Providing loving care to children who need help turning tragedy into triumph is the primary focus at Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch. 

Helping a child’s heart cope with wounds caused by the absence or abuse of others — or from self-inflicted behavior, is what we work on daily. It takes an army of committed, very healthy and qualified adults, appropriately screened and trained to make the differences we’re able to make in these young lives. 

“We provide training to employees to improve their knowledge, skills and behavior so our young residents receive care consistent with Cal Farley’s Model of Leadership & Service®,” explained Suzanne Wright, director of training at Boys Ranch.  

Wright is referring to the six universal needs Boys Ranch nurtures in our leaders, team members and, of course, the children in our care. Only when these needs — safety, belonging, achievement, power, purpose and adventure — are met are individuals freed to reach their God-given potential.

“The focus of our training is to prepare all staff to meet the needs of our residents,” Wright said, noting that Boys Ranch is licensed by the State of Texas and voluntarily accredited by the New York-based Council on Accreditation. Both the state and COA mandate ongoing training. 

“We teach staff to be curious about what need a child has that motivates their behavior, and to utilize our model of leadership and service to meet those needs. We incorporate information about how trauma impacts a child’s developing brain and how that translates into behavior. We provide staff with insights, tools and support to meet each individual resident’s needs.”

“Here, we’re all taught to understand why our children have some of the challenges they do.” Wright explained. Boys Ranch employees consistently have relational support available to them if, and when, they are overwhelmed or unsure.

“There’s no limit to what we can achieve when this understanding is at the forefront of the work we’re all here to do,” Wright said.

4 Priorities for the Boys Ranch Training Department: 

1. Strive to ensure Boys Ranch’s Christ-centered atmosphere is communicated through the information we share.
2. Stay current on best practices for childcare keeping ourselves relevant and educated in order to prepare and educate the employees of Boys Ranch. 
3. Maintain a focus on helping children and families by equipping staff to do the work which is asked of them.
4. Ensure information presented is in alignment with Boys Ranch policies/procedures, licensing standards, and Cal Farley’s Model of Leadership and Service®.