Residential Services

Youth Horizons effectively cares for children who want a family environment but need more structure than a typical foster home can provide. Most of the children have been involved in the state social service system and experienced some type of out-of-home placement prior to coming to Kinloch Price Boys Ranch or Wren House for girls. Characteristics of the youth we have served in the past include runaway behavior, aggressive behavior, serious behavioral issues, lack of success in school, drug or alcohol misuse, and/or they are victims of physical or sexual abuse.

The boys and girls who live at Kinloch Price and Wren House are educated on-site at the ranch. The curriculum used is provided through the Valley Center USD262 school district, and a professional, on-site teacher oversees their education. Many residents are four to five years behind in reading and other subjects. The on-site teacher, coaching parents, and tutors help them reach academic goals. Each student is encouraged to be involved in extracurricular activities according to their individual talents, interests and goals.

We are not equipped to help every child referred to Kinloch Price Boys Ranch or Wren House. Youth who are acutely dangerous to themselves or others, including actively suicidal youth, youth with psychotic-like behavior or youth who are sexual perpetrators require treatment in a more secure environment. Acutely drug- or alcohol-addicted youth are required to complete a professional treatment program before admittance. Youth Horizons is not equipped to care for children with an IQ at or below 74.

Youth Horizons serves families from a range of racial, cultural, socioeconomic and religious backgrounds.

Individualized treatment goals are developed for each youth during the first few weeks of placement. Youth are active members of the treatment team, together with parents (when appropriate), guardians, family coaches, assistant family coaches, social workers and other professionals. As much as possible, family coaches work closely with parents and guardians to keep them involved and informed about a youth’s progress as family reunification is pursued.

Youth Horizons uses the Boys Town Teaching and Treatment Model. This time-tested tool for empowering youth is not a control or punishment model or a standard counseling model. Rather, it is a self-help model. Our goal is not to frustrate youth, but to help them meet their needs in pro-social ways. This requires a low tolerance for inappropriate behaviors, coupled with high warmth and praise for appropriate behaviors. Research indicates the model works. In one measure of success, studies show that 90 percent of Girls and Boys Town students graduate from high school.

Family reunification is vigorously pursued by the staff of Kinloch Price Boys Ranch and Wren House for girls. Family members are encouraged to be involved with their children who are staying at Kinloch Price or Wren House. When appropriate, immediate family and guardians are invited to family activities and organizational events and assist their child in reaching treatment goals. Children may go on family visits when approved by the child’s social worker and/or Kinloch Price Boys Ranch or Wren House administration.

The average stay for a child in a Youth Horizons residence is 12 months. In some situations, placements have lasted more than two years. It is our desire that Kinloch Price Boys Ranch and Wren House for girls be the last out-of-home placement for a child. When it’s in the child’s best interest (and with state approval) we are willing to have a child stay at Kinloch Price or Wren House until they are 22 years old.

Our youth come from a variety of religious backgrounds. A child does not have to be Christian or even interested in Christianity to live at Kinloch Price Boys Ranch or Wren House for girls; they simply need to be willing to live in an environment where Christian principles are put into practice. Regular church attendance, devotional time, community service, and Christian religious observances are routine components of our program.

The residential treatment provided by Kinloch Price Boys Ranch and Wren House for girls has been established through training from Boys Town, a program based around the belief that every child, regardless of circumstance, deserves the opportunity to succeed.

Youth Horizons has a rich history of serving youth with special needs. From 1996 to 2005, Youth Horizons cared for 75 boys through the Martin House, our residential facility located in downtown Wichita. Kinloch Price Boys Ranch was established in 2007. Wren House for girls was established in 2022.