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September 1, 2021
Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID WABASH, IN PERMIT NO. 233
Vol. 44, No. 25
Mike Haarer, executive director of the Compass Rose Academy, cuts the ribbon during a ceremony Friday in front of The Hub, the central building on campus. Photos by Joseph Slacian
Compass Rose Academy campus is dedicated By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com From a spreadsheet of ideas, to plans, to a dream. That’s the route that the Compass Rose Academy took the last decade. That dream culminated in reality on Friday, Aug. 27, during a ribbon cutting for the new Compass Rose campus at White’s Family and Residential Services. Executive Director Mike Haarer, joined by representatives of the White’s and Compass Rose boards and other officials cut the ribbon on the facility. The Compass Rose Academy is a Christ-centered program seeking to enrich “the lives of teen girls through emotional healing and personal development and spiritual growth,” according to its brochure. Girls, aged 14 to 18, are in the program for nine to 12 months. The program seeks to provide “a positive, nurturing environment for teen girls struggling with depression, anxiety, ADHD, attachment and adoption related issues, PTSD, and bipolar disorder with a variety
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of acting out behaviors …” the brochure continued. “The final push to complete this project caused us all to have some sacrifice and pain,” White’s President and CEO Ron Evans said, opening the program. “But, boy, was it worth it.” He called the academy “one of the premier residential care facilities in America for teenage girls.” “These are girls who need to rediscover hope,” he continued. “They come through a growth model which is both clinical and Christian. Over the 170 year history of this organization, we have continually pursued ways to offer new possibilities to children and youth. We have adopted to societal and cultural expectations as we changed our methodologies of care based on the best proven modalities and practices. “We have always been faithful to keep Christ at the center of everything we do.” Evans noted several things of which visitors should be aware. “As you tour today, this campus has incorporated the best design
practices known,” he said. “You’ll notice almost all the rooms in both the hub and the homes have outdoor views, which has proven helpful with mental health issues. You may notice the specially designed combinations of individual small and large group spaces. These have been planned with emphasis on emotional safety and connectivity. “You may notice both interior and exterior spaces for play and exercise. You may notice therapy dogs in the home. You may notice that every home has a specially designed table for group meal time, for family meetings and for prayer and play. Each of these tables are from locally grown trees and lovingly crafted by Jerry Garner and his team. You may notice our emphasis on nutrition when you walk through. You may notice the clinical space, each specifically designed for one to one Continued on Page 6
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Scenes from the dedication ceremony and from around the campus.
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