In an article about unsung heroes, I read about a woman named Caitlin Shetterly. She was early in her first pregnancy and was taking a flight from the West Coast to Maine. It wasn’t too long after the horrors of 911, and she was a nervous flyer. As they got ready for takeoff, she turned to the passenger sitting next to her and asked, “Do you ever get nervous?”…
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Since preschool, Hunter struggled to regulate his emotions, follow directions, and thrive in school. On top of his academic and behavioral challenges, Hunter's family life was rocky. An emotionally abusive dad made his hurdles feel all the more impossible to overcome.…
Although it was quite a long time ago, I remember some details from my high school graduation. I grew up on a farm outside a small town in Eastern North Dakota. Our town was situated in a nest of small towns, and each one had its own school. In a move that was ahead of its time, people came together to build a high school out in the country. It was roughly equal distance from each of the surrounding towns, so it could not be overly influenced by any. The new, very modern (at the time) building opened as I entered first grade.…
We are impacted every day, whether we know it or not, by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Last night, the Alexa device in my kitchen asked me if it was time to re-order dog food from Amazon. It was time, and I did. That is one of the more innocuous intrusions of AI, and it made my life easier.…
I have shared before that Chaplain Rick Jones, Vice President of Spiritual Life at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, writes daily devotions for staff at the Ranch. Reading them are some of the best moments of my days, as they give me a chance to center and wrap myself in the warmth of knowing we are doing God’s work. And why.…
The last time I saw Sam he was a 15-year-old boy with heavy, black framed glasses wearing an ill-fitting suit. He had on an old-fashioned necktie with a big knot and dress shoes that were too big. He solemnly shook my hand and said, “I’m going to do good, Joy.” I got kind of teary and told him I truly believed he could. Then he left.…
“HE IS RISEN!!” That’s what Chaplain Rick Jones yells as he runs through the Chapel at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch before the Easter Service begins. There is no mistaking that this is about the Resurrection. This is a celebration of Christ conquering sin and death and opening the door for us all to have a new life in Him.…
In working with children recovering from trauma, it is so important to celebrate every win! When children have been broken, they have a difficult time recognizing when they are doing well. Every time someone points out a strength or a good decision, it fills, bit by bit, the holes that abuse and neglect left in their soul.…
Scott Fitzgerald, of “The Great Gatsby” fame, is often credited with a potent quote. “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.”…
I have a lot of nurses in my family. My sister is a nurse. She’s retired but she specialized in cardiac research. My husband has seven siblings, three were nurses. One was the head of trauma nursing at her hospital, the other two worked in long-term care. We have many nurses at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch. Obviously, whenever I or someone I love seeks medical care, nurses are involved.…
At Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, we work hard to fill that deficit. Our on-site school, Dakota Memorial School, puts special effort into literacy and expression and comprehension. In therapy, our therapists are specially trained to ensure kids comprehend the things they are learning. In Spiritual Life, we use Action Bibles, in graphic form, to help children grasp the concepts of life choices, values, and the love of Christ.…
Danny made quite an impression on me when I met him. I was just months into my time at the Ranch when I traveled from Fargo to Minot for our annual plant sale. I met him in the greenhouse where I was helping get ready for the sale.…
Unfortunately, the children at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch have to learn to live in the "real world." These kids have been abused, neglected, and traumatized. Their world has been an aberration of the real world. Most children are not hit on a daily basis, or raped, or go hungry for days on end. Most children run into bumps and scratches and icky situations, but they aren’t constantly, unremittingly, abused.…
DBT/SPARCS is the therapeutic foundation on which we base the services we provide to children at the Ranch. While I believe we overdo acronyms in the United States and especially in the behavioral health field, this is an acronym I can support since saying DBT/SPARCS instead of “Dialectical Behavior Therapy/Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress,” saves us all a lot of time.…
It sometimes surprises people to learn that we have Student Government meetings at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch. Some people think that children in treatment for trauma are not equipped for things like group decision-making.…
There was an awful lot of noise coming from the other room. I was in Chaplain Rick Jones’s office discussing service planning and recent baptisms. The Spiritual Life group room where the kids on the Minot Campus meet is on the other side of his door. When I came out of his office, I was surprised to see Deaconess Kelly Bristow with only two boys. From the volume, I had honestly expected a room full!…
"My introduction to the Ranch was an act of God," said Carol Vacek. She had never heard of Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch until 2018 when she received a letter in the mail. That same year, Carol inherited some mineral rights in North Dakota with two producing oil wells. Some would say it was a coincidence, but Carol says learning about the Ranch and inheriting North Dakota mineral rights was God's timing. She followed God's lead and began donating a portion of the proceeds to the Ranch.…
When Robert Dietrich heard a speaker from Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch at his church in Alliance, NE, he was drawn to the Ranch's work with kids. It resonated for a couple of reasons.…
How did you learn about things like washing your hair, cutting your nails, and brushing your teeth? For most of us, our families started teaching us those basic lessons when they brought us home. A baby’s first bath at home is usually a big event for a family!…
What do Music, Staff, Pop Rocks candy, Farming, Family, and Legos all have in common? I’ll get back to that riddle in a moment. Last week, I received an email from Crystal Askvig, one of the remarkable therapists at our Bismarck Campus. Crystal has a Master of Science degree and is licensed as an Addiction Counselor and Professional Clinical Counselor. She’s really good.…
It is wonderful when a Ranch friend reaches out and connects with me. Whether it is in response to an email, a mailed note, or a phone call, I get to hear from truly wonderful people like you.…
Each person has their own kind of wisdom. Hearing life lessons from the people I meet is one of the great benefits of this job. Recently, I had a chance to visit with a retired nurse. She is a powerhouse of action. She may be retired from nursing, but not from life! She does foot care for the elderly in her congregation, volunteers as a program coordinator for the Lutheran Women’s Conferences in her area, and studies holistic approaches to healthcare.…
Finding the right residential treatment program for your child can be overwhelming. The Admissions Team at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch can help you navigate the process and assist you in gathering the information and support you need during this difficult time.…
Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch works with every human service zone in the state to ensure North Dakota children receive the help they need.…
One Saturday in October I had the great honor of speaking to a gathering of about 75 Christian women. They prayed together, held a business meeting, had a devotional talk from a local pastor, and then I talked to them about the children and the work of Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch.…