It’s human nature to make assumptions – to guess or assume based on first impression or by the way something looks or sounds. But seeking the truth and finding the facts often proves worthy of the time and effort it takes.
Because all of us always seem to be short on time I’ll cut through the fiction and get right to the fact.
There are a handful of misconceptions about Ranch Ehrlo Society and the work that we do. So let’s blast through the top four misconceptions:
We are a ranch.
Youth don’t arrive to sacrifice their ball caps for cowboy hats and our staff aren’t donning Wranglers. Yes, our campuses are in rural parts of Saskatchewan but they are fully equipped with (beautiful) contemporary 10-bedroom homes, administration buildings, schools, and state-of-the-art technology. We are a community whose home base in Pilot Butte just happens to be a former ranch (read about the history here).
We are an extension of government.
Ranch Ehrlo is not a subsidiary of the health district and is not government mandated. The agency is not required to accept youth, and referrals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Ranch Ehrlo is a fee-for-service agency which accepts referrals from Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services, First Nations Child & Family agencies, and out-of-province contacts.
We are a youth detention centre.
No. We are not a youth detention centre. We are an agency that has residential programs and community services that provide therapeutic opportunities. We do not incarcerate any of our clients or physically restrict them. We do not accept court-ordered placements. Ranch Ehrlo Society is not a punishment, it is an opportunity.
Our only clients are at-risk youth.
There is no cookie-cutter client at the Ranch. They all come from different backgrounds; they range in age from six to 60; they speak English, Dene, French, Cree, and other languages; they are boys and girls, men and women, moms and dads. Clients come to Ranch Ehrlo for a range of issues. Some come to the Ranch with addictions, family functioning problems, or problems in school. Others live with chronic mental illness and require supported living. Each and every person at the Ranch (staff included) has a unique and personal reason for being here.
