We've all heard of the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch... But how much do we really now about the organization. Tonight, we give you a tour of the Bismarck Facility and explain how they've been helping kids for some 50 years... (Tim Gienger/ Therapist) One of the big misconceptions with the kids that we have here is alot of times people think that our kids are quote 'bad kids' or their delinquent kids or they're been in trouble with the law, and really that's not true. This facility is designed to be it own little community, complete with dorm rooms, a gym, kitchen, it even has it's own chapel... The kids that go to school here, live here. They'll stay about one year. (Tim Gienger/ Therapist) The reasons they come to us is because maybe their home life isn't very good. Maybe they don't have the kind of social skills and coping skills that they need, so problems come out in school. Gienger says Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch started because too many students in the state we're falling through the cracks. (Tim Gienger/ Therapist) There we're these kids that were trying to fit in here and fit in there... Here, he says they all fit in, and get the help they need to succeed. Each student has and individual plan based on individual needs. That goes for education, and both physical, and emotional needs. (Tim Gienger/ Therapist) Some of these kids have had miserable upbringings in their life and it's hard for us to make sense of why this has happened to them, and so for these kids one of the things that they can latch on to is the spiritual aspect and alot of times we'll say, I don't know why your life was the way it was. Let's pray about it. And, Gienger says he's seen the success stories. Kids that might not have a chance are getting diploma's and getting jobs... He says even after a student leaves the program, treatment doesn't stop.. (Tim Gienger/ Therapist) That work isn't enough, we just can't treat the kids here, have them be successful and then let them go. So as an agency we've decided we need to work with these kids' communities, we need to work with these kids' school often they leave here, we set them up with a mentor. Because he says it takes a village to raise a family... In Bismarck, I'm Lauren Kalberer, for KX News. The Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch also has facilities in Minot and Fargo. In all, 116 kids are in the program. Bismarck houses 16...
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Added: Dec 15, 2007 |
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