The Ranches programs offer help, hope and healing to children and families through the four areas outlined below. Our goal, whenever possible, is to help families stay together.

Residential Group Care and Semi-Independent Living
Residential group care is designed for children between the ages of 12 and 18. These programs teach boys and girls self-confidence, responsibility, conflict resolution and appropriate behavior choices. Residents attend an accredited on-campus school.

We also offer a semi-independent living program for young adults ages 17 to 21. The program is designed to help youths who are on their own and do not have the skills necessary for responsible independent living.

Voluntary Foster Care and Older Child Adoption
Young children needing out of home placement tend to function better in a licensed foster home rather than a residential group care environment. For this reason, we offer temporary, voluntary foster care for children under the age of 12. In some cases, children unable to return home may transition into adoptive homes.

As the New Mexico chapter of Child SHARE (Shelter Homes, A Rescue Effort), we work with a network of churches to recruit, train and support foster and adoptive families for a number of foster care providers. All foster family recruitments, child placements and support services are performed in New Mexico for New Mexico residents.

Family Therapy, Counseling and Aftercare
Sometimes placement outside of the home can be prevented through family counseling. Our licensed therapists help family members learn how to solve problems together and build on one another's strengths.

One-to-one counseling is also provided for program residents to help them overcome their personal challenges. Families are asked to actively participate in counseling while their children are in the program. These counseling services are also offered when children return to their homes and communities.

Parenting Classes
Our four-week and ten-week Developing Capable Young People ™ programs introduce parenting principles and skills that help children develop self-discipline, responsibility, good judgment, conflict resolution and other life skills.

We are licensed by the New Mexico Health and Environment Department and the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department. Our programs are also accredited by the New Mexico Christian Child Care Association. Click on the buttons to the left for more information about each division.

Boys Ranch is located 60 miles south of Albuquerque on 2,350 acres along the Rio Grande. It is our oldest and largest facility, and houses up to 40 boys, ages 12 to 18. While the specific goals for each boy differ, the Boys Ranch experience provides each resident with opportunities to learn the skills and qualities they'll need as successful adults and members of the community.

Living Arrangements
Each resident lives in a cottage with nine other residents of the same gender and a married couple called Resident Advisors. The family-style approach helps them learn how to function as family members and develop healthy peer relationships.

Program Goals
Although admission into the Boys and Girls Ranch program is voluntary, there are specific program expectations set for each resident by their parents, counselors and themselves. While at the Ranch, the residents encounter circumstances that challenge them to learn to control their own behavior and build positive life skills. Their daily behavior choices and goal achievements are measured on a level system. Licensed counselors meet weekly or as needed with each resident to discuss his progress in the program.

School
Residents attend school on campus. As an accredited extension of the public school system, the curriculum is designed to bring students back to grade level and includes computer and Internet skills. Anger management, conflict resolution and other life skills are also taught. Attendance in local public schools is considered for long-term residents who are doing well in the program.

Activities
Structured activities designed to teach teamwork, responsibility and self-control are regularly scheduled. A pool, gymnasium, playing field, and horseback riding are available to the residents living at the Ranch. Camping, hiking, fishing and educational trips are planned when possible.

Church and Spiritual Life
Christian values like care and concern for others, honesty and thankfulness are important to our program philosophy. The residents attend church services in the community with Resident Advisors, and age-appropriate Bible studies are offered on a voluntary basis. However, The Ranches is not affiliated with any church denomination, and residents make spiritual decisions based on their own choices.

Family Visits
Contact with family members is encouraged (when possible) and visits on campus are scheduled each month. Visits home are generally two weeks at Christmas and two weeks in the summer. Thanksgiving and Spring break visits may also be arranged, and weekend visits home are scheduled prior to program completion. Special arrangements are made for children who do not have family members they can visit.

Through Families for Children, caring foster families give young children (infants to age 12) a safe place to live. These children are better served in a more intimate setting rather than a residential group home atmosphere. Families for Children is licensed by the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department as an adoption and foster care agency. All foster homes are licensed by our agency, and are closely monitored by staff.

