
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Eight is Enough

Seven-year-old Maria was placed with her grandmother after her parents were incarcerated. Maria’s grandmother also has custody of her brother and their four cousins who all have special needs. In addition she cares for her 24-year-old paraplegic daughter.
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Improved Communication

Eleven-year-old William was discharged from Five Acres’ Residential Treatment Center to his grandmother’s home where he and his family receive services through our Aftercare Program. William has a history of engaging in power struggles with adults and reportedly attempts to manipulate his grandmother when he wants something.
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