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.…
Services For Kids
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.…
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.…
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.…
I remember my second grade teacher, Mrs. Loftus, reading through a list of predictions for how life would be when we were old… “around 2025.” I don't recall all of them, but I do remember that buying water in plastic bottles and being able to see people on our phones (which would, of course, still be anchored to the wall) were on the list.…
It is the day after Christmas. I hope yours was full of warmth, kindness, and gentle companionship. I hope you were surrounded by peace and grace. I wasn’t. My youngest granddaughter is learning to walk and her mission in life is to grab the Christmas tree and pull it down on herself. Her parents are in a constant state of vigilance, both for her protection and to avoid my ire at the tree’s destruction. Her 2-year-old brother, taking cues from mom and dad, kept grabbing her and pulling her away from the tree—to her great and loud chagrin.…
Most children who come to Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch have not had a good relationship with school. Their behavioral and psychiatric problems have often resulted in them being labeled as "one of those kids.” If they are in a chaotic home, the school has likely not received much parental cooperation. They are often bullied or the bully. Simply, school has not been the happy place of learning adults hope it is.…
Now, to shake things up… and no, I’m not going to share a new green bean casserole recipe, I want to tell you about the children at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch. They are not always grateful.…
Across the United States, over 70% of the people who work in the human services and healthcare fields of trauma-informed care are themselves survivors of trauma. These are folks with incredible insight into what it takes for a child to heal. They know, personally, the internal courage and re-learning that is mustered to overcome the damage done through trauma.…
I love writing about the children and staff at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch. They are all remarkable people. It’s important for you to know that none of those stories are possible unless we uphold the very highest standards of care. The kids and people who work here deserve no less.…
I was just introduced to a Christian folk song by Jason Gray. It’s called… “Jesus Loves You (And I’m Trying). The title hooked me.…
When Gideon came to Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, he was, like many children, quiet and withdrawn. It isn’t that way with all children when they arrive, but many spend their early days with us observing and acclimating. It is a new place with new expectations, new people, new food, new guidelines. Gideon was watching and simply figuring things out.…
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, therefore I will hope in him."…
My mother-in-law recently passed away. I will miss her. She just had her 95th birthday days before her death, and she was part of my life for over half of that time. She led a hard, yet incredibly grateful life.…
How many of you remember your childhood chores with fondness? I certainly don't! Cleaning my room, taking out the trash, vacuuming, or emptying the dishwasher took time away from the fun things I would have much rather been doing.…
By the time kids get to treatment at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, they have likely been to many therapists, psychiatrists, and psychologists. They are fluent in everything related to therapy. They've learned about cognitive behavior modification, how to identify and challenge their thoughts, and many different coping skills — and none of it has been particularly helpful. In treatment, they receive more in-depth learning and have people around them 24 hours a day to coach them on how to use the things they've learned.…
According to Dr. Meryl Willert, Ranch children fall into one of three categories when it comes to religion and spirituality. How we work with them depends on where they are in that spiritual journey.…
It is very common for a child at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch to ask staff to brush, braid, or “fix” their hair. Sometimes, a child who can never sit still will quietly pass 30 minutes or more while having their hair brushed. When a child is at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, we follow strict boundaries about appropriate touch. A staff person may side-hug a child, high-five, tuck them in, address minor “owies,” put a comforting hand on a shoulder or hand, brush their hair. This is a place of care and healing. It is also a professional environment for treatment.…
The science backs up what we see every day at the Ranch, that wellness and physical activity are essential to mental health and healing. "We know that physical activity is healthy and that lack of physical activity is a risk factor for depression and anxiety," said Dr. Wayne Martinsen, Psychiatrist and Medical Director at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch.…