Voluntary Foster Care
Temporary, voluntary foster care helps families who are facing a severe crisis like homelessness and mental or physical illness. Youngsters are given a caring, safe place to live until their parents stabilize their lives and can be reunited. Ongoing parental visits are encouraged. Our professional and supportive staff assists parents through:
Confidential counseling
Family needs assessment and case management
Referrals to other community programs as needed
Parenting education and life skills development

Older Child Adoptions
In some cases, children placed in voluntary foster care transition to adoptive homes. Foster families licensed through Families for Children interested in adopting are offered home studies, training and post-placement support.

Foster and Adoptive Parent Recruitment
As the New Mexico chapter of Child SHARE (Shelter Homes, A Rescue Effort), we work with an ecumenical network of churches to recruit, train and support foster and adoptive families for a number of foster care providers in the greater Albuquerque area. Click on Child SHARE to learn more.

Professional and supportive counseling is offered through The New Mexico Family Connection (NMFC). Licensed counselors help families improve their relationships through improved communication skills and more effective parenting approaches. Services are available to all interested families in the greater Albuquerque area, and to residents of The Ranches.

Family Counseling
Sometimes placement outside of the home can be prevented through family counseling. Our counselors encourage each family to work together to generate better communication and set achievable goals. Our approach is designed to:
Highlight and develop the personal strengths of each family member
Target the specific concerns of the family
Promote new skills to help the family cope more effectively
Encourage higher self-esteem and well-being among family members
Offer referrals to other community programs when relevant to the family's needs

Counselors carefully consider the perspectives of both parents and adolescents as they help families work toward a better home environment.

Resident Counseling
NMFC counselors provide one-to-one counseling for program residents as they work to overcome their personal challenges. Residents meet with assigned counselors weekly or as needed.

Lasting change in families hinges on more than just the accomplishments made by residents during their Ranch stay. In view of that, families are asked to actively participate in counseling while their children are in the program. As residents near completion of the program, their visits home become more frequent, allowing family members to practice their new relationship skills.

Are your facilities and programs licensed?
Our facilities and programs are licensed by the New Mexico Health and Environment Department and the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department. We are also accredited by the New Mexico Christian Child Care Association.

Where are your facilities located?
The Boys and Girls Ranch is located 60 miles south of Albuquerque, near Belen. The offices for Families for Children and The New Mexico Family Connection are located in Albuquerque.

Is The Ranches a lock-up facility?
No. The Ranches is not a lockup facility. The children are not fenced in, nor are there bars on the windows or posted guards.

Is The Ranches a residential treatment center?
No. Our programs are not designed to assist children experiencing issues like drug addiction, violent outbursts or suicidal threats. However, youths with these behaviors may be considered following successful treatment in a more restrictive environment.

How does your program help kids?
Children come to The Ranches from a variety of different backgrounds and circumstances. At the Boys and Girls Ranch, we provide kids with a safe and nurturing place to live, a personalized plan that addresses behavioral and educational goals, on-campus schools that provide individualized attention, and one-to-one counseling to help them confront the issues that brought them to The Ranches. Through a semi-independent and transitional living environment, youths at Pippin Ranch help develop a plan to achieve personal, behavioral and educational goals. They also learn life skills such as opening a checking account, budgeting, buying groceries and managing personal space. And, we provide young children in foster care with a safe, nurturing place to live and assess them for any early intervention needs. Referrals to appropriate service providers are made as needed.

Are children forced into participating in the residential programs?
Admission to The Ranches is voluntary, and all youth must be willing to commit to making changes in their behavior before they are admitted.

Where do referrals come from?
Inquiries for placement come from all over the state of New Mexico and are made by parents, juvenile courts, teachers, relatives, social welfare agencies, and by children themselves.

What are the backgrounds of the children?
The children come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds and income levels. And the circumstances that lead them to The Ranches range from chronic low or failing grades to difficult family situations to minor brushes with the law to histories of abuse and neglect. All are here to make a fresh start.

What are the ages of the children you admit?
We serve children from infancy through age 21. Infants and children through the age of 10 are generally served through Families for Children. Although we do place children as old as 12 in foster care, and children as young as 12 can be placed in one of the ranches. These decisions are often made to keep siblings together. The Boys and Girls Ranch serves preteens and teens from the ages of 10 to 18, and Pippin Youth Ranch serves teens and young adults ages 17 to 21.

