Summer is a great time to be a kid. And it is no exception for our kids here at Joy Ranch. So far all or some of our residents have: Spent a week at the beach Attended day camp One of our younger residents attended Science Camp Taken a trip with a local youth group…

There are a lot of things about houseparenting that people are unsure of: What is a houseparent? Are the kids orphans? Are you foster care? Who pays for their care? Why do you have these kids? Etc., etc., etc.   Because there is so much that can be unclear, we do, at times, run into…

I pulled the door tightly closed behind me and made it to my room just in time for the tears to begin falling down my face. I sank into my bed, buried my face in my hands, and began to weep, no longer able to suffocate the pain welling up inside. Some days, this job…

Last week Michelle wrote about what a house parent is – and is not. We both agree that an important piece of understanding that is having a better sense of the population we work with. Michelle mentioned that we are not: Camp counselors – this isn’t a summer camp.  Drill sergeants – this is not…

  • So, you’ve learned a little bit about what Joy Ranch is and is not. Bethany has shared some killer tips and tricks of the “trade” we use around here. I’ve taken you on a tour of Leebrick cottage. Now I suppose you’d like to know what exactly is a “house parent,” right? We…

Anyone who works with children will tell you that it often becomes easy to spend too much time focusing on the negative; it can be hard to remember the positives – or have time to celebrate them. It has been stated, by researchers with the Harvard Business Review that a ratio of five positive comments…