Family involvement
One of the primary goals of treatment at the Ranch is to return the youth to his or her community as soon as possible. Since the placement of youth is viewed as temporary, we believe that it is very important to work in partnership with parents and families.
Family ties strengthen the effectiveness of social treatment. The more that parents and families can stay involved in their child’s treatment, the greater the opportunity for success.
How can you stay involved and assist in treatment?
Telephone contact
The telephone is available to all youth who live at the Ranch, and each youth has the right to the following:
- To make and receive their personal calls in private
- To make and receive local and/or long distance calls to their parents, guardians, and family members. Certain restrictions may be necessary to ensure that the phone is available for everyone’s use.
Family workshops/family camps
Families are encouraged to attend and participate in workshops, family days, and family camps hosted periodically by the agency. These events are designed to provide information, support, and fun.
Writing
Youth are encouraged to maintain contact with their families and friends through the mail, and each residence provides the youth with paper, envelopes, pencils, and postage stamps. The staff will also help the youth with writing the letter if required.
There is no screening of outgoing or incoming mail, but in rare cases youth may be asked to open mail or parcels in front of a staff member if there is reason to believe that harmful items (such as drugs) are being sent to the youth.
Home visits/contact visits
Holiday and weekend visits are arranged throughout the year, depending upon the location of the youth’s home and other family considerations. If the parents live too far away for the youth to visit regularly, staff at the Ranch try to locate other relatives or family members within the local area, and arrange for the youth to have visits with them.
Visits from family members are always welcomed, but arrangements should be made in advance to make sure that the youth is available as many of the activities occur away from the Ranch. There is a home on the Pilot Butte property, McNamara House, where families can stay while visiting their child. Family members are also encouraged to participate in major events hosted by the Ranch. such as the Youth Christmas Party and Awards Night.
Parents are further encouraged to attend the Quarterly Planning Conferences which are held every three months. The purpose of these meetings is to review the progress which has been made, plan the next steps, and to look at possible future living arrangements.