How many children and families do you help each year?
We affect the lives of over 300 children and adults each year through our residential, counseling, parenting and foster care programs. We are able to serve up to 94 children and teens at a time – 40 at Boys Ranch, 20 at Girls Ranch, 10 at Pippin Youth Ranch and 24 through Families for Children. We serve many others through our counseling and parenting programs.

Why do you have an on-campus school?
A common characteristic among the children who come to The Ranches is intense negativity about school. Most are well behind their peers academically and have been criticized and teased as a result. They often think of themselves as stupid or incapable of doing the work, and have given up altogether. We provide an accredited on-campus school that give children the individualized attention they need to bring them back to grade level. We have also found that academic success is often the catalyst for changes in other areas of a youngster's life.

Are you affiliated with a church or denomination?
No, we are not affiliated with any religious or national organization. Support for The Ranches comes from a variety of sources: individuals, churches, businesses, corporations and foundations. In addition, employees of The Ranches come from many different denominational backgrounds.

Do the boys and girls receive religious instruction?
The children attend church with Resident Advisors, and voluntary age-appropriate Bible studies are offered. As a Christian organization, we believe that ultimate hope and meaning comes through Christ. However, our aim is unconditional respect, care and concern for all, regardless of their religion. We encourage children to find spiritual answers, but they make spiritual decisions based on their own choices.

How do you use animals in the program?
The animal program varies between Boys Ranch and Girls Ranch. In general, however, we have a variety of animals such as rabbits, sheep and horses to help children learn to give and receive unconditional acceptance and love. As they learn that animals depend on them for food, shelter and affection, boys and girls can better understand how to relate to other people. Our counselors and several staff members are also trained to provide Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, which provides experiential learning opportunities using horses.

How does counseling play a part in your program?
All children at the Boys and Girls Ranch receive one-to-one counseling with licensed counselors while they are in the program. They meet weekly or as needed to discuss progress towards goals set in the Personal Learning Plan. Counselors also help residents confront the difficult and sometimes painful issues that brought them to The Ranches.

Do you offer help for parents?
Yes. We ask parents of children in our residential programs to participate in counseling. Counseling for families experiencing difficulties is also offered on a limited basis. Parenting classes are also offered to all interested adults, and we make referrals to other service providers as needed.

Why do you have a foster care program?
Young children needing out of home placement are often better served in a more intimate setting rather than a residential group care environment. For this reason, we offer temporary, voluntary foster care for children under the age of 12.

How long is the program?
Although it varies with each child's situation, a typical length of stay at one of the Ranches is 12–18 months. Voluntary foster care placements can last anywhere from a few days to several months, depending on the needs of the family and the child.

How expensive are your fees?
Fees for services are based on a sliding scale and are determined prior to placement. We ask all families to pay what they are able to afford, but we do not deny services for financial reasons. Our program expenses are underwritten by the generosity of people who care about children and invest in their future. (Please see the Foundation FAQ page for more information about donations.)

As the New Mexico chapter of Child S.H.A.R.E. (Shelter Homes, A Rescue Effort), we work with a network of churches to recruit, train and support foster and adoptive families for a number of foster care agencies in the greater Albuquerque area.

About Child S.H.A.R.E.
Child S.H.A.R.E. was founded in 1985 in Los Angeles, California, to address the foster care and adoption crisis by recruiting foster and adoptive families through churches of all denominations. By partnering communities of faith with foster care providers, loving homes are found for the thousands of children in the foster care system. The rich family-oriented resources of the church also provide the physical, emotional and spiritual support that foster and adoptive families need. Studies show that this approach works. Two out of three foster children stay with their Child S.H.A.R.E. family until they are adopted or reunited with their birth family. And Child S.H.A.R.E.'s adoption rate for foster children is twice the national average.

