Oak Ranch: Journal

Equine Therapy Program Outreaches to Schools

01.30.2008

Baptist Children’s Homes’ (BCH) equine therapy program at Oak Ranch has already made an impact on children in care since BCH began managing the 755 acre property last June. Now the horses that have helped BCH’s boys and girls are helping children in the community.

Oak Ranch near Broadway is partnering with three schools in Lee and Harnett County offering equine therapy experiences to students. The goal is to impact students in danger of dropping out.

“The purpose is to inspire and reinvigorate a child to learn showing him or her that school is important and worth their time,” Oak Ranch director Phill Richmond said. “We’re offering local schools an experience for children they can’t provide in a regular classroom.”

Equine therapy sessions are led by horse expert Terri Dussault of Full Circle Resources in Sanford. Dussault developed a special curriculum that applies real life applications to the children’s experiences with the horses. For example, learning how to develop a relationship with a horse helps develop a child’s ability to relate with others.

Partnering with the schools is also creating awareness for BCH’s residential services around the state. “It opens doors to have discussions about how we can help a school serve an at-risk child they are unable to serve at the end of the school day,” Richmond explained.

Richmond is in touch with other area schools regarding the benefits of equine therapy. The potential to help even more children grows greater every day.

“We’re members of this community, and we have a heart to help children and families,” Richmond said. “We want to give schools a tool to help keep children moving in the right direction.”

Oak Ranch To Accept Girls

01.02.2008

Boys living at Oak Ranch near Broadway are about to have company. For the first time in its history, the residential ranch now operated by Baptist Children’s Homes (BCH) will welcome girls into its care.

“We’re very excited about how we can help girls at Oak Ranch,” said BCH executive vice president, programs and services Keith Henry. “This is about helping all children and accepting girls at Oak Ranch is definitely in the spirit of that mission.”

Residents in BCH’s care from around the state visited Oak Ranch spending time with its many horses after BCH began managing the property in June 2007. Both boys and girls formed fast bonds with the animals showing the potential impact Oak Ranch can have on all children.

As word spread that BCH had officially begun caring for boys at the ranch, social work staff started receiving calls asking if girls would be placed at Oak Ranch.

“We discovered from phone inquiries and information received by BCH’s intake social work staff members that there is a need,”explained Henry.

The ranch consists of two separate residential cottages. Ewing House provides a residence for boys while girls will live at Ben’s House. BCH is in a search process to hire the second of two couples that will comprise the child care worker team at Ben’s House. Girls could arrive at Oak Ranch as early as January.

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