All you need to succeed in the esteemed position of house parent at Ranch Ehrlo is a love for kids – and cooking.
The agency’s first house dad, Andrew Brown, transitioned from a youth care worker (YCW) to Alex Guy’s house parent last month on the Buckland campus outside of Prince Albert.
“It’s still a little bit weird not being with the kids,” he said. “(As a YCW), you’re constantly with the kids – you have kids talking to you, and visiting with you, and they all want you around. When you go to this position, you see the kids for 45 minutes a day.”
House parents work within our homes to help maintain a nurturing, structured, safe, and comforting environment.
With his background as a YCW, Andrew is able to bring a unique set of skills to the position.
“In the morning, if there’s a kid struggling, I have that ability to go and talk to them one-on-one. A lot of times I’ll be with one of the kids, talking to them, just to bring them back to a good space,” he said.
As a house parent, he has the ability to connect with the kids in a different way.
“If a new kid comes, I talk to them and explain, ‘if there’s a meal or snack that you want, let me know and I’ll see what I can do to do it.’ And it can be as simple as a shepherd’s pie that a kid really likes. So you make it for them, because they have a connection to some foods that remind them of home. It helps them ease in,” he explained.
With 15 years food industry experience, Andrew brings a wealth of knowledge to the kitchen. He delights in sharing it with the youth who live at Alex Guy.
“If they want to come in to the kitchen, or they have the time and they want to help me bake, I’ll bring them in. If they have that spark for cooking or baking, I encourage them. I tell them, ‘don’t be afraid to try new things.’”
Andrew believes people shouldn’t let roles that may traditionally be viewed as gender-specific discourage people from applying for a position that interests them.
“If someone has an interest in cooking, they should look into taking a position like this one.”
