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Roberta J. Lehman
 Roberta “Bertie” Lehman, is the developer and director of Agape Respite Care, Inc. She is the wife of James “Jim” Lehman, a local dairy farmer. The Lehman have three daughters, Krista, Melissa and Jessica. Krista is a R.N., working at Jay County Hospital and also as a care provider at Agape Respite Care. Melissa is married to Justin Gillette and lives in Buchanan, Michigan. Melissa works as a genetic counselor through the I.U. Northwest Medical School. Jessica the youngest of the family lives with her parents on the farm just outside of Berne, Indiana. Jessica has a developmental disability known as Rett Syndrome. Although Jessica needs total assistance for all of her care, she enjoys riding her horse, Dena, working out at Curves and volunteering as a shopping assistant for Agape Respite Care. Jessica loves to spend time with family and friends.
Bertie has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Bluffton College and a master’s degree with a specialization in Reading from Indiana University, Bloomington. She spent a total of seven years teaching elementary school in Indianapolis and at Adams Central Community School in Monroe, Indiana. Bertie also taught one year of preschool at the Berne Nursery School.
After Jessica began experiencing developmental difficulties, Bertie organized a parent support group called, “Connections for Special Kids.” Mothers in the area, who were parenting young children with special needs met for support and to learn about resources and services. At this time there was no respite care program in the area. Agape Respite Care represents the vision of these mothers, who recognized that their parent role contained challenges beyond “typical parenting.” The mothers in this group decided if they had care giving assistance they wanted people who were trained, a place that was safe and attractive, and a program that encompassed Christian values and showed true love and compassion for their child.
In 1992, Bertie Lehman received support her church, First Mennonite Church in Berne, Indiana, to begin a respite program. At this time Bertie was also attending the Partners In Policy Making Class in Indianapolis. Additional training in grant writing, mediation training, parent liaison training and other seminars assisted Bertie in gaining the skills needed to be the administrator of Agape Respite Care.
Bertie has been a presenter at state, national and international conferences on respite care and related issues. She is actively involved in the development of the Indiana Respite Coalition, currently serving as Co-Chair of this new organization.
When Bertie is not working at Agape she enjoys spending time with her husband family and friends. Other interest including playing hand bells at church, singing, cooking and playing Free Cell.
Jennifer Tschannen has worked full time for Agape since 1995 as Office Manager/Careprovider. Jennifer grew up in Decatur, but now lives with her husband Michael and two sons Zachary & Lukas in Ossian. Her related experience includes nursing courses, Health Occupation Education class and working as a CNA and Ward Clerk for five years at Adams Memorial Hospital. During her free time she likes to spend time with her family swimming or going to the movies.
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