We serve at-risk youth through mentoring and encouragement.

The Kinloch Price Boys Ranch > Description of Program

The Kinloch Price Boys Ranch provides residential care for boys with severe individual and family challenges. In cases where living at home or in a foster home has been unsuccessful, Youth Horizons stands ready to help. Located on the outskirts of Wichita at 11313 N Woodlawn, the ranch serves boys ages 10 – 22. The first of four family style group homes is currently under operation.

We strive to make living at Kinloch Price Boys Ranch as close as possible to living in a normal, healthy home. A maximum of eight boys and a specially trained married couple (called a family coaching couple) live in each home. They, along with their assistant (called an assistant family coach), are the primary caregivers. These staff apply behavioral principles when teaching life skills (home management, personal finance, job skills, etc.), building appropriate relationships, and helping youth develop self-discipline. Each boy is taught the skills needed to succeed as an adult member of the community.

Profile of Youth Served

Individualized Treatment

Teaching Model Used

Family Involvement

Length of Stay

Christian Focus

Expertise

Experience

Profile of Youth Served

Youth Horizons effectively cares for children who want a family environment but need more structure than a typical foster home can provide. Most of the children have been involved in the state social service system and experienced some type of out-of-home placement prior to coming to Kinloch Price Boys Ranch. (Characteristics of the youth we have served in the past include runaway behavior, aggressive behavior, serious behavioral issues, lack of success in school, drug or alcohol misuse, and/or victims of physical or sexual abuse.)

Many of the children who live at Kinloch Price are four to five years behind in reading and other subjects. Coaching parents help each child reach academic goals, and tutors are involved when needed. Youth attend Valley Center schools. Each student is encouraged to be involved in extracurricular activities according to their individual talents, interests, and goals.

We are not equipped to help every child referred to Kinloch Price Boys Ranch. Youth who are acutely dangerous to themselves or others, including actively suicidal youth, youth with psychotic-like behavior, or youth who are sexual perpetrators require treatment in a more secure environment. Acutely drug- or alcohol-addicted youth are required to complete a professional treatment program before admittance. Youth Horizons is not equipped to care for children with an IQ at or below 74.

Youth Horizons serves families from a range of racial, cultural, socioeconomic, and religious backgrounds.

Individualized Treatment

Individualized treatment goals are developed for each youth during the first few weeks of placement. Youth are active members of the treatment team, together with parents (when appropriate), guardians, family coaches, assistant family coaches, social workers, and other professionals. As much as possible, family coaches work closely with parents and guardians to keep them involved and informed about a youth’s progress as family reunification is pursued.

Teaching Model Used

Youth Horizons uses the Girls and Boys Town Teaching and Treatment Model. This time-tested tool for empowering youth is neither a control model, a punishment model, nor a standard counseling model. Rather, it is a self-help model. Our goal is not to frustrate youth, but to help them meet their needs in pro-social ways. This requires a low tolerance for inappropriate behaviors, coupled with high warmth and praise for appropriate behaviors. Research indicates that the model works. In one measure of success, studies show that 90% of Girls and Boys Town students graduate from high school.

Family Involvement

Family reunification is vigorously pursued by the staff of Kinloch Price Boys Ranch. Family is encouraged to be involved with their child while staying at Kinloch Price . When appropriate, immediate family and guardians are invited to family activities and organizational events, and assist their child in reaching treatment goals. Children may go on family visits when approved by the child’s social worker and/or Kinloch Price Boys Ranch administration.

Length of Stay

The average stay for a child in a Youth Horizons’ residence is 12 months. In some situations, placements have lasted over two years. It is our desire that Kinloch Price is the last out-of-home placement for a child. When it's in the child’s best interests and with state approval, we are willing to have a child stay at Kinloch Price Boys Ranch until they are 22 years old.

Christian Focus

Our youth come from a variety of religious backgrounds. A child does not have to be Christian or even interested in Christianity to live at Kinloch Price ; they simply need to be willing to live in an environment where Christian principles are put into practice. Regular church attendance, devotional time, community service, and Christian religious observances are routine portions of our program. Youth Horizons, Inc. and Kinloch Price Boys Ranch are not affiliated with a specific religious denomination.

Expertise

The residential treatment provided by Kinloch Price Boys Ranch has been established through consultation and technical assistance from Girls and Boys Town. Girls and Boys Town staff perform an annual review of Kinloch Price to ensure best practices are followed.

Experience

Youth Horizons has a rich history of serving boys with special needs. From 1996 to 2005, Youth Horizons cared for 75 boys through our residential facility located in downtown Wichita called the Martin House. The Kinloch Price Boys Ranch was established in 2007.

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