By Stefanie Long | FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga., May 5, 2015 — Just a few miles north of the Gwinnett line, there’s a place uniquely designed to help make life better for children and families going through a crisis. It’s called Eagle Ranch.
Spread out over 270 peaceful acres, it’s a community in itself, with homes, recreational facilities, and an accredited school. Boys and girls come to live here, and are given the space and time they need to work through their struggles. Their families stay connected and actively involved during the child’s stay.
Working with the child and family members, Eagle Ranch’s program uses an integrated approach that models home life, emphasizes education, incorporates individual, group and family counseling, and is built on Christian principles.
The aim is for renewal: of the child’s individual purpose and identity; of positive relationships among family members; and of hope for a more promising future.
Staub
In the early 1980s, Eddie Staub moved from Birmingham, Alabama, to North Georgia, an area that research showed was lacking in nearby resources for youth in crisis. The story of Eddie’s determination and struggles in the founding of Eagle Ranch are documented in the book, On Eagle’s Wings.
Today, Eagle Ranch is one of the largest residential children’s programs in Georgia. Located in the Chestnut Mountain community of Flowery Branch, the Christ-centered program provides a home, counseling and education for nearly 70 boys and girls. The Ranch serves children in an 80-mile radius of its campus, keeping them geographically centered in their community.
Many people are surprised to hear that Gwinnett County is one of Eagle Ranch’s top service areas. Within the last five years, the Ranch has served 90 children from Gwinnett and 237 of their family members.
Children as young as eight years old come to Eagle Ranch when circumstances make living at home difficult or impossible. Sometimes this is due to changes in family structure or custody, poor school performance, behavioral issues, judicial requirements or other factors that affect the child and his or her family. The Ranch provides a fresh perspective and the tools needed to forge a new beginnin.
Scene at Eagle Ranch
The Ranch campus includes 10 homes, each overseen by a loving houseparent couple, trained to teach life skills and model a healthy family atmosphere. The SACS-accredited Eagle Ranch School provides education for boys and girls in grades 6-9, meeting them at their point of academic need. Licensed Professional Counselors work with each child and family. An on-campus equine program helps children build trust, confidence and leadership skills. Through its global outreach program – the Wings Initiative – Eagle Ranch also equips others called to develop programs for children in need.
Eagle Ranch’s 2015 operating budget totals $3.8 million, which is 100 percent privately funded. The organization has been debt-free since its inception and receives no government funding.
If you know a family struggling with a child, please consider recommending Eagle Ranch. Even if it is not the right program for their needs, the Ranch can help point them in the right direction. Additionally, Eagle Ranch has numerous opportunities for volunteers and welcomes individuals and groups for tours. A Ranch spokesperson can provide a presentation for your business, club or organization. For more information, contact Eagle Ranch at 770-967-8500, visit the Eagle Ranch pages on Facebook or Twitter, or log onto EagleRanch.org.
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