Getting Involved
There are several opportunities to serve children through Child S.H.A.R.E.
Full-time foster families – married couples and singles who welcome a foster child into their homes for extended periods of time.
Back-up or respite families – families who are certified to take a child for a day, overnight or longer when a full-time family needs rest.
Special friends/baby-sitters – people committed to mentoring a child.
Volunteers – people who work in the co-op, pick-up donations, tutor, deliver welcome baskets, plan and oversee special activities.
Professional volunteers – physicians, educators, counselors, attorneys, accountants, etc. who donate their time and skills.
Anchor churches – congregations that provide space for co-ops, support group meetings, fund raisers and special activities.

Why Be a Child S.H.A.R.E. Family?
Child SHARE member families enjoy many services without membership fees.
Respite care – a pool of families who can give you a break from the demands of foster parenting.
Welcome baskets – a personalized basket of items to welcome children into your home. Baskets include items like blankets, toys and school items.
Equipment and clothing co-op – a collection of new and gently used clothing, cribs, toys and other items to make your home ready for a foster child. All items are free for your use.
Support – experienced, supportive staff are available to answer your questions.

Are You Interested?
It is a rewarding experience to give needy children a stable, caring and loving home, or provide support to the families who do. Call for more information at 1-800-660-0289 to learn more.

Albuquerque Anchor and Partner Churches
Church of the Risen Savior
First United Methodist
Grace Church
Heights Cumberland
Our Lady of Fatima Parish
St. Mary's Episcopal Church
St. John's Cathedral
St. Marks-on-the-Mesa
Trinity Episcopal Church

We live in a rapidly changing world. Not too long ago, parents could safely assume that if they taught their children the same knowledge and skills they themselves learned growing up, their kids would be well-equipped to survive in the world. That's no longer the case. In a world that is changing almost daily, how do we teach children the skills and knowledge they need to cope effectively with life?

Dr. Stephen Glenn, author of the training program Developing Capable Young People™, has identified seven skills and perceptual abilities that children need in order to respond include a strong sense of self-competence and self-control; knowledge that they are valued by the significant people in their lives, like family and parents; strong interpersonal and communication skills, to help them make friends and interact well with others; and good judgment, so they can evaluate situations and respond appropriately and with integrity.

Parents who have taken Developing Capable Young People™ report that, over the course of a few weeks, their communication skills improved and they felt more confident about their parenting abilities. Here are some of their comments: "Helped me not only with my children, but also with my other personal relationships (spouse as well as my coworkers)"
"I have more confidence that I can raise a capable child."
"I have learned how to make different choices for my children."
"When I heard about others'; experiences, it helped me to see that I was not the only one with these situations."

Are you a parent or grandparent - or perhaps an adult who works with children? Are you interested in learning how to communicate more effectively with youngsters and help them develop the skills to become competent, self-reliant young adults? We offer the program throughout the year, and it's affordable. Classes are held in Albuquerque at our main office. See our calendar of events on the home page for dates of upcoming courses, or call us today at 1-800-660-0289 for more information.

Four-week and Ten-week sessions are available. Classes meet weekly for two hours. Day and evening classes available upon request. Four-week sessions Sessions One, Three, Four and Eight
Ten-week sessions Ten sessions

Professional counseling is offered through the New Mexico Family Connection (NMFC). Licensed counselors help families improve their relationships through improved communication skills and more effective parenting approaches. Services are available to all interested families in the greater Albuquerque area, and to residents of The Ranches.

Family Counseling
Sometimes placement outside of the home can be prevented through family counseling. Our counselors encourage each family to work together to generate better communication and set achievable goals. Our approach is designed to:
Highlight and develop the personal strengths of each family member
Target the specific concerns of the family
Promote new skills to help the family cope more effectively
Encourage higher self-esteem and well-being among family members
Offer referrals to other community programs when relevant to the family's needs

Counselors carefully consider the perspectives of both parents and adolescents as they help families work toward a better home environment.

Resident Counseling
NMFC counselors provide one-on-one counseling for program residents as they work to overcome their personal challenges. Residents meet with assigned counselors approximately weekly or as needed.

Lasting change in families hinges on more than just the accomplishments made by residents during their Ranch stay. In view of that, families are asked to actively participate in counseling while their children are in the program. As residents near completion of the program, their visits home become more frequent, allowing all family members to practice their new relationship skills.