Children, adolescents, and their families are referred to YBGR by parents, psychiatrists, psychologists, clergy, social workers, professional counselors, juvenile court workers, school counselors, families, inpatient hospital discharge planners and other agencies and individuals.

At the time of referral, youth are evaluated for program appropriateness. Acceptance for admission is based on the clinical criteria and needs of the youth. If general admission criteria are met, further analysis is conducted to determine which specific treatment program level of the YBGR continuum of care is appropriate. The multifaceted nature of a youth's problems is examined through a multi-axial assessment process. The goal is to identify each youth's unique attributes through evaluations and personal history.

YBGR gathers pre- and post- treatment behavioral/emotional adjustment ratings on youth in the residential program. The assessment instruments being utilized are the ASEBA© scales and the CAFAS®. Assessment and outcomes are an important component of current behavioral practices and help YBGR evaluate and improve programs.

Admission Criteria - Psychiatric Residential Treatment

YBGR provides psychiatric residential treatment in a dedicated facility, with 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, structured, non-acute, but active interventions and treatment, to seriously emotionally disturbed youth. These interventions and treatments are directed at the amelioration of the specific problems and impairments that necessitated the admission. Within the context of the SAIL Treatment Model, the goals of the interventions and treatments are to establish a degree of stabilization that permits safe return of the youth to the home environment and/or to community based services. These services are provided by a multi-disciplinary team of licensed and credentialed professionals, and professionally supervised paraprofessionals. Treatment is individualized and provided in various levels of secure environments, allowing for the structured and restrictive level of care necessary for the well being, safety and progress of each youth. The Yellowstone Academy addresses educational disabilities of youth. The following are general admission and denial criteria for residential treatment at YBGR:

YBGR will admit to residential treatment, youth that meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Youth who are under 17 year 6 months of age, boys ages 6 – 17.6; girls ages 12 – 17.6.
  • Youth who have been determined to be seriously emotionally disturbed, and who have been diagnosed by a mental health professional to have a serious mental disorder, as defined by DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, American Psychiatric Association, Washington, D.C.).
  • Youth who present with co-occurring substance abuse and meet the above mentioned criteria for admission
  • Symptoms or functional impairments of the youth’s emotional disturbance/mental disorder are of a severe and persistent nature and require 24-hour treatment and supervision under the direction of a physician. Less restrictive treatment services have been tried and are documented to be insufficient to meet the youth’s severe and persistent clinical and treatment needs.
  • The youth exhibits intellectual capabilities within at least the low average range.
  • The prognosis for treatment at this inpatient level of care can reasonably be expected to improve the youth’s condition or prevent further regression.

YBGR does not have specialized programming for and will not admit youth that have a history of:

  • Youth who have a history of fire setting, who are obsessed with fires or pose a significant risk for arson.
  • Youth who are primarily conduct disordered and have demonstrated inadequate responsiveness to previous treatment attempts.
  • Youth who pose a significant risk to others due to a history of being extremely assaultive, combative and destructive and/or have been aggressive perpetrators of sexual offenses.
  • Youth who are acutely suicidal or acutely psychotic, and require acute hospitalization.
  • Youth who are pregnant.
  • Youth who have special physical or medical needs, which cannot be adequately served in our treatment environment, including chemically addicted youth in need of in-patient detoxification, youth with an acute eating disorder.

Admission Criteria - Residential Transition Homes

YBGR provides a less intensive level of care and treatment to youth in residential transition homes. The focus of this level of care and treatment is on behaviors which have resulted in the need for a higher intensity of therapeutic interventions than are available through traditional outpatient services, and which have clearly exceeded the capabilities of immediate family, relatives, friends or other community systems. It must be documented that the child needs to be out of a biological or foster family’s home, and that behaviors or situations prevent immediate return to the home or community environment. The focus of treatment is on longer-term stabilization of behaviors and assisting the youth to learn specific skills necessary to function within a family environment or in an independent living situation. Specific goals are developed to address behavioral progress at school and/or work, and in the community, including compliance with meeting outpatient requirements (scheduled appointments, taking medications, etc.).

YBGR will admit to residential transition homes, youth that meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Youth who are under 17 years 9 months of age.
  • Youth who have been determined to be seriously emotionally disturbed, and who have been diagnosed by a mental health professional to have a serious mental disorder, as defined by DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, American Psychiatric Association, Washington, D.C.
  • Youth who present with co-occurring substance abuse and meet the above mentioned criteria for admission.
  • Symptoms or functional impairments of the youth’s emotional disturbance/mental disorder are of a severe and persistent nature and require, and can be managed at, this level of care and treatment.
  • Less restrictive treatment services have been tried and are documented to be insufficient to meet the youth’s severe and persistent clinical and treatment needs.
  • The youth exhibits intellectual capabilities within at least the low average range. Yellowstone Academy or the school district servicing the residential transition home addresses educational disabilities.
  • The prognosis for treatment at this level of care can reasonably be expected to improve the youth’s condition or prevent further regression.

YBGR will NOT admit to residential transition homes, youth that exhibit the following:

  • Youth who have a significant history of fire setting, who are obsessed with fires or who otherwise pose a significant risk for arson.
  • Youth who are primarily conduct disordered and/or oppositional, and who have demonstrated inadequate responsiveness to previous attempts of care and treatment at this level of service.
  • Youth who pose a significant risk to others due to a history of being extremely assaultive, combative and destructive and/or have been aggressive perpetrators of sexual offenses.
  • Youth who are a significant run-away risk. Youth who are actively suicidal or psychotic, and require acute hospitalization or a more intensive level of service.
  • Youth who are pregnant.
  • Youth who have special physical or medical needs, which cannot be adequately served in this level of care and treatment, including chemically addicted youth in need of in-patient detoxification and youth with an acute eating disorder.

Funding

Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch's cost per day for our residential treatment programs is between $325 - $340. We currently have contracts with Montana Medicaid, Alaska Medicaid, North Dakota Medicaid, South Dakota Medicaid, Wyoming Medicaid, Nevada Medicaid, Illinois Schools, Illinois Individual Care Grant, California County Mental Health and California Schools. We are preferred providers with several major insurance companies nationwide. We would encourage you to inquire with your insurance provider about residential and inpatient benefits if you are interested in admitting your child to Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch.

For all referrals, admissions or contract inquiries please call 800.726.6755 and ask for the Intake Personnel or mail:

YBGR Intake
1732 S. 72nd st w
Billings, MT 59106