For seventy years Twelveacres has served the children of Christian Scientists, and others willing to trust their children to Christian Science care. Twelveacres today is best described as "a determined, joyful denial of limitation." Located in four Silicon Valley, California communities, our mission is to provide homes in which developmentally disabled adults can experience Christian Science healing. Our spiritual model of care for these individuals runs counter to the standard medical and psychological one. Instead of providing maintenance for the claims related to developmental disability, we radically rely on Christian Science to heal the claims. Journal-listed practitioners and our well-trained staff help clients dismantle claims of mental retardation, birth defects, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, and Down's Syndrome.

Twelveacres, Inc. was originally called Our Children's Home. From its founding in 1932 until 1969, Twelveacres provided Christian Science-based day and extended care for children of working families and broken homes. In 1969 Twelveacres responded to USA-wide requests from Christian Scientists seeking residential care for their mentally and physically handicapped children. The facility moved from a large home on a twelve-acre parcel in Los Altos, California to a larger aggregate hill campus in nearby northeast San Jose.

Adhering to the teachings of Christian Science, Twelveacres administered an on-site program of full care. Recreational and skills training, religious and practical education, and cultural enrichment programs were all provided within the facility's grounds. Staff and residents expected, and experienced, metaphysical healing and progress toward normalcy.

In the 1980's communities became more accepting of the developmentally disabled. Support systems for community inclusion (mainstreaming) of both children and adults began developing. Twelveacres viewed this trend as answered prayer. We saw new opportunities to address the needs and interests of our, by then, adult population. Twelveacres sold the San Jose hill campus in 1995. Administration moved into a leased suite of offices in nearby Campbell, California. Clients moved into rented homes within a six-mile radius of the administrative center. We became, and remain, unique in this field of Christian Science care. Unique because Twelveacres is the only community-based organization in the world engaged in this type of specialized healing work.

Supposedly incurable, clients' on-going dynamic, progressive healing debunks that label. Each client illustrates daily and publicly the healing realities of Christian Science. Neighbors, community members, day program, social service, public health and other professionals observe the healing. Many express increasing confidence and trust in our spiritual model of care. When a need arises, they contact the practitioner directly and rejoice with us in the resulting healing. We place a high value on our unique and highly visible role in the community. Twelveacres vividly demonstrates to the public that Spirit-based, drug and medical intervention-free care is effective. It reaches and treats the needs of the whole person. We are proving it. Many are pausing to note and inquire about how this spiritual healing of so-called incurable behaviors and conditions takes place.

Twelveacres success is based on growth in Christian Science. Every Twelveacres client employs a local Journal-listed practitioner daily. Practitioners visit clients privately at least once a month. These dedicated healers sometimes receive calls from us at all hours of the day and night. Now that we are so highly visible to neighbors, conditions and behaviors that disturb must be quickly handled. And they are. Growth, peace, healing and progress are constant.

Since moving from the hill campus into homes, Twelveacres clients participate fully in community life. Our programs foster ongoing individual growth into the highest degree of normalcy and independence possible. On weekends, clients enjoy a wide range of recreational and educational activities. Libraries, county parks, movie theaters, sports and entertainment venues, shopping malls and restaurants are some of the places they frequent. On Sunday mornings they join their fellow Christian Scientists worshiping God in local churches. Many attend church on Wednesday nights. Some testify about their healings. During the week, several hold down customer service jobs. Those not employed, attend community day programs. Their lives are active and productive. We know they will grow to be more so in the future.

The vision Twelveacres Board, clients, parents and staff share has evolved through a process of quiet listening, focused collaboration and active doing. We have taken a close look at the community day programs clients attend. Most provide clients with custodial care. None share our expectation for progress, normalcy and healing. We expect all our clients to eventually be able to work at productive jobs. To that end, during 2001 we inaugurated an educational training program. This is the first leg of a five-year plan for client occupational training. The goal is to prepare each one for employment suited to their level of ability. We are assessing each client's present range of abilities. From the assessments we are tailoring individual programs to expand the math, reading, speech, communication and computer skills clients need to work in customer service and industry here in the Valley.

We continue to listen prayerfully for the next steps in this five-year plan. We know the what -- that is, what we expect to achieve. Now we are listening for the how. We see options that appear viable. Some involve partnering with Silicon Valley businesses to design and complete the required job training, placement and job-retention for our clients. Another option requires considerable in-house program design and implementation. We care for clients whose capabilities range from very limited to very capable. Twelveacres intends to insure that each one secures employment matched to their level of ability. Further, that each continues progressing as their employment continues. Your prayers joined with ours are most welcome. We're confident that this program will succeed.

Our Board has begun thinking about and planning another project to bless at a national level. We receive many inquiries from parents wanting their loved ones to remain close to them. They're looking for drug and medical-free resources for care and services in their own communities. Most are not aware that they can stand on their Constitutional right to receive such services. Christian Science parents in most communities are forging new territory in insisting on drug-free care. Twelveacres has been the pioneer in creating the community partnerships that foster this type of care. We can assist at the local level in many ways. We have and will continue to do so. A primary goal our Board has is to establish an easy-to-use, nation-wide, internet-based network of services available to families seeking spiritual care in their localities throughout the United States.

Here at Twelveacres, we understand that healing is our primary work. This work is not just for us, but for our weary world as well. We know that like God's grace, the success we can claim as Christian Science healers, is unconfined. Our clients carry this "hearts on fire" momentum into their daily community lives. They are the amazing and continuing proof of what God is doing. All of us envision a bright and progressive future sustained and maintained by our gracious God, the Source and Giver of true health and all good to man.

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This month's feature:

Twelveacres, Inc.

Board of Directors:

Manya Kaseroff-Smith, CS
President

David Bullwinkle
Molly Byers, CS
Margaret Caldwell
Barry Gray
Donna Kneeland
Peter Larmer
Edwin Leever, CS
Ric McKown
Andrea Moon
James Munch
Sue Warrick Smith
Ann Stewart, CSB
Marian Wells
Melissa Whitmore

Administrator:
Marlie Brooks
Rmsbrooks12a@aol.com

Web Site:
www.twelveacres.org

Phone:
408.341.0400

Fax:
408.341.0411

Address:
595 Millich Drive
Suite 104
Campbell, CA 95008

To get on our mailing list, or a copy of our video, or to tour our homes, send an email to:
info@twelveacres.org

Calendar of Events

Annual Campaign
10/1/02 - 1/10/03

Advance Our Work

Our needs for program support are ongoing. With charitable giving and other private and public funding continuing to spiral downward, we treasure, and need, all the metaphysical and financial support you can give us. We know that Love's outstretched arm encircles each and every one of its precious ideas. We feel that support each day. We rejoice in every tangible evidence of it!

For more information
call: Marlie Brooks, Administrator 408.341.0400 extension 102 or email us at: info@twelveacres.org