With three daughters of my own, it’s easy to see the teens at Discovery Ranch South as simply friends and neighbors that my own kids hang out with. It’s only when you gain insight into their deeply personal struggles and poignant concerns that you begin to understand just how different their life experiences have been.
Having faced challenges such as adoption, self-harm, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and substance experimentation, these teens have found themselves in an emotional state that warrants placement in a residential treatment center like Discovery Ranch South.
Because of the care and concern of their parents, these girls have been privately placed in an exclusive, personalized, and nurturing environment—one where they can discover their strengths and develop resilience in the areas they struggle with.
I would like to share some insights with you about Discovery Ranch. The motivation for this post comes from conversations with educational consultants and other allied health professionals as we tour DRS.
Over the past few months, we have received numerous questions about why we expanded the Discovery Ranch therapeutic program. It’s important to clarify that our organization does not expand simply to “grow” or capture additional “market share,” as many large corporate organizations do.
If you look at our growth over the last ten years, it has always been about meeting specific needs within our system of care:
- The East Campus at Oxbow Academy was created to serve students with ASD and other developmental issues.
- Years ago, Medicine Wheel at RedCliff Ascent was established to meet the needs of young adults, many of whom transitioned from the adolescent program once they turned 18. This allowed families and students to make a seamless transition.
All of our growth has stemmed from recognizing gaps in care and refining our services to better meet the needs of our clientele.
As you may know, Discovery Ranch initially started with both a boys’ and a girls’ program, housed in separate homes on the same campus. Their academics, mealtimes, off-campus activities, calf care, and chores were all conducted separately. The two programs only came together when clinically indicated by the treatment team.
Over time, we developed a waitlist and could no longer reliably accept referrals from educational consultants and allied health professionals. In response, we expanded by creating dormitory space above the cafeteria and later an academic center. Within a year, however, we once again reached capacity at our Mapleton location.
At that point, we faced a difficult decision: continue expanding and risk reducing the therapeutic effectiveness of the campus, or turn away referrals from trusted sources. Neither option was ideal. Fortunately, an opportunity arose to acquire a property in Cedar City.
The Discovery Ranch therapeutic model has proven highly effective for students and families over the years, and we did not want to compromise that. By transitioning the girls' program—and the entire Discovery Ranch model—to the Cedar City location, we maintained the quality of care while alleviating the organizational stresses of a start-up. The Cedar City location launched successfully with 28 students.
As I have toured Discovery Ranch South with consultants, allied professionals, and clinicians, there has been understandable amazement at the beauty of the campus. It truly is a stunning location with impressive facilities. Many have also inquired about our organization’s leadership and administration. Simply put, we are owner-operated.
Given the current economic climate and the recent closures of programs nationwide, there is heightened concern about the financial stability of treatment programs. Few things are worse for a referring professional than recommending a program to a family, only to have it shut down soon after. It is important to know that we are responsible stewards of our resources and ensure that our business decisions are financially sound.
Not every teenage girl struggling with an issue or concern needs Discovery Ranch South. Most teens navigate adolescence without requiring intensive intervention. However, for those who do need extra support, we provide a compassionate and structured environment with individualized treatment options—a place where families heal.
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