Fun in the Summer Sun
During this time of uncertainty, with the stay at home order, Heritage Ranch has focused on continuing to provide stability to our families and the community. For our families, we have transformed our program to be out patient by providing daily virtual tutoring for the boys, virtual counseling sessions and virtual group sessions for both the boys and the parents. For our community we have heavily invested in the development of online resources.
One of the main concerns for many of our families during this time is maintaining academic levels for their boys. Many of our boys perform below their potential in school due to their clinical and behavioral situation, but our house mom Tori was up to the challenge and immediately gave them individual tutoring to make sure they maintained their academic levels.
From a counseling perspective, our counselor Scott has done an amazing job and has proved to be very adaptable to this unique situation. He has continued to hold counseling sessions with the families and the boys and has continued to host a weekly parent group. One of the greatest stories during this time came during our parent group. During one session a parent asked for forgiveness for looking tired as she had been up late with her son the night before. She said that her son woke her up in the middle of the night and would not let her sleep until she came out with him. As the parent group progressed we coached her through setting up structure around bed time and consequences for coming out of his room and waking them up. The next week she came back to the parent group and reported that they held a family meeting and discussed the structure and consequences with their son, and not only had they set up the structure, but their son helped and agreed to structure. This was a huge story of counseling success that happened even in the middle of the COVID pandemic.
When looking at the COVID situation we knew as an organization the stay at home order would cause many families to deal with crisis and we quickly offered online resources. We added links on our website to local churches that were offering online resources, we added a reading list, and we cataloged our library of parenting videos for easy access.
We are so appreciative to all our staff who were very adaptable during this time and focused on continuing to provide stability and treatment to our families. Here are some of the testimonials we have received during this time from our families.
What areas of parent education that the Ranch has provided have proven the most useful during this time?
“Learning about choice/consequence has been a big help. It eliminates the power struggle.” – Allen, Dad of Ranch Youth
"I am so grateful for their help in problem-solving with me when certain stressful situations arise and sharing what they do at the Ranch so I can continue at home." - Cindy, Mother of Ranch Youth
What supports provided by the Ranch right now are the most helpful to you?
“Tutoring is helping because I am doing better in school with it and my grades are going up. I like that it is one-one and focused on my work.” – Braxton, Ranch Youth
"I am very appreciative of the fact that my son will continue to get therapy from Mr. Scott and we will still get family counseling even though we can't come to the Ranch. I was so worried that he would lose the progress that he has made. Of course it can't be exactly the same, but at least we still have daily contact and help is a phone call away if we need it. I don't feel abandoned or alone." - Cindy, Mother of Ranch Youth
Have you noticed any positive differences with your family relationships because of your time at the Ranch?
“Yes, definitely. There is a stronger bond and a trust that has been built.” – Ben, Ranch Youth
