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Square One Ranch |
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Square One Ranch [website] P.O. Box 40 College Grove, TN United States of America | |
| Phone: | 615 395-4267 |
| Gender: | Boys Only |
| Description: | The philosophical question is often asked, “what do we do with young teens who have committed violent crimes,” or “what makes a child do such a thing.” The far majority of young teens committing crimes are products of the same. Many are abused or neglected, most are reared as much by their environment as they are by a caregiver, and others are manipulated, exploited, and taught by a “street culture” surrounding them. In a sense, many of these kids learn this behavior as a norm or even an expectation. This does not provide them with an excuse, but it does provide society with an explanation. It is not so much something “making” a child behave this way, as it is a lack of “things” directing him NOT to behave this way. Often the little bit of positive direction and influence a child may receive is drowned out by the noise of culture surrounding him. A child, no matter how serene or chaotic his family life, MUST be instilled with mental and moral disciplines, and come to value these virtues. No adult behaves without value judgments directing or correcting his or her behavior. If that adult has never been instilled with the values of right and wrong, it is foolish to expect him to act accordingly. This absolute also rings true during incarceration. Should a juvenile who commits "adult crime", do "adult time?" No. He will not learn moral virtues sitting on a cot during his formative year. Most prepubescent teenagers (age 10-13) have not yet formed the capability of abstract reasoning to the same degree as adults or even older teens. Therefore they will not function at the same intellectual capacity as older teens and adults. If we are to expect a child (or adult) to change his behavior, he must change his thinking. |
| Student Profile: | Square One Ranch is primarily a “Faith-Based,” behavioral treatment, ranch program incorporated as a private ‘Not-for-Profit’ organization, and is not directly affiliated with or supported by any specific denomination or other organized group ... simply supported by those who care and understand how crucial this ministry is in our society. Square One Ranch is a logical and promising, life-changing alternative to mainstream counseling and court induced punishments and deterrents. Our goal is to operate two separate, distinct ranch programs. One is our VOP Ranch (Violent Offenders Program), which is designed as a direct alternative to Juvenile prison or detention for young teenage boys (10-14 years old upon admission) who have committed (level 3) violent crimes. The other is the LOP Ranch (Lesser-Offenders Program) for boys (12 – 15 years old upon admission) who are repeat “status offenders,” are considered incorrigible, or who have a history of “level 1” and “level 2” crimes. All boys are private placement. While providing constructive, affirmative role modeling on a working cattle ranch, our Life-Coaches teach and nurture young boys to become virtuous, positive, competent and dynamic young adults. Our high impact, intensive programs reinforce these values by providing encouraging productive counseling, strong vocational and educational curriculums, and Biblical, spiritual leadership. |
| Academics: | Square One Community Home School is designed to meet the educational needs of mainstream co-ed students as well as boys with exceptional behavior management difficulties. Offering a challenging and therapeutic learning environment, the community school will provide a rigorous, educational framework with accelerated learning, productivity and accomplishments in mind. Upon admission students testing at a lower than appropriate grade level will receive customized instruction. By using individual lesson plans developed to meet that child's specific emotional and/or academic requirements and building on strengths and talents we seek to bring him/her up to, or beyond the appropriate grade level. A low teacher to student ratio ensures personalized attention, which in turn will provide optimum opportunity for nurturing, encouragement, and positive redirection. Such an environment helps the students develop and practice acceptable behavior while enhancing social skills, communication skills, and decision making abilities. The environment of the community home school will support and reinforce the program of Square One Ranch at every level. Many of these boys have had little personalized education opportunities, and/or have been pushed through a system that cared little about their learning accomplishments. Our teachers and parents genuinely hope to bring a level of excitement to the education the boys receive that will cause them to truly desire to learn and excel. A graduate of Square One Community Home School will prove to be much more learned, socially dexterous, and worldly aware than the typical high school graduate. |
| Activities: | Square One Ranch will instill values, develop character and a strong work ethic while providing hands on experience on a working cattle ranch. Square One Ranch will support a Charolais cow-calf operation designed to provide an income to help fund the various ministries that Square One Ranch is a part of, and in the process, provide sufficient work to keep the youth occupied and learning. They will learn responsibility by mending fences, long term planning by growing hay from seed to harvest, basic engineering through machinery and equipment repair, and the sanctity and value of life by caring for animals. In addition to the cattle, there will also be pigs, chickens, fish, rabbits, peacocks, goats, sheep, horses, dogs, and cats. Plans also include a two-acre vegetable garden and a five-acre fruit orchard. Producing a large portion of our own food will limit our dependence upon outside funding, thus enabling Square One Ranch to use donations in other areas to better support the youth and the Parent Education Program. Square One Ranch will provide an environment that will develop a foundation of discipline and respect, while teaching teamwork through hard work. The emphasis we will be teaching is that life is more than 'hanging out'. Life is spiritually, mentally, and physically demanding, but provides a wealth of knowledge, wisdom and rewards. |
| Family Involvement: | We believe that the parenting program is a very important element of the therapeutic process at Square One Ranch. Family dynamics from which the boys at Square One have derived their behavior may vary immensely, therefore, predetermined counseling sessions initially seek to evaluate and assess each parents' cognizance, styles, skills, and weaknesses. The topics and focus of subsequent meetings/sessions will be decided based on information gained during the evaluation process. The goal is to offer to each parent the tools of effective parenting. These may include, anger management, communication, education on adolescent development, disciplinary issues, contemporary peer pressures and influences, and behavior modification. With such tools, the parents can improve upon their current family environments as well as support and reinforce the positive changes occurring in their child at Square One Ranch. We find that there is a direct correlation between the rate at which the boys adapt to and accelerate in the program and the amount of involvement displayed by parents and families at the advised intervals encouraged by the staff. Family visitation is highly encouraged. Square One Ranch endeavors to facilitate this contact at every opportunity. Additionally, the parents are encouraged to write frequently to their children and vise versa. Letter writing is an extremely effective therapeutic avenue. |
| Alt Link: | Square One Ranch link (Alternate) |
| Teen Help Provider Type: | |
| Outdoor Behavioral | |
| For more information call: | |
615 395-4267 | |
Before you decide...
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If you are reading this then you are looking for help. The search on the internet can be endless, you have found the site that will help you with all your questions. Before you decide on a program, take a minute and call a family consultant to review your situation and reccomend the program that is right for your child!
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