Our Mission

The Landing Place is a safe place to give Hancock County youth of our community (ages 13 to 19) hope and real-life strategies and principles to break the cycles of dysfunction and destructive behaviors, while also learning healthy patterns of living. Founded in 2013, The Landing Place is a faith-based non-profit organization and is located at 18 W. South Street, Greenfield, Indiana.

Struggling to find help for her daughter suffering from substance abuse, The Landing Place was opened through Linda Ostewig’s intention to provide a safe and supportive environment for Hancock County youth to go to find help. Realizing there were no existing options, Linda strived to create a “coffee house” atmosphere and no-cost programming to help youth with their hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Envisioning a teen version of Celebrate Recovery, Linda worked with Brandywine Community Church Pastor Mark Wright to conceptualize The Landing Place and see to its founding in Greenfield.

The Landing Place believes in healing, utilizing an evidence-based curriculum in a one-year program offered every Wednesday evening. We accept all students where they are, striving to better the lives of those we serve and to reach them before unhealthy choices are made. Our goal is to help hurting teenagers learn recovery principles and point them to a higher power, offering healing through Teen Group Leaders that guide them through the process of recovery. 

The Landing Place is a safe place for students to be real and deal with life, including issues such as fear, addiction, anxiety, depression, self-harm, hopelessness, sexual identity issues, suicidal thoughts, abuse, and destructive perfectionism. The hurts, habits, and hang-ups that students face can be dealt with now rather than allowing them to lead to years of suffering painful consequences.

Each Wednesday, we open the doors at 5:30 p.m. with dinner starting at 6:00 p.m. Each week the students hear a teaching or testimony and participate in small groups to work on their individual issues. 

We also offer a 24-hour Crisis Intervention Hotline, a Family Support Group for family and friends of those with addictions, as well as Individual Biblical Counseling Services. We offer an open mic for those students who are interested in sharing their talents.

Something happens when teens walk through the doors of The Landing Place – they discover self-worth, hope, and love. It might be the first time they experience a loving environment free of judgment. It might be the first time they hear they are valuable, that they have a purpose, and that they matter. It might be the first time they ever truly feel loved.

The Landing Place has recently seen explosive growth in its teen substance abuse and other life issues programs and now serves approximately 60 to 75 students each week, with referrals from outside organizations steadily increasing. Relying heavily on volunteers, we operate with two paid staff member (Executive Director Linda Ostewig & Administrative Assistant, Teriea Bryant). There are currently 12 volunteer Teen Group Leaders and one grant writer. We receive our supplies and curriculum materials through grants and in-kind community donations.