Individualized treatment and care are the hallmarks of the Therapeutic Residential Treatment Program implemented at St. Jude’s Ranch for Children.  The Program’s Model of Care is designed to address the social, emotional and behavioral issues typically identified when the children first arrive.  Generally having had no positive parental role models in their young lives, one component of the Model teaches the children how to make good decisions and provides them with life skills that are absent on admission to the Ranch.

The children’s progress in the Program is measured through individual treatment plans as well as their success adapting to our family-style living environment.  The Model is designed to increase the probability of success upon Program completion.

The care provided to the children at St. Jude’s Ranch is holistic.  The children receive individual therapy and participate in family therapy.  All medical and dental needs are met.  The children are fed, clothed, housed and nurtured. Most of the children come to us after multiple foster home placements – sometimes after as many as eight to twelve – and some arrive two years behind academically because

their caregivers simply forgot to send them to school.   The Model and our on-campus tutoring programs help them catch up with their classmates.  Religious participation is voluntary, and spiritual guidance and support is always available.

At all campuses, one of the distinct features of our Program is the ability to care for sibling groups. We have cared for many siblings including groups as large as seven brothers and sisters who never lived together before. Many times all the brothers and sisters have left is each other. While residents of the Ranch, they see each other every day.  They go to school together.  They play together.  Just like other kids. Just like brothers and sisters.

Six to eight children live in each home and the home functions like a traditional family – the kids go to public school, participate in after school sports and activities, have dinner together in the evening as a family, all under the supervision of trained and dedicated staff, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.