Highlights It’s April, which means it’s time to gear up for Big B.A.N.G. weekend! This year’s Big B.A.N.G. (our 7th!) will take place July 12 – 13, with a pre-game celebration at Fresno’s Dave & Buster’s on Friday night, and the FREE “Believe and Achieve” football clinic once again taking place at Fresno State’s Bulldog…
When people hear the words “mental health,” many things come to mind. More often than not, negative connotations follow. I’ve never understood why so much negativity surrounds these words. In fact, many people tend not to seek out mental health services and professional help because they think that others might think they’re “crazy”. This…
Highlights As we roll through March, mental health care is foremost on our minds. Our journey toward converting into a Short-Term Residential Treatment Program has taught us that we need to look at some aspects of our program through a different lens, and be open-minded enough to think differently. But also, we need to encourage…
Highlights Last week, the KYJO team was blessed to attend the 2019 CA Alliance Executive’s Winter Conference. With the state mandating many changes regarding Continuum of Care Reform (CCR) and the Integration of Mental Health Services, it’s truly a blessing to be a part of the Alliance family. They help us make sense of all…
Highlights: Angel Tree Thank You … Thanks to our many wonderful Angel Tree sponsors and hosts, over sixty (60!) underprivileged youth received Christmas gifts this year – making 2018 a great KYJO Christmas. All our KYJO kids’ wishes were fulfilled, and we received some amazing presents, including Kindles, Beats headphones, a guitar, a Nintendo Switch,…
Last month, Nixon (pictured above) showed what consistent hard work and dedication can do, by becoming one of the most successful residents in KYJO history! Nixon moved up to the fourth and final stage (Test) of our residential group home program, a testament to his perseverance and straightforward attitude. Nixon faces down his fears and struggles each day because he’s dedicated to…
You’ve likely noticed that on our website, we refer to the caretakers we work with as resource parents, not foster parents. That’s because, in 2017, the state of California shifted the designation it uses to refer to those who foster a child in their home. At the same time, the state updated its training and certification processes to better prepare…
Highlights This last month, there’s been so much to highlight and be thankful for! But by far, I’m most proud of how our awesome KYJO team came together, took ownership, and despite many obstacles, completed our CARF national accreditation survey. Everyone, including our board, mental health personnel, direct care personnel, admins, main office personnel, foster parents, foster youth, and contracted partners, did their part to ensure we showed the CARF surveyors what we’re capable of. But as we pulled together,…
Valley Teen Ranch was incorporated in 1983. We purchased our 80 acre ranch in 1985 and opened our first of three residential group homes in 1987. We are a replica of a successful program in Michigan called Teen Ranch, founded by Ray Clendenan in 1964. Teen Ranch and Valley Teen Ranch were birthed out of…
BIG B.A.N.G. 2018 WEEKEND RE-CAP On July 14, we partnered with many local businesses to host the sixth annual Big B.A.N.G. Weekend. This event was designed to support underserved youth in the Central Valley. Over 350 youth spent the day training with NFL and College players alike. The event brought together former Fresno State football…
Meet Trish, a foster parent who has dedicated her life to helping youth in need. This interview explores the challenges and rewards of fostering, as well as the importance of creating a quality foster care home.