Program

At the Freedom ranch, we focus on the individual needs of our residents. We do this through a variety of ways depending on what the individual resident responds to and what they need. Below is a small overview of what we offer.

Our staff here at the Freedom Ranch are trained in  a variety of different trainings and come from various backgrounds.

Physical Health:

An important part of being mentally well is being physically well. This is why we get our residents set up with a physician for a physical within the first week. From there, we seek referrals for all of their physical health needs and get them in for preventive visits. If they need physical therapy, dentistry, allergy testing, eye care, sensory integration or any other number of services, we get them scheduled and their concerns addressed.

Good Neighbor provides us with a licensed RN med manager who comes out to ensure medications are being dispensed properly, the count is correct, and the MARs are accurate.

We encourage physical activity at least twice weekly, but we try to fit it in daily. Physical activity is important for physical and mental health, and offers the girl an outlet. Our spacious ten acres allows for plenty of room to exercise outdoors. We have sports equipment, a ping pong table, and a basket ball hoop. We also, once they are at the appropriate level, have offsite visits to areas such as the YMCA and nature trails.

Mental Health:

Mental health is a very important part of a resident’s care at The Freedom Ranch. Each resident will be set up with an individual therapist during their stay here, typically in person unless requested otherwise. If they already have a therapist they would like to stay with, they may do so. If they are close enough, we can drive the resident to the appointments. Otherwise, we have a room dedicated to therapy, whether the therapist is willing to come onsite or whether they are able to do telehealth. We have sound machines to ensure privacy.

If family therapy is appropriate, we will set up family therapy. This is also true for outpatient substance abuse treatment, psychiatry, or any other additional need for mental health. We currently have residents attending an online DBT inspired group through CFS called the ARMOR Program. We will, to the best of our ability, accommodate any needs for additional services.

Life Skills:

Important life skills are taught while at the Freedom Ranch. This includes but is not limited to: gardening, cooking, car maintenance, healthy relationships, laundry, home care, budgeting, self defense, food planning, knitting, sewing, conflict resolution, canning, ironing, social skills, coping skills, studying skills, resume building, job interviewing, personal grooming, navigation, media literacy, problem solving, basic first aid, internet safety, therapeutic writing, and many more.

Horticulture Program

We use evidence based approaches to build connections with the residents that enter the Freedom Ranch. Providing a safe environment allows individuals to heal with all of their senses. Through this program we will be teaching ‘reciprocity’, which is the give and take of life. This allows our residents to regain power, inner strength, a sense of control, and hope. We have an understanding of the disconnection that takes place during traumatic events and using this holistic approach to help restore the disconnection. Introducing different methods of healing is what the Horticulture program is all about. Our mission is to provide youth sustainable emotional and physical healing from trauma by fostering connection to self, others, community, and nature.

Research shows that working with plants improves overall health, provides a sense of purpose, hope, connection, and belonging.

Our goals for the horticulture program are:

1. To improve overall health through interaction with nature and plant life.
2. To learn life skills that will carry into a healthy, purposeful, productive lifestyle.
3. To connect to self and community through experiential learning.

Example of activities:

1. Wildlife journaling
2. Food and culture- researching and creating/ cooking (Seed to table)
3. Gardening
4. Forest bathing
5. Forsythe Potting
6. Making soups and salves
7. Grounding
8. Nature Walks
9. Lessons from Robin Wall Kimmerers book “Braiding Sweetgrass”
10. Onsite guest speakers and workshops- Susan Beaulieu, U of M, Mind body, Medicine
11. Offsite trips to greenhouses and CLC

Danielle Richter oversees the horticulture programming we provide. Direct Supervision follows a curriculum Danielle has set up for the residents. She is a Central Lake Graduate, holding her Horticultural A.A.S Degree.

Other Amenities:

We have our Activity Center. There is exercise equipment, arts and crafts, and space for them to just have fun. This will also be used for our classroom in the near future. Visitation that does not require direct supervision also can be held in here. Each resident will receive a personal MP3 player to enjoy their choice of music.