State of the Ranch 2023

Coming out of a pandemic can be challenging, returning to the rhythm of school, work, and daily life. Our kids come from hard places: abuse, failed adoptions, homelessness, juvenile justice, domestic violence, and neglectful homes. For our kids, the rhythm is a complete change from what they were used to. Establishing routines and focusing on ways that each of our kids can be successful is at the core of the work we do.

In 2022, we celebrated several of our kids returning home to families who worked on improving their environments and homelife. We cheered when one of our kids graduated from high school and finished their first semester in college! And, we hoped for permanency as kids were placed in foster homes.

We joined forces with partner agencies to form the Fort Bend TBRI Collaborative to equip child welfare professionals, volunteers, teachers, juvenile justice professionals, and others who encounter youth in need with tools and techniques from Trust-Based Relational Intervention. These tools help our staff to empower our kids to speak up for their needs and help them to understand ways they can be successful. 

The year ended with gifts, many volunteer activities, and a caring spirit that resonated with our kids.  The outpouring of support from our community ensured that our residents had a magical Christmas. For one of our residents, this was their first time to experience the Christmas spirit; that magic came from you. We are grateful for the donations and funding for our operations. And we are so thankful every time we get to tell our friends and partners about the work we do every day with our kids from hard places.

As we look forward to 2023, we are excited to begin the Transitional Living Program (TLP), specifically for kids ages 15 and up, which supports their growth toward adulthood. We are excited to celebrate graduations, college acceptances, new jobs, and independence for our kids who call Parks Youth Ranch a Home for Today and Hope for Tomorrow.

Thank you for all that you do!

Shannan Stavinoha, LCCA