An oasis in troubled waters
Mickey Starling
reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com
Formerly known as the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home, the Residing Hope at Madison Youth Ranch, in Pinetta, Fla., remains a place of hope and healing for children of all ages. Over the past decade, over 150 children have benefitted from their stay at the ranch, where their mission remains to empower children and families to experience the transforming love of Christ through evidence-based care and holistic services.
Along with the ministry’s main campus in Enterprise, Fla., Residing Hope serves over 500 children in crisis each week, including those who are victims of abuse, neglect or abandonment. A child’s length of stay varies depending on their needs. Regardless of their background, every child is given hope, love and a safe place to call home.
Like the Enterprise campus, the Madison Youth Ranch offers family-style group homes where each child receives care based on their individual needs, including group care, specialized therapeutic care and a specialized treatment program for victims of sexual abuse. Each child works with a therapist to improve their behavioral and emotional skills. Also available are a wide range of therapeutic services, including play therapy, equine-assisted therapy and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy.
The Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) is a specialized type of therapy proven to effective for those having difficulty communicating in a traditional counseling session. The interactions with the horse allows children to learn about themselves and others. Often, healing bonds develop between the kids and the horse. It isn’t uncommon for positive results to be seen after the first session.
However, horses aren’t the only game in town at the Madison Youth Ranch. A chicken coop is on site, with plenty of hens laying fresh eggs for everyone to enjoy. There is also a large horticultural program in place that includes a large garden with a variety of vegetables. Additionally, the Pinetta location will soon add another therapist to the staff, and the Ranch is blessed to have over 100 volunteers dedicated to serving and blessing the children in the program.
A key element to the success of the residents is the focus on their spiritual development. Along with a comprehensive spiritual life program, children and staff attend Sunday morning church services, and the staff hosts weekly Bible studies in each cottage. Many of the children come to know Jesus at the Ranch and are baptized.
The Madison Youth Ranch and the various programs implemented were created with an emphasis on healing children. They come to the Ranch after being exposed to abuse and other trauma that often requires specialized therapeutic care. As they progress, they learn to open up, cope with their trauma and to heal. “I believe every child that comes to us is a divine appointment, and we are seeing God do great things,” said Chief Development Officer Elisabeth Gadd.
Madison Youth Ranch plans 10th anniversary celebration
Mickey Starling
reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com
Saturday, Oct. 12, is a special day for Residing Hope at Madison Youth Ranch. The organization will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Pinetta, Fla., location, where over 150 children have been given a second chance at a better life. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., supporters and guests will enjoy a barbecue lunch, catered by Steven Williams; entertainment, featuring Mike Kirkland and Bailey Barefoot, Ashton Williams, Jackson Dickinson and Mike Keeler; a cake auction, offering mouth-watering favorites from local churches’ finest bakers; a guided tour of the facility; and a program that will feature local and state dignitaries. It is very important that you pre-register for this celebration, as there may be as many as 400 guests attending. Please don’t delay! To register, visit residinghope.org.
Sponsorships are still available for this special event. Of greater importance, is the need for sponsors to partner with the Madison Youth Ranch so that they can expand their care for the many children who enter their gates and find opportunities for a successful life. Your investment will help the Ranch to showcase the transformational successes of children who have been cared for at the Ranch over the years. It will also help to strengthen community engagements and partnerships with the community at large. Major sponsorships will also have the opportunity to speak from the podium and share their support for Residing Hope’s Madison Youth Ranch as well as a word about their business.
Last year, the campuses of Residing Hope cared for more than 500 children and youth through their many services, and their Foster Care program cared for 166 children, of which 27 were reunited with their family and 18 were adopted. Residing Hope’s Outpatient Counseling program provided 8,481 hours of counseling across the state. They also received 1,610 inquiries last year, a 34 percent increase over the previous year. The need is obviously growing.
There are numerous sponsorship levels available to prospective donors. Title Sponsors, with donations of $7,500, will receive a sponsorship banner at the front gate on the day of the event; a speaking opportunity at the event; company recognition on tent card at all tables; plus all benefits of Gold Sponsors. The Gold Sponsors, with donations of $5,000, receive a private on-campus company photo session with the event VIP; VIP seating for the event; placement of business logo onstage (“brought to you in part by”); mention on social media platforms; your logo included on each registration and reminder email; plus all benefits of Silver Sponsors.
Silver Sponsors, with donations of $1,000, receive their business logo on t-shirs worn by volunteers and staff at the event; placement in promotional materials; however, the printed placement in collateral will depend on timing of sponsorship; your logo included on each registration and reminder email; plus all benefits of Bronze Sponsors. The Bronze Sponsors, with donations of $500, receive your logo on the Residing Hope website as a sponsor; mention on social media platform; and appearance throughout campus on monitors. Additionally, in-kind donations and volunteers before, during or after the event are appreciated.
To become a sponsor, contact Lisa Burke at (386) 668-2234 or send her an email at lisaburke@residinghope.org.
Success is the standard at Residing Hope
Mickey Starling
reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com
Julie found her way to The Madison Youth Ranch after a failed foster placement. That experience, and others, caused Julie to be emotionally distant, and she avoided interaction with staff members, including her therapist. “I really didn’t care about people,” remembers Julie.
Her therapist initiated plans that included Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) that proved to be very effective, especially since Julie had been around horses for much of her life. Gradually, her care for the horses helped her to begin caring about herself and others. Julie’s attitude showed considerable improvement, as did her grades in school.
She continues her time with the horses and other outdoor activities, and she is enjoying a fresh outlook on life. “I’m attending church regularly, which has helped me to love myself and God more than I did,” said Julie. She is excited about her future, which includes pursuing a psychology degree, a huge improvement for a young lady who formally hated school. Julie also plans to transition to the Independent Living Program when she is 18.”I really appreciate being given this second chance,” said Julie, whose big smile is proof that her appreciation is sincere.
Dulce is another young lady who appreciates her time at Madison Youth Ranch. She was removed from her biological home due to a history of neglect and physical violence. After a failed pre-adoptive placement, where the parents only wanted Dulce’s younger sisters, she entered the program in February of 2021.
Dulce was making low grades, and her self-esteem was even lower. Her honest confession to the staff was that she had lost hope of ever finding a forever home. The staff, however, never gave up on her. Over time, she made significant emotional and behavioral progress, and her grades also improved. She did so well that she earned the right to attend the Educational Rewards trip to Disney World and Seaworld this past summer.
The progress for Dulce has continued, as she has grown closer to the Lord and was baptized in April. She was also fortunate to attend her seventh grade dance at the end of school last year. Before summer was over, Dulce was proud to move into her forever home in July, with her adoption finalized just in time for Thanksgiving.