High Sky Childrens Ranch

Foster Care and Adoption - High Skys Foster Care program provides temporary care for children who have been neglected or abused. We recruit, train, and license community area 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. Many children must leave their communities due to a shortage of local homes. High Sky Childrens Ranch is committed to creating a community of hope through foster care and adoption.The Foster Care Program has been experiencing multiple challenges with state licensing and contract changes as well as increased regulatory oversight and heightened monitoring. The legislative changes that occurred in September 2021 are still impacting youth removals and dictating how youth are being placed into the foster care system. The Foster Care program has also experienced staffing challenges and hired several new program staff in 2022. Despite these challenges, the Foster Care program has adapted and focused on provided high-quality services. In 2022, the Foster Care program licensed 61 homes, cared for 56 youth, finalized 25 adoptions, and provided 9,132 days of service to children and youth in foster care.

High Sky Emergency Shelter and Teen Boys Home - High Sky Childrens Ranch was awarded the contract for the Teen Boys home and began staffing for this program in 2021. The home was officially opened and began accepting placement of teen boys in March 2022. The Boys Teen Home offers a supportive and nurturing long-term placement for boys aged 13-17. In this home-like environment, 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 new program has allowed us 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 2022, the Teen Boys Home provided 513 days of service to 3 youth in care, while the Emergency Shelter provided 2,182 days of service to 26 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 increased staffing efficiencies and cost savings as well, especially in mileage and travel time. In 2022, the Stay Together program served a total of 758 clients, serving on average 182 youth monthly. The Stay Together program also provided 100 community workshops through our 33-county service area.