Sometimes I will have worked with a youth for only three months; sometimes I will have known them for three years when they leave the Ranch. Working this closely with these kids you grow quite attached.

We had one boy that stayed with us for a very long time. He AWOLed and got involved with the gang life. I remember him from the time he was a little gaffer and the crazy things he used to do. I miss that kid. He was a wonderful, wonderful boy but I hate his new gang life.

Kids come here and say they hate the Ranch and they want to leave. Then they leave and call and say ‘I wish I could come back. I miss you and the house, and the activities that we did, the food, and the monthly clothing shopping and I can’t believe you went on camping trips without me.’

Many call regularly, some we stay in contact with through email. We hear some sad stories but some happy ones too. Other kids leave and we never hear from them outside the caseworker follow ups.

It’s very hard sometimes to watch them leave, especially when you build attachments. One youth was just like my little sister, the sweetest girl ever. When she discharged she wrote me a letter telling me she loved me like a sister. It was very hard when she left.

With all the youth when they leave, whether they go to an-in-town home or back to their own home, we hope they learned enough here in their short time to succeed. And never have to be in treatment again.