Piche family honored at YES Home
Pictured is the Piche family- Chad, Chris, and Cory sons of Cathy and Phil with their families on the special dedication day, Sept. 24 at the YES Home for the Piche Adolescent Counseling Center. Also in photo is Myranda Hughes Piche (Chris’s wife), and children, Andrew, Ella, and Addison; Kinni Leiker Piche (Cory’s wife) with children Kerrigan, Keaton, and Kallen; Kim Piche (Chad’s wife) and daughter Lyndsay. The family was so proud to be a part of this special day in honor of their parents.
It was a great day to celebrate the dedication of the Piche Adolescent Counseling Center ribbon cutting on Wednesday, Sept. 24 at the YES Home Inc. on County Farm Rd in Manchester. This dedication ceremony was in memory of Cathy and Phil Piche.
In 1981, Cathy and Phil stepped up into the role of being the first house parents at the YES Home. They raised their three young boys at the home along with opening their doors to many young children in need of services. Over time, Cathy became Executive Director and Phil took the role of Operations Manager, both giving their dedication to serving kids until their retirement in 2017.
Together they changed so many lives even outside the YES Home. They were involved in their church, Grace Church of the Valley, and involved in their community for over 30 years. Phil gave a lot of his time and energy to organizations Dearborn Co. Recycling Center and Pregnancy Care Center, while Cathy led One Community One Family and served on the board of the Dearborn Co. Clearinghouse.
The Piche’s impact on the local community is an understatement as the growth of the YES Home shows throughout the years. Together, they changed lives and opened doors full-heartedly. They believed in every child who walked through their doors, giving children a second chance to help them become a better and responsible person. Through their kindness and structure, they have made what the YES Home stands by today with their continued growth.
As the Piche’s vision was to have a home that would have a counseling center and the resources onsite to make the children comfortable during the stay and to be able to open up and get the services they need, their dream came true for their family generation to stand proud and live on their legacy through Piche’s Adolescent Counseling Center, as Cathy and Phil have passed.
In 2017, Amy Phillips, of Milan took on the role of Executive Director of the YES Home as she had worked by Cathy’s side for many years. With her passion, love and dedication for children, she lives on the legacy for the Piche family every day. She continues their vision, continuing to grow the YES Home and expand services for those in need. Phillips is the most heartfelt person, who is a great role model and shows success for the troubled children in need of services.
Phillips has already made expansions for the YES Home with the McLaughlin addition for a recreation center onsite for the children which was dedicated in honor of Betty McLaughlin, one of the founding board members. They have even set up a garden area on the premises that was assisted by local support. A goal for the YES Home is to not only help with trauma of the troubled children, but to teach them life skills to be successful good humans when they return with their families or independent living.
During the ribbon cutting on Wednesday, a child that had come to the YES Home when he was 14, (now 33), Jake Ross, of Milan came to see Phillips for the dedication ceremony of Cathy and Phil. This just shows the impact that Amy and Cathy have on the children as they had become part of their family. Jake told the Osgood Journal, “I came here when I was 14 and was here for almost a year. I was the first kid to ever skateboard, and they had just installed the basketball goals. This place is a huge testimony to me turning my life around growing up!” He gave Phillips a hug and both teared up as Phillips stated, “This is one of my kids!”
The staff continues to grow and many travel at least an hour for commute to the YES Home every day. It shows the dedication of these employees for the heart and passion they have in making a difference for children. Carrie Fox, Assistant Director of the YES Home, of Lawrenceburg, stated to the Osgood Journal, “This is not just a one-person job, together we are a village to make things happen!” Calloway Smith, of Brookville came to work at the facility in 2019 as just wanting a part time job. Smith stated, “I had no idea how meaningful it would be to work here and love all the staff here including the children.” Smith started as a resident technician and now one of the YES Home’s Program Specialists.
Cathy and Phil laid the foundation of the Yes Home, and the donations and hard work of the people, organizations, volunteers and staff has made what the YES Home is today. The YES Home treatment programs help the children heal and after care program help the youth transition successfully back home with their families. Concluding with the Osgood Journal, Phillips stated, “The YES Home is continuing fundraising to expand renovating the rest of their first floor to be able to serve more youth and their families. We want every child that comes through our doors to know they are loved, valued and have worth. Whether the children are 14 or a former youth reaching out, ‘Once a YES Home kid, always a YES Home kid.”
