History of Teaching Family Homes

In 1980, a group of concerned citizens gathered together to discuss the fact that children with behavioral problems had no treatment options in the Upper Peninsula. When treatment was needed, the only option was to send the child downstate. The Community Search Committee was formed to solve this issue and contracted with Boys Town to form a treatment program locally. 

The Lake Superior Training Site was formed in 1981 with Randy Vernon as administrator and two group homes were opened up in Marquette: Cedar Creek and Woodvale. The administrative offices were located in the Bottom University Center at NMU. 

The South Bluff group home was opened in 1982 in Gladstone and in 1983 the Lakes Area Group home was opened up in Newberry. 

1985 saw the first change in leadership with Cristy James taking over the helm. The opening of the West Branch group home made four residential treatment options open for the community and in 1987 the Forsestland group home was opened, as well. The first certification by Boys Town and the Teaching Family Association also occurred in 1987 and the introduction of specialized foster care expanded the continuum of care. This was also the first year of Camp Nesbitt. 

In 1988 the Agency changed its name to Teaching Family Homes of Upper Michigan. At this time, Educational Support and Teacher Training Services were added to address needs in education. The Indian River group home was opened in Manistique. 

The next change in leadership occurred in 1990 with R. Jerry Staffeld being installed as Chief Executive Officer and the introduction of the Miles For Smiles Bike Rally. Changes coming through in these years included closing the Woodvale, Forestland and West Branch group homes. In 1992 Associated Family Care was created to oversee the business services. 

In-home programming began in 1993 with the first Families First contract being awarded for the Central Upper Peninsula. Since that time, we have expanded Families First programming to include Marquette, Baraga, Keweenaw, Ontonagon, Iron, Dickinson and Delta Counties. In 1994 the Juvenile Justice Diversion and Reintegration Alternative program was added in the Chippewa County, further expanding the continuum of care. Beginning 1995, Teaching Family Homes began a five-year consultation with Catholic Charities in Hawaii for the creation of a residential treatment program on the big island. 

The Lakes Area group home underwent programming changes in 1997 to become a medium secure/specialized treatment center that it remains today, working with young males with substance and sexually affected issues. 1997 also saw the Miles For Smiles Bike Rally change to become Tour da UP, a multi-day bicycle tour event that remains our largest single fundraising project. 

The Regional Treatment Center, a treatment facility for behavioral stabilization, was opened in Marquette in 1998. It’s first location, adjacent to Marquette General Hospital, was moved to Sawyer, the site of the former K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base. 

During the last years of the 1990’s a plan was developed to incorporate as much of the organization onto a centralized campus as possible. Negotiations began to purchase the Marquette Prison Honor Camp facility in Sands Township. 

The new millennium brought a new leader, CEO Christine Myers. Addressing changing needs in the community, Foster Parent training workshops were added. Parents Anonymous programming was begun and counseling services were added for the first time. 

By 2003, the land transfer project for the Campus Center had been completed. The complicated ownership of the property required 2 different Acts of Congress to facilitate the transfer. With the 40-acre property secured, in 2004 the first Capital Campaign was begun. Teaching Family Homes broke ground and began the renovations of the property, which had sat vacant since the early 1980’s.  

Relocation of the administrative offices was completed in January of 2005. The Regional Treatment Center was the first program to be relocated to the new Campus Center in the summer of ’05. This completed Phase One of the Campus Plan. 

Phase Two of the Campus Plan was begun in 2007 and saw the relocation of the Cedar Creek group home from Chocolay Township, and Indian River relocated from Manistique, both to the new Campus Center. 

Phase Three began in 2009 with the construction and relocation of the South Bluff group home from Gladstone to the Campus Center and the construction of the Campus Learning Center was begun and completed the following spring.  

Continuing the address the changing needs of our clients, the Campus Skill Center was constructed in 2013 to address skill training of the youth and to facilitate maintenance needs on the campus. 

After the Skill Center was completed, the construction focus was turned on the High and Low Ropes Challenge Course. Part of the Camp Nesbit experience for many years, the Ropes Course programming was seen as a very important piece of the treatment the youth we serve were receiving. Capital Campaign focus turned towards this new project. 

New leadership in 2014 sharpened this focus, with Cathleen Enright taking the helm as CEO. Changes in the patterns of case referral led to the first re-contracting of a home with South Bluff beginning the process of changing its contract and becoming the second home on the Campus to focus on behavioral stabilization/mental health. 

Home-based services experienced a growth spurt with the addition of a new Family Reunification Program based on the Families First model of care.  

The High and Low Ropes Challenge Course was completed in 2016 and almost immediately the community response began with groups booking the experience. 

2017 dawned with Mark Holiday taking over the reigns as interim director.  

A new direction began in 2018 with the addition of Jennifer Santer as the new CEO. Another existing group home, Indian River, was re-contracted for behavioral stabilization/mental health as the needs of the community continue to evolve. Several departments were created including Social Work, Human Resources and Information Technology. Group home management was reorganized to provide expanded supervision and support.  

The Pandemic Year of 2020 saw the departure of Jennifer Santer and the installation of Dustin Hogue as the Chief Administrator, with the loss of Family Reunification Program, Central Families First, the closing of the Regional Treatment Center, the deutilization of the Cedar Creek group home, and the closing of the Indian River group home. 

2021 saw another leadership change with James Whalen taking over as Chief Administrator.