Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch received a $5,000 grant from Sanford Health to fund the Health and Wellness programs at Dakota Memorial School (DMS), the on-campus school of Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch.
Through the grant, Sanford Health will underwrite a portion of the Ranch’s costs to provide education during the school day in the areas of: physical and health education, independent living, consumer sciences, and life skills courses. Wellness and Health education is important to the healing of Ranch children. The wellness activities at DMS introduce students to healthy living habits, so they can take those habits with them when they complete treatment and leave our facilities.
Because the needs of Ranch students are so complex, the Ranch spends $500,000 to $1 million over and above tuition reimbursement to provide the additional services necessary for Ranch children to learn and advance. The additional services—small classroom sizes, individualized attention, integration of trauma-informed practices, balanced learning environments, and advanced training for teachers—are only possible due to the generous support of Sanford Health and other committed donors.
Dakota Memorial School
Dakota Memorial School, the on-campus school of Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, helps the most troubled, complicated and amazing kids by providing best-in-class education where we look kids in the eye, walk with them, and help them become their best selves in the world and in Christ. Students at DMS include both residential and Day Program students. Most of these students have been unsuccessful in public school because of complex learning and behavioral needs traditional schools aren’t equipped to address.
Dakota Memorial School is accredited by AdvancED, the largest community of education professionals in the world. The rigorous accreditation standards ensure that DMS students receive an excellent education.
Sanford Health
Sanford Health is an integrated health system headquartered in the Dakotas. It is one of the largest health systems in the nation with 45 hospitals and nearly 300 clinics in nine states and four countries. Sanford Health’s 28,000 employees, including more than 1,300 physicians, make it the largest employer in the Dakotas. Nearly $1 billion in gifts from philanthropist Denny Sanford have allowed for several initiatives, including global children's clinics, genomic medicine and specialized centers researching cures for type 1 diabetes, breast cancer and other diseases. For more information, visit sanfordhealth.org.