The physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of our residents is our number one priority. If we can’t keep them safe, how can we help them with anything else? Below, you will find twelve tried and true measures that we have had in place since Day One, when we opened on October 9th, 2011.
This is a commitment we made a long time ago, and we haven’t wavered. You just won’t find a lower ratio for programs like ours. Not only does this keep our boys safe; it also fosters real relationships that can be called upon in a crisis, and which stand the test of time.
Our policy has always been one of managing behavior by having reasonable expectations, positive encouragement, and clear boundaries. When a resident acts out or misbehaves, there may be consequences, but at no time do we physically force our residents to comply. Neither do we assign harsh punishments such as denying food/water, or performing exhaustingly punitive physical labor. In addition to this, we do not use transport services to bring boys to our ranch under any circumstances. (Note: The only exception to our hands-off policy is if we need to separate two residents in the case of an altercation – and in this circumstance, all staff are trained to react in ways that are supported by the best-practice research included in our mandatory training.)
At no point during a boy’s stay at Whetstone Boys Ranch will he be without immediate access to trained and qualified staff. This includes overnight, as we employ night staff to monitor the rooms and to be instantly available if the need arises. In addition to this, one staff member is always on-call, should the situation require their consultation and/or physical presence.
In addition to submitting fingerprints and passing a national background check, all staff must go through a probationary period, during which they receive 25 hours of training in TCI, (Therapeutic Crisis Intervention) a technique developed at Cornell University. This teaches them valuable skills such as how to manage the environment, recognize pain-based behaviors, and deliver trauma-informed care. This probationary period also allows us to assess whether new staff are a good fit for our program.
From the delivery of daily medicines and CPR/First Aid, to 15-passenger van safety, mandatory reporting guidelines, suicide prevention, and Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, WBR staff are kept up to date with the newest techniques and best-practices within healthcare and education.
At Whetstone Boys Ranch, we are constantly monitoring the interactions between boys. However, even though our ratio allows us to stay within eyesight and earshot of most boys most of the time, we can’t be with every boy, everywhere, all at once. For this reason, Whetstone Boys Ranch is very careful about the boys we enroll. There are certain predatory/violent/addictive behaviors that we are not equipped to treat. Residents’ families must demonstrate, before enrollment, that their son is capable of being helped within our program’s parameters. If they can’t demonstrate this minimum level of compliance, he will not be admitted, as he is a threat to himself, our residents, and our staff. If a boy displays such traits after enrollment, we are not hesitant to help in finding him and his family another facility that can help.
We are very conscious of the fact that “setting conditions” are a large part of safety. As the old saying goes, “prior planning prevents poor performance.” Our staff sets clear limits on where residents are allowed to be, when they are allowed to be there, and who they are allowed to be with. As residents progress through the program, they are allowed more freedoms, but staff are always present and close-by. Doors to areas that are off-limits are kept locked, meds are double-locked, computers, tools, and knives are only used with staff supervision, and private rooms are only used when multiple staff and boys are around.
Since 2011, Whetstone Boys Ranch has operated under a clearly written set of expectations for staff and residents. These routines and procedures are readily available and frequently reviewed by everyone here. They inform our philosophy of care and maintain consistency and accountability. They also prevent us from reacting emotionally to situations that might otherwise escalate. Parents and residents may consult and/or question these at any point during their time here. We are an open book.
The formal therapy and education that happens at Whetstone Boys Ranch is coordinated and delivered by trained professionals with degrees in their field of study. While there are many other mentoring and learning opportunities made available throughout the week, the formal program is under the governance of these experts, who understand on a deeper level, the issues that arise from learning disabilities and emotional disorders, as well as those resulting from trauma, attachment, and spectrum-related problems.
Boys are not allowed to bully other residents under any definition, including but not limited to physical, verbal, emotional, and psychological attacks. If a resident is found guilty of doing so, the consequences are swift and appropriate to its elimination. We strictly prohibits peer-to-peer punishment or discipline.
Boys are allowed weekly phone calls with their parents, so they can work on their relationship during their separation and prepare for their return. During these phone calls they are allowed to tell their parents how they feel without any repercussions. These phone calls grow in length as they progress through the program, and they are never denied a phone call because of misbehavior – although they may choose not to talk. Parents also have scheduled, weekly phone calls with either the therapist or the classroom teacher.
Examples of these include a central fire-alarm system that automatically alerts an off-campus dispatch, tornado drills, motion detectors that keep boys safe in their rooms at night, run-away protocols, and a good working-relationship with local authorities and first responders in the event that we need their support.
