Oak Hill Boys Ranch: Bon Accord, Alberta

Child and youth care counsellors are the primary agents of change within the therapeutic setting. Every staff member is a highly valued and significant facilitator of positive change within the therapeutic milieu, and views treatment from perspective of teachable moments. Child and youth care counsellors are proactive teachers, focusing upon relationship development, accountability, problem solving, anger management, life skills, as well as emotional expressiveness and communication. Target areas are specially developed from parental recommendations and through the aid of various assessment tools. Specific skill sets are taught and repeatedly practiced through processes such as role modelling, group discussions, role playing, individual therapy, and daily living situations. Issues arising within the therapeutic milieu are addressed as opportunities to teach replacement skills. Through the utilization of skill based and corrective teaching interventions, long lasting self control skills are developed by children.

The staff of the Oak Hill Boys Ranch work hard at establishing caring relationships with children, based upon trust, sharing, and positive regard. Many children arrive at the Ranch feeling lonely, isolated, abandoned, and suffering from low self esteem. Child and youth care counsellors provide a wide variety of success building opportunities and fun activities to break through barriers presented by relationship resistant children. Through the process of relationship building, child care counsellors are able to influence residents in a therapeutic manner. Staff arrive at work happy, enthusiastic, and enjoy their work with the children.

The Oak Hill Boys Ranch maintains household pets, horses, and other animals within the therapeutic milieu to encourage relationship resistant children to establish emotional bonds. Animals are used as non-threatening treatment partners in the education and rehabilitation of children with attachment disabilities. Sensitive interactions taking place between children and animals encourage the development of trust, rapport, and self confidence. The unique partnerships that emerge between children and animals promote emotional responsiveness and provide a useful context for the accompanying child care staff to break through relationship barriers. Encouragement, interaction, and active learning opportunities are essential components in the animal therapy process. The Oak Hill Boys Ranch maintains two dogs, several cats, two pot bellied pigs, wiener pigs, horses, a donkey, llamas, alpacas, as well as turkeys and ducks. All residents are eligible to earn opportunities to work and play with the animals. Some residents earn extra allowance by feeding and grooming various animals. In addition to the relationship aspect of maintaining animals, they also provide a forum to teach responsibility, positive work ethics and animal husbandry.

The Oak Hill Boys Ranch offers Aboriginal cultural programs to interested residents. The experience and awareness encountered through the teachings of First Nations practitioners is regarded as essential in responding successfully to the needs of Aboriginal youth, families, and communities. Accordingly, the Oak Hill Boys Ranch encourages the teaching of cultural practices, attitudes, and experiences, to provide a foundation for understanding and developing effective working relationships with Aboriginal clients. Through the efforts of a cultural counsellor & community elders, the Ranch exposes boys to regular Sweat Ceremonies, Sharing Circles, and other traditional activities. Additionally, two large tepees are presently being utilized as venues for various arts & crafts undertakings. The spiritual consultant also participates in treatment team meetings when requested by children or families.

Oak Hill Boys Ranch, Box 97 Bon Accord, Alberta, T0A 0K0
Phone: 780-921-2121; Contact Oak Hill Boys Ranch.