Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch will receive $5,000 from the Minot Community Endowment Fund, a component of the North Dakota Community Foundation. Funds will be used to upgrade the lighting fixtures in the riding arena on the Ranch’s Minot, ND campus.
Children who come to the Ranch suffer from severe challenges like conduct disorder, autism spectrum disorders, borderline personality disorders, depression, anxiety disorders, chemical dependency, and other issues related to trauma, abuse, and neglect. The Horse Program is an integral part of the Ranch’s multi-disciplinary approach to treatment.
Through participation in the Horse Program, kids at the Ranch learn the connection between their feelings and the horse’s response. They learn to focus on their breathing or practice other calming strategies to decrease the intensity of their emotions, so they can reconnect with the horse. The bond between child and horse can help children develop trust, respect, affection, empathy, unconditional acceptance, confidence, responsibility, assertiveness, communication skills, and self-control. These skills set kids at the Ranch up for success later in life, as they practice these skills and connect with other people.
Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch is a Christ-centered residential treatment and educational center for children and their families. We help the most troubled, complicated, and amazing kids by providing best-in-class psychiatric therapy and trauma-informed care, where we look kids in the eye, walk with them, and help them become their best selves. In addition to Residential Treatment Facilities in Fargo, Bismarck, and Minot, the Ranch provides Outpatient Psychiatric and Psychological Services, and Spiritual Life Programs. Our on-campus school, Dakota Memorial School (DMS), provides a personalized education for kids who have psychiatric, behavioral, and trauma issues.
The Minot Community Endowment Fund, a component fund of NDCF, was established by a grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation in 1981 as a way for local residents to give back to the Minot community to support nonprofit projects and programs. The fund is managed locally by a group of volunteers who make up the Advisory Committee and recommend grants from the fund annually.