Ranch Program

The Ranch Program at Salem specializes in providing treatment to troubled young men who are placed in our program by concerned parents or loved ones. The boys we serve exhibit negative patterns of behavior over an extended period of time, such that they often act independently of the influence and control of their parents. Invariably, the disharmony and conflict that results from such situations make a positive home environment very difficult.

At The Ranch Program, we understand the heartache and frustration that continued dissension within the family structure causes. Reconciling the shaken families of troubled boys through residential treatment and family counseling is our purpose. The Ranch Program strives to lead both troubled teens and their families to the Christ centered lives they were meant to live.

Most of the boys we care for are close to the beginning of a downward spiral of negative behavior and have not yet been in serious trouble with the law, or have experienced only minor legal problems, and whose parents are desperate for their children to receive help before it is too late.

Some of the behaviors that youth exhibit which The Ranch Program is equipped to treat include: a short history of substance abuse, disregard for rules and curfews, sexual promiscuity, running away, body disfigurement, truancy, and plummeting grades. They may have shown hostility or physical violence toward other family members, and/or have had frequent violent outbursts at home.

We are unable, however, to effectively treat children who have medical conditions that exceed our treatment resources, manifest persistent criminal behavior, have a moderate to severe mental handicap or require a locked environment.

The Ranch Program strongly desires to serve each youth whose parents wish to enroll in our program. However, as our program is equipped to serve some needs better than others, we reserve the right to evaluate each situation on a case-by-case basis and refer families to other facilities, if necessary.