Three-Day Residential Care Trip

We started our trip Wednesday at Hunter’s Honey Farm, a really neat place tucked away on a back-country road in southern Indiana. The residents learned about the life cycle of a bee, how honey is collected, and how beeswax candles are made. Everyone even got to bottle their own honey and roll a candle. We also learned why they cannot make blue beeswax candles. The natural yellow tint of the wax turns the blue coloring green!

After our picnic, the kids spent time exploring the pond and trying to catch fish, painted turtles, and a nonvenomous water snake. Yes, we verified that last part before anyone tried to catch it.

Dinner at Dave and Buster’s gave the students a chance to place their own orders, stay within a budget, and remember to leave room for sales tax. We also discovered that this group has some unbelievable gamers. We ended the evening at an awesome house found by the YSB legend known as Yvonne Duff, where we enjoyed the hot tub, watched movies, and played the card game President.

Thursday took us to the NCAA Hall of Champions, where students could handle equipment from different sports and test their skills through several interactive activities. Erika dominated two of the residents in the soccer shooting competition. Afterward, we walked along the canal, ate at Golden Corral, and headed to the Children’s Museum. The Golden Corral was a great pick because it allowed the residents to try something new without committing to a whole meal of it.  It allowed them to have more of something if they did like it.

The museum gave us plenty of memorable moments. Two of the residents were slinging pigskins but lost the field goal competition to yours truly. Residents also played baseball and tennis before heading inside to explore the dinosaurs, South America, and the powerful exhibit featuring Ryan White, Anne Frank, and Ruby Bridges.

We wrapped up Friday at the Indiana State Fair, where we visited the cow barn, fished, played FFA putt-putt, and fed baby goats and lorikeets. We also enjoyed plenty of fair food. Only Blaine Duff could drink a raspberry milkshake at 9:45 in the morning.

The kids were great, the staff was great, and I feel very fortunate to work with this team.

—

Mr. Joshua D. Gibson
Alternative Education Teacher
Jay County High School / John Jay Annex
National ACTE Fellow, Region III
Empowered Teacher Advisory Board

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Learning, Laughing & Connecting: A Day at the YSB

At the Youth Service Bureau of Jay County, we believe that doing meaningful work starts with having a strong, connected, and supported team. That is why we hold three agency-wide meetings each year—not just to share information, but to learn together, build relationships, celebrate our team, and, most importantly, have some fun!

Our most recent agency meeting was a great example of what makes working at the YSB special.

Starting the Day Together

We began the day the way we typically do with staff check-ins and agency updates. These regular opportunities to connect help everyone stay informed about what is happening throughout the agency and give staff from different programs a chance to hear what is going on with coworkers.

Then it was time to get everyone moving with Employee Scavenger Hunt Bingo.

Staff were given bingo cards filled with different statements and challenges. The goal was to move around the room and find coworkers who could initial the squares that applied to them. It was a simple activity, but it quickly had people talking, laughing, and learning things about coworkers they may not normally interact with.

Once someone achieved a bingo, their card was entered into a drawing for a prize. Of course, a little friendly competition never hurts!

Practical AI for Daily Impact

After the fun, it was time to learn.

We were excited to have Matt Weaver join us to present “Practical AI for Daily Impact.” The training generated some great conversation about how artificial intelligence can be used to make our work more efficient, what kinds of tasks AI can assist with, and—just as importantly—where the boundaries are.

Staff had the opportunity to ask questions, share ideas, and think about practical ways AI could potentially benefit their daily work. It was a great reminder that professional development isn’t always about learning something completely new—it can also be about learning how to use new tools responsibly and effectively.

Good Food & Good Company

After a morning of learning and activities, everyone was ready for lunch.

A huge thank you to Dusty Hilfiker for firing up the grill and to Kim Atkinson for taking care of the rest of the food. Lunch was delicious and gave everyone a chance to relax, recharge, and spend some time visiting with coworkers.

Because let’s be honest, good food has a way of making a good meeting even better.

Wellness at the YSB

One of the things we incorporate into our agency meetings is a continued focus on the Eight Dimensions of Wellness. At each meeting, we explore two dimensions and connect them to an interactive activity.

This time, we focused on financial wellness and occupational wellness.

For financial wellness, staff participated in a “Would You Rather” activity that encouraged everyone to think about financial decisions, priorities, and the choices we make with our money.

For occupational wellness, we tackled “Build Your Dream Workday.” Staff had the opportunity to think about what makes a workday enjoyable, productive, meaningful, and sustainable.

