Program areas at High Sky Childrens Ranch
Foster Care and Adoption - High Skys Foster Care program provides temporary care for children who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect. High Sky recruits, trains, and licenses families who are willing to open their hearts and homes to children in need. High Sky staff work closely with foster, adoptive, and kinship families to provide on-going training, resources, and continuous support.High Skys Foster Care program focused on providing high-quality services and creating a community of hope through foster care and adoption. In 2023, the Foster Care program licensed 38 foster and adoptive homes, cared for 59 youth, finalized 20 adoptions, and provided 7,587 days of service to children in foster care. In 2023, the Foster Care program also welcomed a newly licensed foster family to reside on-campus in the Carter Home to care for youth in foster care. 89% of the youth placed in High Skys foster and adoptive homes experienced successful discharges from their placements
High Sky Emergency Shelter and Teen Boys Home - The Boys Teen Home offers a supportive and nurturing long-term placement for boys aged 13-17. In this home, specially trained caregivers provide trauma-informed care, practices, and behavioral interventions to meet the individual needs of each youth. The Teen Home focuses on creating a home-like atmosphere that allows the youth to experience normal teenage activities, develop life skills, and pursue employment opportunities, all while receiving comprehensive medical, behavioral, and mental healthcare support from dedicated Case Managers. This program has allowed High Sky to provide much-needed support and care for teen boys who have been removed from their homes by CPS. The Teen Home fills a crucial gap in our area, where long-term placements for teen boys with specialized needs are scarce. By recognizing this need and taking action, High Sky is working to ensure that these young individuals have a stable and nurturing environment where they can thrive and heal.High Sky Childrens Ranch operates an Emergency Shelter to provide temporary placement for children in foster care while long-term options are secured. The shelter welcomes children of all ages, ensuring that sibling groups can stay together during this challenging time. Caregivers in the shelter are trained in trauma-informed services to provide nurturing care, stability, and security. Alongside meeting basic needs, the shelter encourages age-appropriate recreational activities, and each child is assigned a Case Manager who oversees their medical, behavioral, and mental healthcare needs, as well as collaborates with schools to support their educational goals and academic progress.Through both campus programs, High Sky Childrens Ranch remains dedicated to offering a safe and caring environment for children in foster care, supporting their emotional wellbeing, personal growth, and overall development. In 2023, the Teen Boys Home provided 1,152 days of service to 9 youth in care, while the Emergency Shelter provided 1,069 days of service to 29 youth in care.
Stay Together - The Stay Together Program offers comprehensive support and prevention services to families and youth within its 33-county service area, with a focus on empowering them through parenting and life/coping skills. The program caters to families with children aged 0-17 years (or older, if they are still attending high school), aiming to foster positive, healthy relationships. Through specialized curriculums, in-home visits, workshops, and a 24-hour crisis intervention hotline, the Stay Together Program provides preventive services at no cost to clients. Its goal is to equip families with the necessary tools for conflict resolution and family skills, enabling them to effectively navigate challenges.This program has remained adaptable and responsive to their clients needs and preferences. Since COVID, the Stay Together Program has continued to offer both in-person and virtual services to clients, affording clients increased flexibility with scheduling. The option to now serve clients virtually has offered flexible scheduling to clients while increasing staffing efficiencies within the program. In 2023, the Stay Together program served a total of 814 youth clients, serving on average 190 youth monthly. The Stay Together program also provided 100 community workshops through our 33-county service area. 75% of families participating in the Stay Together program showed an increase in at least one protective factor.