andreaThere are some things that make a house a home; the smell of fresh-cooked baking, the laughter of friends and family, the hum of the washing machine and the drum of the dryer, and framed photos hung from the walls.

Ranch Ehrlo has experienced phenomenal growth over the past few years, but one thing the agency hasn’t lost sight of is the effort to keep its living arrangements as close to a home, and as far away as an institution, as possible.

Much like our own homes, Ranch Ehrlo group homes are a reflection of the people who live in them. Some houses are designed to accommodate young adults with developmental disabilities, others accommodate boys with sexually intrusive behaviours, some accommodate youth with behavioural issues, and others are home to youth with addictions and substance abuse issues.

Ranch Ehrlo works to place each youth in a house that will support their growth and foster a greater well-being, cognitive functioning and the age of the youth is also taken into consideration. With more than 40 groups located throughout Saskatchewan, it’s important to realize that each serves a specific purpose and treats specific youth with specific issues. So here’s a rundown of our residential programs:

Intake units (7 locations)

Jewison House Jewison House at Pilot Butte

These 10-bedroom houses are all located on one of our three campuses at Corman Park, Buckland, or Pilot Butte. Youth are introduced to Ranch Ehrlo here; they adjust to their new living environment learning rules, routines, and expectations.

Youth are stabilized and assessed here, living at the intake unit for an average of six to 12 months, depending on their needs. This is a highly-structured living arrangement where 24-hour supervision is maintained.

General programs (7 locations)

Lee House Bedroom in Lee House in Regina

After youth have been stabilized and assessed the majority move into one of our general programs. These programs target behavioural issues, and some specialize in addictions and substance abuse issues. The goal of this program is to discharge youth with more independent problem-solving skills, and require less support from adults to manage and deal with daily stress and past trauma. Select houses specially designed to treat youth with addictions focus on changing the addictive pattern through a trauma-informed approach. This program often has family involvement, with some houses having a basement suite for families to stay short-term to visit. Work, education, recreation, and counselling are provided to youth and individualized through therapeutic programming and an individualized treatment plan.

Residents in this program may move from one house to another, but generally stay in the program for 12-18 months.

Sexually intrusive behaviours (4 locations)

These homes are specially designed to meet the needs of adolescents who display sexually intrusive patterns of behaviour. These negative patterns are often deep-rooted and require intensive treatment in efforts to break the offending cycle.

Generally, the duration of the treatment is 18 to 24 months, followed by gradual community re-integration. These homes are not co-ed, and are for the most part, designed for boys ranging in age from 14 to 18 years old.

The goals of this program are to increase positive coping skills, developing social and safety networks, establishing healthy relationships, and increasing self-awareness. Sexual behaviour is the primary treatment target and is worked upon through intensive therapy groups.