These activities weren’t about finding one “right” answer. They were about starting conversations and encouraging staff to think about what contributes to their overall well-being both inside and outside of work.

Teamwork…with a Little Bit of Chaos

We wrapped up the day with a team-building challenge planned by Scott Bissell.

The objective sounded simple: work together to move small plastic eggs from one location to another using nothing more than a small wooden skewer.

Simple, right?

Well…sort of.

What followed was a combination of strategy, communication, teamwork, laughter, and just enough chaos to make it memorable. The pictures from the activity tell the story better than words ever could!

More Than Just a Meeting

By the end of the day, we had accomplished quite a bit. We learned about new technology, talked about wellness, shared a meal, competed in bingo, worked together on a ridiculous egg-moving challenge, and spent time getting to know one another.

But perhaps the most important part of the day was something that can’t really be put on an agenda: connection.

The YSB has staff working across multiple programs, and many employees don’t regularly work alongside everyone else in the agency. Our agency meetings give us an opportunity to change that. They allow new employees to meet coworkers from other programs, learn more about the people they work alongside, and experience the culture of the YSB firsthand.

And that culture matters.

We work in a field that can be challenging and demanding, but we also believe that work can be meaningful, supportive, collaborative, and fun. We want our employees to know that they are part of a team, not just a department or a program.

If you’re looking for a workplace where you can make a difference, continue learning, build relationships, and occasionally spend an afternoon trying to move plastic eggs with a wooden skewer, the YSB might just be the place for you.

We’re proud of the work we do, but we’re equally proud of the people who do it.

That’s the YSB difference.

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Rain Couldn’t Stop the Deakota Ingle Memorial Cruise-In!

Despite the rain, the 2026 Deakota Ingle Memorial Cruise-In was a tremendous success, and the Youth Service Bureau of Jay County (YSB) was incredibly honored to be selected as this year’s beneficiary of the event’s proceeds.

There were some truly impressive vehicles on display, and it was wonderful to see so many people come out to enjoy the evening, support a great cause, and celebrate the memory of Deakota Ingle. Even with Mother Nature providing a little extra challenge, the community’s enthusiasm and generosity certainly didn’t wash away!

Thanks to the incredible support of everyone involved, this year’s event raised more than $1,000 for the YSB. These funds will help us continue our mission of promoting resiliency and assisting children, youth, families, and staff in achieving their greatest potential.

A very special THANK YOU to Brian Taylor for organizing and hosting this wonderful event and for choosing the YSB as this year’s charity beneficiary. We are so grateful for your generosity and commitment to making a difference in our community.

We also want to extend our appreciation to our friends at RU Recovery for their support and involvement, Yergy’s BBQ for generously allowing the event to use their parking lot, and to everyone who brought out a vehicle, attended the cruise-in, made a donation, or simply braved the rain to show their support.

Community support like this means so much to the YSB. Every dollar raised helps us continue providing meaningful services and opportunities to children, youth, and families throughout our community.

Thank you, Brian, RU Recovery, sponsors, the incredible car enthusiasts, and everyone who helped make the 5th Annual Dakota Ingle Memorial Cruise-In a success! We are truly grateful to be part of such a generous and supportive community. 

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Celebrating Our Team: A Day of Fun at the Portland Water Park!

At the Youth Service Bureau, we know that the work our staff does each day to support children, youth, and families is both meaningful and demanding. That’s why we believe it’s important to take time to celebrate our team, strengthen relationships, and simply enjoy each other’s company outside of the workplace.
Recently, YSB hosted an agency outing at the Portland Water Park for our staff and their families. We couldn’t have asked for a better day! With sunny skies and beautiful weather, everyone had the opportunity to cool off in the pool, relax, and spend quality time together.

After a fun-filled morning at the water park, everyone gathered back at the YSB for a cookout. The delicious food, great conversations, and plenty of laughter made for a wonderful afternoon. It was a chance for coworkers and their families to connect in a different setting and build the relationships that help make YSB such a supportive place to work.
Events like these remind us that a strong organization is built on strong relationships. Investing in our employees and creating opportunities for fellowship and fun helps strengthen our team, which ultimately benefits the children, youth, and families we serve every day.
 
We are incredibly grateful for each member of the YSB family and for the dedication, compassion, and hard work they bring to our mission. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this outing such a memorable success. We look forward to many more opportunities to celebrate together!

