Teen Help Program

Turning D Ranch is a troubled teen boarding school for boys located in beautiful rural western Montana. Our facility is approximately 12 miles outside of the town of Thompson Falls, a small community located on the Clark Fork River. The 60 acre ranch is at the end of the road adjoining National Forest land on three sides. We are permitted for access and use by the U.S. Forest Service in the Kootenai and Lolo National Forests. Our self-sustaining off-grid facility consists of a bunk house, main house, class room and a multi-purpose building. We use this quiet, pristine setting to help young men slow down, reflect and reprioritize their lives.

Our unique troubled teen program is designed to help boys struggling with one or more of the following problems in their lives:

In addition to working with your teen, we also work together with your family. Our Teen Family Program is set up so your family can participate in groups and attend other various programs with your teen. This is a safe environment for your family to honestly deal with problems you have with your teenager.

Group Time

Daily participation in our groups will give struggling teens the opportunity to express their beliefs, concerns, and goals. This process will challenge negative beliefs and logic and allow a venue for discussing barriers students may be experiencing in successful decision-making. By listening to positive and constructive feedback from peers and staff, teens learn a new self-awareness which allows them to identify negative patterns and attitudes.

The topics covered in these discussions will lay a foundation of new tools for your teen including effective communication, listening, identifying and coping with emotions, trust building, and planning a transition back into their home and society.

Individual Therapy

A core piece of our program is individual therapy/counseling. Counseling is a useful tool and provides an additional opportunity to address unresolved mental and emotional issues that could be disrupting the healing and learning process. We offer family sessions in person or arrangements can be made to phone conference with the family.

Academics

Many of our students haven’t yet been able to reach their true potential as a result of their prior problems and mistakes. Through American School, an accredited private school, we can tailor an academic program to each individual’s needs that will help them achieve their educational goals. This academic program is implemented and overseen by on-site staff with certified teaching credentials through the state of Montana. The school is fully accredited by North Central Association Commission (NCA). The program provides courses and credits that are transferable to any High School. Our school is considered a tier one school with the United States Armed Forces, which means that they accept our accreditation also. We have had several of our graduates go on to a career in the military.

A second option is to check with your local school district as many provide independent study for students who are unable to attend class. In this case, we will coordinate with your school to administer academic assignments. If you choose this option, there would be no separate academic program cost.

As long-term residents reach stability, a third option can become available which is a transition into our local public school. This decision is based upon the individuals efforts and progress displayed for a consistent period of time. This option requires the agreement of the individual, parent and staff.

Activities

We have many activities for our residents to participate in. Activities take place on the ranch grounds as well as in the community. Activities may include but are not limited to:

Backpacking
Camping
Hiking
River Rafting
Softball
Football
Volleyball
Movies
Swimming
Community Service Projects
Work Projects

Individuals earn privileges through their daily performance based on a level system. The “levels” earned will determine what activities they will be able to participate in. Participation in activities including community service and work projects is a privilege, not a right, and they must be earned.

Performing community service is an opportunity for teens to experience the feeling of helping someone with no thought to gain or reward. We are hesitant to detail the work the boys have done in this regard because it is always done as anonymously as possible. However, we will list a few projects simply to give an example of the kind of personally rewarding experiences your teen will have here at our troubled teen boarding school.

Some of the past opportunities we have had to serve involved building a barn, completely disassembled and reassembled a 16' x 16' hay storage building, fenced in 30 acres for a neighbor, cut and split firewood for locals who can't do it for themselves, and cleaned up in excess of 15 miles of road around Sanders County this year alone. The boys help with the local food bank and senior center at all levels including unloading food trucks, assisting with the cooking and serving of various meals. The residents assist the local Sheriff's department in the distributation of holiday food baskets to those in need. They also help our neighbors in gathering various hay and apple crops and assist in the inoculation and branding of calves. They have done snow removal from property to allow access as well as removal of snow from roofs to avoid collapse. Many service opportunities are one of a kind depending on what circumstances arise at any given time.