West Texas Boys Ranch offers a variety of programs which offer opportunities for learning basic living and social skills to allow the boys to develop into responsible adults. These opportunities include:

• housekeeping and chores • clothing and laundry

• food planning and preparation • money management

• personal hygiene • manners and social skills

• vocational opportunities • career planning

• recreational activities on Ranch and in the community

• transitional living skills for the older adolescent

All boys participate in the Educational Program which provides them structure, consistency, individual support, and accountability. West Texas Boys Ranch boys attend TLC Academy in San Angelo, where each boy’s individual educational needs are met, with ample opportunities for extra-curricular participation. They are supported by the on-campus Learning Center with tutoring four days per week.

The boys are offered opportunities to participate in the Farm and Ranch Programs to include the Horse Program, the 4-H Program, and the Work Bell Program. During Work Bell, boys are compensated for their work and are exposed to a variety of vocational activities and skills building to include:

• carpentry • painting, plumbing • electrical work • fencing

• welding • auto maintenance • janitorial services

• lawn maintenance • care of livestock and feeding

• various other jobs associated with Ranch work

All boys participate in a Behavior Management Program which uses a Level System, a tool used to help the boys reach and maintain acceptable levels of behavior, internalize positive values, and identify areas of strength as well as areas which need improvement.

All boys are assessed at the time of admission to determine their needs for Behavioral Health Services. While West Texas Boys Ranch is not a treatment center, we do offer individual therapy for those boys who are in need, as well as Educational Groups that address mental health, substance abuse, physical and nutritional health, and other related issues.

All boys participate in the Christian Education Program. True to our mission “to provide a Christian family environment” for our boys, West Texas Boys Ranch is committed to ensuring that the boys entrusted to our care have every opportunity to be nurtured in a Christian environment. Our staff serve as Christian role models and equip the boys with Christian values. Not only do they attend church weekly with the Cottage Parents, they attend Sunday evening Chapel on-Ranch, and often participate in Youth Group activities at their church.

Once a completed application has been returned, it typically takes 2-6 weeks to process it. The time frame is dependent upon many factors including the amount of information provided, the number of openings available, and the number of other applications under consideration.

We ask for a one-year commitment to the program. The boys are allowed to stay until they graduate high school, provided that they are following the rules.

During their Orientation Period (the first 30 days) he is not allowed to have visits, however he is allowed to contact his family by telephone. After their Orientation is completed, he will be allowed to go home for one weekend per month and the family can visit him on ranch once a month. Boys are also allowed to go home for all major holidays, for an extended visit at the beginning of summer, and an extended visit at the end of summer.

We are funded through private donations; therefore, no child is turned away due to a family's inability to pay. However we ask that families who are able to make a financial contribution each month do so each month. Parents/guardians receiving any kind of financial support for the child will be asked to forward that support to West Texas Boys Ranch.