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Residential Care: Camp Grandma

 This year the Residential house got to experience something new this summer. We got to participate in “Camp Grandma”. As Yvonne Duff was researching activities for the summer, she came across this blog about these grandmas that would get their grandchildren one week for the summer. So they decided to all come together and do exciting and fun things the whole week.
So guess what? We decided to have our own Camp Grandma for the residents. For the most part, it was a mystery for them. One resident even thought that we were going down to southern Indiana to the actual Camp Grandma campgrounds. This caused a little hesitation, but as bits and pieces were told the excitement began to rise.

On Tuesday the day started off with a breakfast to get everyone moving. Then came the camp crafts, such as the birdhouses that each one built and custom painted. After we had lunch and loaded the vehicles, we were off to the great outdoors. Once we made it to our destination the team work and fun began. Everything was unloaded, with the residents joining in to set up the tents. They did an amazing job and got them set up quite quickly. Then it was time for what the excitement was building for: FISHING! From that moment up until it down-poured, everyone was having the time of their life. Yes, from 5:00 pm to 12:30 am the residents had a ball fishing! It was even said by one that it was the best time they’d had since being with us. At 5:00 am they were up and back at it again. It was so nice to see how they would cheer each other on when a fish, or turtle was caught. And how they didn’t hesitate to help each other take the fish off or if one had an issue with their pole, how they would jump in to help. Even though there were lots of activities planned for that evening, fishing trumped them all. We did set under the awning for a couple hours after the rain started and ate snacks, played a mystery game and just talked. They did get a couple hours sleep.

After fishing Wednesday morning we packed up and ate brunch at the house. Then it was off to get ice cream at Wilshire, and then to the pool. Camp ended Thursday afternoon with visiting a goat farm. Over 40 goats. They got to feed and even hold the little ones. Also, learning how to gather chicken eggs and even tried to catch a chicken. Well, let’s say they tried. And then once again, ice cream.

Even though we only had camp for 3 days, it was a full and eventful 3 days. The residents were so tired by the end. It takes everyone to make something like this happen. And we have a great team of staff that pulled this off. Thank you to each and every one of you! It truly was worth the work, can’t wait for Camp next year!

2026 Residential Care Kings Island Trip

The annual Youth Service Bureau trip to Kings Island was a blast! Once we arrived, we let the kids take the lead, with due guidance from veteran Kings Island goers like myself. We spent most of the morning bouncing between rides, taking pictures, and watching their confidence grow as they worked up the courage to try new attractions. Seeing their faces light up after each ride was easily the best part of the day.

We made sure to slow down occasionally, grabbing lunch together and finding a shady spot to rest. Those quieter moments ended up being just as memorable as the rides. It gave us a chance to laugh about funny moments from the morning and plan the rest of the day. By the afternoon, everyone was tired but still determined to ride as many of the rides as possible. The kids’ energy somehow held out longer than ours, but we managed to keep up. From the moment we arrived, we kept moving and made the most of our time, which gave everyone a chance to experience their favorites and try a few new ones along the way.

As the park came to a close, we hopped on a few more last-minute rides. The kids were exhausted but still talking about their favorite rides and moments from the day. The walk back to the car was much quieter than the excitement-filled trip in, with everyone feeling the effects of a full day of fun!

From “The White House on the Corner” to a Fresh New Look

For as long as anyone can remember, our residential group home was known around the neighborhood as “the big white house on the corner.” The bright white siding became part of the home’s identity and something many residents, staff, neighbors, and families recognized instantly.

Over the years, the house became more than just a building. It became a place filled with memories, support, laughter, and community. The white exterior stood as a familiar landmark to everyone who passed by.

But after many years, it was time for a change.

Recently, we updated the siding from white to grey, giving the home a completely refreshed appearance while still keeping the same welcoming spirit inside. Although the transformation was a big one, the goal was simple: create a cleaner, more modern look that would continue serving our residents well for years to come.

At first, it felt strange seeing the house without its signature white color. After all, “the big white house on the corner” had become a nickname that stuck for decades. But as the project came together, the new grey siding brought a sense of warmth, calmness, and updated charm that immediately changed the feel of the property in a positive way.

The grey exterior offers a softer and more contemporary appearance while also helping with maintenance and upkeep. It blends beautifully with the landscaping and gives the home a polished, welcoming presence in the neighborhood.

Even though the color has changed, what truly matters has stayed the same. The house continues to be a safe, supportive, and caring home for the people who live there. The memories, relationships, and sense of community inside these walls remain unchanged.

Some neighbors may still affectionately call it “the big white house on the corner,” and honestly, that history will always be part of the home’s story. But now, the house begins a new chapter — one wrapped in shades of grey, while continuing to provide the same warmth and comfort it always has.

