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FAQ’s about Ranch Ehrlo Society
What is Ranch Ehrlo?
The Ranch Ehrlo Society is a charitable organization dedicated to providing a range of quality assessment, treatment, education, support and community services that improve the lives of children, youth and their families. Ranch Ehrlo operates in a warm, nurturing environment that promotes dignity and self-respect offsetting problems created by poverty, neglect, addictions, violence and racism. Basic to this approach is sensitivity to the culture of the child and an awareness that differences need to be celebrated. The Ranch has residential and educational programs at the Pilot Butte campus, in the City of Regina, in the City of Prince Albert, at its Buckland campus outside of Prince Albert and at its Corman Park campus outside the City of Saskatoon.
The Ranch has a volunteer Board of Directors, comprised of citizens representing various constituencies within Saskatchewan. The role of the Board is to set policy, establish direction and set short and long-term goals.
- Clinical Treatment
- Education
- Work
- Recreation
These four components provide the youth with the opportunity to participate in a program which has been developed to focus on all aspects of their lives. The following information provides a brief definition of each area.
Clinical treatment
Clinical case managers are employed to provide individual counselling, specialized group work discharge planning and follow-up, family work, and other counselling. They ensure communications between the Ranch, parents, and various referral agencies.
Treatment begins by creating an environment that is safe and predictable, under the supervision of committed staff. Youth are provided the opportunities to learn new problem solving and coping skills within a safe and supportive environment that is free from punishment. Discipline focuses on ensuring safety, teaching values, learning responsibility, and providing education about alternative choices.
Psychiatric consultation, psychological services, and social casework are provided for each child as may be required
Education
Most youth coming to Ranch Ehrlo have had little success in school. Frustration and failure have often led to anger or withdrawal. As a result, they are no longer interested in learning. To meet this challenge, we offers some choices.
The Ranch-operated Schaller and Ellen Gunn Education Centres are responsible for both an on-site educational program as well as looking after students who are attending local schools. Incoming students are evaluated and a plan is developed to help them with their education.
As students progress, and once their behaviours have changed, they are moved to a classroom in city schools under the supervision of a teacher and assistant employed by the Ranch. This is where the student can begin to adjust to what will be required in a regular school. The only difference in these classrooms is that the number of students is kept small in order to provide more individual attention for each student.
Other programs are offered to help high school students. A Ranch-employed teacher, or assistant, works with all the teachers who have students from Ranch Ehrlo in their classrooms. If problems arise, this person is available to provide assistance to both the student and teacher.
Work
Work placements for the youth at the Ranch are many and varied, depending upon age, maturity, and ability. For some of the youth, work may involve household chores. For others, work can take the form of paid part-time employment.
The Ranch also offers a supportive employment program. This program was developed to teach youth what is expected from an employer: such things as being on time, getting along with others and maintaining positive attitudes about the work place. Once the youth has achieved a certain level of security in this program, he or she may be moved into a community placement.
Recreation
Recreational programs such as tobogganing, floor hockey, or a trip to the beach are designed to add to the treatment process. Such activities are not only fun, but help youth to develop relationships, sharing skills, individual talents, and team participation.
Ranch Ehrlo also provides a number of group learning opportunities during evening hours. These programs are designed to enhance social, recreational, cultural, and creative skills. Some examples of these programs include:
- Craft and Art Workshops
- Horse Care and Riding Training
- Ranch Ehrlo Pow Wow and Drumming and Singing Group
- Special Olympics Program
- Sports and Action Programs
- Special Events
- Annual Events
Parents and family members are welcomed and encouraged to attend these events with their children.
- 13 to 18 years of age constitute 70% of the population;
- Over 18 years of age comprise about 20% of residents. These young adults usually display emotional problems in combination with mental challenges.
- Regina Classes: Approximately 100 students attend classes that are located in Regina Public. Four classrooms are integrated into elementary schools while seven programs operate at the high school level. Students are placed in these programs appropriate to their age, academic capabilities and specific treatment issues.
- Pilot Butte Campus: Schaller Education Centre is primarily for youth who are new to Ranch Ehrlo and is designed to provide academic assessment, remedial academics and behavioural stabilization to allow for future placements. In addition, one satellite program is offered as a pre-vocational opportunity to a small group of youth. There are approximately 45 youth at Schaller.
- Transition School: There are three classes in the Transition Building located in Regina.There is an elementary level class, a high school class and a class with students with more complex needs. Youth move to the Transition School to better prepare
them for a move to an elementary or high school setting. - Prince Albert: Youth from the Buckland Campus and Prince Albert unit are enrolled in education programs in Prince Albert. A Principal and Resource Teacher provide leadership and classroom support. There are classrooms within Prince Albert Public School facilities and in a private school, one pre-vocational work experience program, and a number of youth fully integrated into community schools in the Prince Albert Public School System.
- Corman Park: Students from the Corman Park campus attend the Ellen Gunn Education Centre that is located on the campus outside the City of Saskatoon.
- Vocational opportunities: The Community Vocational Education Program (CVEP) offers pre-employment skills development. These learning opportunities range from supported group employment skills training through to independent employment. Job coaches are provided for on-site work experience.
- Schaller College: Offers the Essential 1 Computer Technical certification as a satellite program of SIAST.
- Avant-Garde College – Avant-Garde is a cosmetology and esthetics training college and salon. Classes in esthetics, cosmetology are held throughout the year.
- Lakeshore Village Apartment provides accommodation for low-income families;
- Washington Park Place provides supportive accommodations for single mothers;
- Sport Venture provides recreation for inner-city youth through programs such as the Dress-A-Champion hockey give-away, the Outdoor Hockey League, Monday Night Football, Ehrlo Soccer League, Ehrlo Basketball League, and Ehrlo Sports Lending library;
- Ehrlo Counselling Services provides counselling to children and families;
- Avant-Garde College offers esthetics and cosmetology classes.
As the services of the two agencies continued to intersect and with concern about risk no longer a factor, the decision was made to amalgamate the two agencies at its year-end on May 31, 2011. The amalgamated agency retained the name of the Ranch Ehrlo Society.
