Ranch Ehrlo’s emergency receiving services program has a new home effective this week.
Youth and staff at the Pilot Butte campus have excitedly watched the building progress and those housed in Rorison 2 eagerly counted the days until they would make the move to the new house.
Ranch Ehrlo Society first opened a six-bed emergency receiving services program in October 2013 at Rorison House on the Pilot Butte campus. The program was designed to provide temporary emergency care to youth awaiting placement by the Ministry of Social Services.
“The emergency receiving program is incredibly important. Ranch Ehrlo provides one of the only options for urgent, short-term placements for children ages 12 to 15,” explained Malcolm Neill, vice-president of residential services.
In March 2014, the agency was asked to expand the program’s capacity as part of a temporary contract. The vacant “old Mitchell House” was renamed Rorison 2 and brought into service to accommodate six additional beds.
In September 2014, the agency received notice that the Ministry contract would become permanent.
“With a permanent contract the need to create a second building specifically designed for emergency care became apparent,” explained Malcolm.
On May 5th, the board approved the cost of a new six-bed facility to replace the old Mitchell House and become a second residence for the emergency receiving program, and construction began shortly thereafter.
The new building will be called Kenyon House after past chair Jim Kenyon. Jim was on the board for seven years and was the board chair from 2011-2013. A grand opening will be scheduled for spring.
