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Safeguarding the rights of children in our care is the responsibility of all who work at the Ranch. The establishment and safeguarding of these rights helps keep the milieu of YBGR a positive place for youth and counselors to live, work, play, and participate in treatment.

The following is a list of the specific rights of the youth in our care.

Children have the right to:

1. Equal and fair treatment regardless of their race, religious beliefs, gender, ethnic background, or financial support.
2. A living space that is comfortable, private, clean, and promotes dignity.
3. A treatment plan that is uniquely designed to meet the needs of each individual, and provides humane treatment that is not punitive.
4. The least restrictive treatment possible while maintaining their safety.
5. An individualized treatment plan that is reviewed with the child regularly by the lodge treatment team.
6. Participate with their parents or legal guardians in the treatment planning process.
7. Be supervised by qualified, trained professional staff who will help the child put into practice their individualized treatment plan.
8. Daily exercise and the ability to go outside unless a therapist or a doctor restricts it. If there is a restriction, it must be reviewed at least every three days by the therapist or doctor who placed the restriction on the child.
9. Visitors and phone calls that have been approved by their parents and the agencies directly involved with the child. These contacts will be private, and if they need to be limited, the restrictions will be written in the treatment plan, explained to the parents, and reviewed every seven days.
10. Send sealed mail, and to receive mail from their attorneys, doctors, the courts, government officials, and other mental health professionals. The child also has the right to receive sealed mail from others unless specifically restricted by the child’s therapist through a written order. This order of restriction must be developed and understood by the child, the therapist, the parents, and the agencies directly involved with the child. This order must be reviewed every seven days.
11. Quick and appropriate medical treatment for any physical sickness or problem.
12. Be free from unnecessary, excessive medication. No prescription medications shall be given except by order of a doctor.
13. Worship. An all faith chapel service is provided for all children on a weekly basis.
14. Confidentiality of any conversations between the child and the staff serving them, and that the information in the child’s record will be kept confidential as well. This right does not apply when there is a legal responsibility of the staff to report incidents of abuse or neglect, and it is the staff’s responsibility to openly communicate with one another in order to discuss treatment issues or to keep the child safe.
15. Full information in language they understand regarding:
    • The Children’s rights
    • The status and relationship of staff caring for the child
    • The nature of the care and treatment the child will receive
    • The use (both current and future) of special observation techniques such as one-way mirrors, tape recorders, television, video recorders, movies, or photographs
    • The risks, side effects, and benefits of all medications and treatment procedures used
    • The alternative treatment procedures that are available
    • The right to refuse to participate in any research project without giving up the child’s access to facilities and services
    • The right to refuse specific medications and treatment procedures
    • The responsibility of YBGR to seek appropriate legal alternatives or orders for involuntary treatment if the child refuses treatment, or, terminating the child’s stay at YBGR with reasonable notice
    • To know who is paying YBGR, and how long the child may receive services
    • To know the reasons for proposing changes in the staff responsible for the child, and any transfers either within or outside of the facility
    • The rules and regulations of the facilities the child does treatment in
    • The right to file a complaint or a grievance, and the right way to request for that complaint or grievance to be reviewed
    • The discharge plan
    • The plans for meeting continuing mental and physical health requirement following discharge
    • The available services YBGR provides, and any charges related to the services that have not already been covered under titles XVIII or XIX of the Social Security Act, or YBGR’s basic daily rate.
16. Be paid for the work they have done for YBGR. Their pay will depend upon the YBGR pay scale, and the type of work done. Paid work is a part of the work therapy program, and is also a part of individual treatment.
17. File a grievance to resolve a complaint using the grievance procedure outlined in policy #606.
18. Three square meals a day. These meals will at least meet the minimum recommended dietary allowances as determined by the National Academy of Sciences. The child cannot be denied a meal as a form of punishment.
19. Proper treatment which is not punitive. The child will not be physically or verbally abused in any way. Hitting, spanking, derogatory or belittling comments, kicking, dragging, and shoving will not be used by staff. Physical and mechanical restraints will be used only when it is determined that the child is a danger to themselves or others.
20. Appropriate educational services, and these services will be provided in the least restrictive manner possible.
21. A treatment plan that includes therapeutic passes or home visits based upon the child’s needs as well as the needs of the child’s family. Home visits may be withheld if it is deemed they will not be beneficial to the treatment plan, but will not be withheld for punitive reasons.