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Happy National Home Visitor’s Week!

The Youth Service Bureau is proud to recognize Bri Davis, Latoya Wilson, and Kristen Barnes for their outstanding work as Family Support Specialists in the Healthy Families program.

Though small in number, this team is exceptionally strong. Together, they are currently providing in‑home visitation services to 58 families across three counties. Each specialist delivers developmental guidance, engaging family activities, connections to local resources, and ongoing parental support—empowering families to reach their fullest potential.

YSB extends its sincere gratitude for your dedication, professionalism, and commitment to the Healthy Families mission. Your impact is felt every day, and we are grateful for the work you do.

Residential Care Christmas Celebrations!

It is hard to believe that another holiday season has come and gone, but as always it was so much fun again in our Residential Program! 

It is our tradition to celebrate early and often! We start early in the month with several Christmas themed recreational activities which even included a Christmas light scavenger hunt around the community which was a huge hit with the residents. The favorite, as always, is our Secret Santa activity. Each resident had two staff assigned to them this year. One staff bought them $5 gifts for 2 days while the other bought them $5 gifts for the other 2 days leading up to our big Christmas celebration.  On the night of our Residential Christmas Party, the residents opened their big gift from their Secret Santa’s, which was either 2 $20 gifts or a joint effort of one gift for $40. 

Yvonne Duff and her son, Blaine took the lead preparing the Christmas dinner this year with some help from a number of others. The food was wonderful! A huge thank you to all who helped prepare the meal, the decorations for the dinner, and for preparing the space by setting up tables and chairs. Our residents were a big help with these activities as well. It really is a lot of work to make this event happen each year! 

This year we had our Christmas celebration in our new building “The West Wing”. It was very nice to have the additional room to spread out as attendance was the best it’s been for a while and we would have been very crowded in the Residential Facility. Once everyone was finished with the wonderful food we worked to get everything put away and arrange the seating for gift giving time. As always, the first gifts to be passed out are the Secret Santa gifts. It is so much fun watching the residents open them and then try to guess the staff who bought for them. We had a couple correct guesses but most were wrong and they were very surprised by who their person really was.   

After Secret Santa the residents receive their big bag full of Christmas presents. Each one gets their own large Santa bag filled with gifts for them from their Christmas list. After everyone is done opening we go around the room and have each resident show what they received so that all in attendance can see and hear. This year there were some new shoes, a lot of new clothes, some fingernail stuff, and a guitar to name a few. One resident was preparing to transition out of care and be on their own. This resident received a lot of items to help them out in their new apartment, including a vacuum sweeper.  

Our residents receive really nice name brand items that they often times do not have the opportunity to get outside of care. Every year you see an extra big smile on at least one face as they receive that item on their list that they wanted the most and didn’t really think it would happen. Yvonne does the majority of the Christmas shopping for the residents each year and with her years of experience has developed the ability to excel at picking just the right items for them.  

For several of the residents they are able to go home for at least part of Christmas day and spend time with family or someone special to them. Typically, there are at least one or two who have no place to go for Christmas. When this happens we make sure that they have some additional presents to open Christmas morning along with having a big breakfast and getting to stay in pajamas for most of the day. Staff like this too as they join in and wear their Christmas pajamas during the shift. This year we had two residents who were not able to have a Christmas visit. 

On behalf of myself, the Board of Directors, staff, and most importantly the residents, we would like to thank all of this year’s donors as it is your support that allows us to create these life-long Christmas memories! 

Healthy Families Christmas Parties

This holiday season, Healthy Families was excited to host a festive Christmas party that brought together families, laughter, and plenty of holiday cheer. With around 40 people in attendance, the event was a wonderful way to have everyone come together.

Families were welcomed with pizza, giving everyone a chance to relax and enjoy a meal. The kids were quickly distracted by all the fun activities waiting for them. Cookie decorating was a big hit, as children proudly designed their own sweet holiday treats. Another favorite activity was Christmas tree picture decorating, where kids could show off their artistic skills and take home a festive keepsake. There was also a snow ball toss game where kids tried their luck to win a candy prize. Everyone had a great time together as their children explored and played with one another.

To make the celebration even more special, Healthy Families was honored to give out Christmas baskets to families. These baskets were a small way to share holiday support and spread warmth and kindness throughout our community.

Healthy Families works towards connecting families with resources to help them continue to thrive and grow. We hope these events help our families find each other and find support within their community.

We are so grateful to everyone who attended and helped make this event memorable. We look forward to continuing to support and celebrate our families in the year ahead.