Our Program

Storm Ridge Ranch was established in 1986 in response to the growing number of adolescents becoming involved in drug and alcohol abuse and the seeming decline in strong family values, social conflicts, and academic problems.

The primary purpose of the Storm Ridge Facility is to assist these youth in becoming well established and productive citizens, equipped with the tools necessary to succeed in today's society. Students are helped to find solutions for the problems facing them and encouraged to take the action necessary to change their behaviors and their lives.

Storm Ridge Ranch is qualified for the International Student and Visitor Exchange Program.

Our Mission: To provide a safe nurturing environment to facilitate healthy adolescent development by our clients. Our program is a long term therapeutic residential program with strong therapy and academic components. All staff functions as care givers and role models for our clients. It is imperative that we treat our clients appropriately and with respect

We believe in...
  • Using validated research combined with professional experience as the basis for ALL instructional decisions and to organize and operate our schools.
  • Teaching, modeling, and aligning our school and classroom practices with democratic principles.
  • High expectations and standards for all students and staff.
  • Renewal and continuous improvement for all students, staff, and the organization
  • Protecting and maximizing learning time while addressing individual student learning, styles and learning rates.
  • A safe, orderly and healthy learning environment where all students and staff are entitled to personal respect and dignity.
  • Effective communication and shared responsibility among students, parents, educators, and the community in the learning process.
  • Developing talent and inclusion as opposed to selecting talent and exclusion. initiating early intervention strategies designed to significantly reduce the necessity for future re-mediation.

Life Skills

Life Skills prepare our students for the Real World. Students are graded on compliance, attitude, personal hygiene, interactions, group participation, school, personal chores, and responsibility. Student's behavioral levels and progress will be congruent with the therapy levels and progress of the program. We provide a consistent and effective balance of therapy and behavior management. There are 4 levels in the therapy/program system. Leadership.

Our Leadership Program is based on tenure and performance of each of our students. This allows for our students to act as positive mentors, work or apprentice opportunities, and explore transitional living options for returning home or college prepatory. As more privileges are earned, additional expectations are required.

Graduation & Transition. Transitioning from any program or school is very important for both student and family success. At Storm Ridge Ranch we make it our mission to make sure that this transition goes a smooth as possible. That means we work with all of our families to have the right expectations and to increase their son's opportunities to succeed with continued counseling, education, work, and positive family/peer experiences.

Academics

Storm Ridge Ranch provides an individual academic environment that cultivates the students' own unique way of learning. This individual attention serves to help the student stay on task and approaches the learning experience from the student's perspective.. Our School Offers...

  • Utah State certified teachers and administrators
  • 1/10 teacher to student ratio (plus individual tutors)
  • Individually Administered Educational/Vocational Assessments including: School/Education Survey, Woodcock Johnson III Test of Achievement and Career Interest and ability survey
  • Monthly progress report
  • Direct group instruction and Independent Study
  • Year around school with English, Science, Math, Social Studies, and Vocational education, Enrichment classes in art, music, crafts, sports, and service projects
  • Library Media Program
  • Computer Instruction
  • Commitment to learning
  • 100% credit transfer for college preparatory courses

We are fully accredited by Northwest Association of Accredited Schools. An onsite certified school teacher will work individually and collectively with the students in their individualized academic program.

We teach the individual, not the system. Unfortunately, for many young men who need special consideration in the class room, traditional school models, teach the student as if he is the same learner? Learning for every individual is unique. We provide each student with an individualized educational experience that utilizes his unique talents and traits, and an on staff professional educator who facilitates the educational component of intervention.

Therapy

"A step in a new direction..."
The therapeutic program at Storm Ridge Ranch provides the opportunity for students to identify harmful behavior and distorted thinking patterns and they begin to learn new techniques for dealing with emotions and feelings. Storm Ridge Ranch employees several therapists with varying backgrounds. This varying range of experience and expertise provides for a strong therapeutic program that meets the diverse needs of our clients.

Our therapeutic intervention is based on a one year residential placement in a ranch setting that mirrors the family. Therapy plans and groups are based on need and assessment. We specialize in substance abuse, phase level groups, adoption - reactive attachment, CBT/DBT, trauma and grief, defiance and anger, family systems, and independent living & life skills.

All of our therapists and counselors are licensed as LMFT, LCSW, or LPC with the State of Utah. Experience has taught us that under the supervision and guidance of a skilled treatment team, which includes parents or family members, students are able to impact one another in a manner which produces lasting change.

Family Systems Model…
The students reside in a secure "Home-Style" ranch setting that has a structured environment and models family interaction. Therapeutic resources are available to meet student's developmental needs. Therapy will focus on decreasing aggression and improving impulse control, alleviating depressive and anxious symptoms, while learning to manage frustration, anger, and tolerance. Students will learn how to engage in conflict resolution within a family system and will be taught life skills by participating in "life skills development." Family therapy will be provided via phone conferences. Students, will learn to develop appropriate social and peer relationships, learn to decrease oppositional cognitions and behaviors, and will receive individualized academic attention and support.

Therapy Services Provided

  • Initial assessments, screening and testing
  • Thorough treatment plans co-op with family therapist interactions/transitions
  • 1 hour of individual therapy per week provided by a Licensed Therapist
  • Substance Abuse counseling sessions (as needed per student)
  • 2 hours of group therapy per month provided by licensed therapist
  • On call Crisis Intervention
  • 24 hr. On Call Emergency Assistance
  • 7 hours of skill development training per week provided under therapist direction

Daily Schedule

The daily schedule is adhered to as closely as possible so that consistency is maintained throughout the youths stay.
The weekday schedule is as follows:
7:00 - 8:00 Wake up and School Preparation
8:00 - 8:30 Breakfast - Dishes
8:30 - 3:00 School
3:00 - 3:30 Chores
3:30 - 6:00 Laundry, Community Service, Prepare Dinner, Sports Activities
6:00 - 7:00 Dinner - Dishes
7:00 - 7:30 Exercise and journal writing
7:30 - 9:30 Therapy and/or Free Time
9:30 - 10:00 Clean Up
10:00 Prepare For Bed
10:15 Lights Out

**The weekend schedule varies somewhat due to home visits, weekend activities, Ranch Wide Activities etc.