“It Sure Makes a DifferenceWhen You Know Somebody Cares”

Residential Care

Yellowstone has helped more than 4,500 youth and their families since 1957 in the residential treatment component of their services. YBGR's focus is on rebuilding healthy relationships while teaching productive life skills to the youth and their families. Our desire is to encourage each youth with hope, courage, and confidence. Ten residential lodges serve young people from Montana and across the country. Yellowstone Academy, located on-site, is an accredited K-8 public school district and an accredited private high school staffed by Regular and Special education teachers with endorsements, administrators, teaching assistants, and support personnel.

Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Residential Treatment Center, comprised of ten specialized treatment lodges and intensive treatment units, is located on the western edge of Billings, Montana, spread over a 400 acre campus. Youth eligible for admission have been previously diagnosed to be seriously emotionally disturbed, and attempts to treat them in their community have been unsuccessful. Residential treatment is provided by a multi-disciplinary team of professionals, under the medical direction of a board certified psychiatrist. All youth admitted to YBGR Residential Treatment receive comprehensive psychiatric, psychological, and medical evaluations. A Master Treatment Plan is developed and reviewed regularly by the treatment team. Involvement with referring mental health professionals and parents or guardians is encouraged. YBGR clinicians recommend psychotropic medications for specific indications. They are prescribed only following a complete discussion of the risks and benefits and with the full concurrence of the parents or guardians. YBGR nurses administer all prescribed medications and are available 24 hours a day to the youth and staff, for assessment of acute problems.

Each youth participates in individual, group and family psychotherapy provided by a Master's level mental health professional. A primary goal of treatment at YBGR is to teach youth how to form trusting relationships. A structured milieu therapy program is utilized to facilitate change. Educational achievement and disabilities are assessed at Yellowstone Academy, the on-campus special education school. Chemical dependency is assessed upon intake and chemical dependency treatment is available for those youth with co-occurring mental health/chemical dependency problems. Youth admitted to residential treatment are encouraged to participate in community service projects. In participating in community service and volunteer projects, the youth have an opportunity to give something back to the community in which they live. Additionally, community homes provide care for youth requiring less intensive treatment and/or a step down programs from residential care.

Diagnosis Overview

YBGR's psychiatric residential programs are designed to meet the needs of maladjusted and emotionally disturbed youth who may present within a range of psychopathology including such DSM-IV diagnostic categories as Mood Disorders, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Disruptive Behavior Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Learning Disorders, Identity Disorders, Adjustment Disorders, Personality Disorder Traits/Features, and co-occurring Substance -Related Disorders. Youth may be admitted to the intensive or other structured residential programs.

Behavioral manifestations of some of the disorders treated at YBGR include impulsivity, running away, property destruction, substance abuse, sexual reactivity, truancy, depressed or anxious mood, self-destructive behaviors including self-mutilation, underdeveloped social skills, language and motor development delays, and poor academic performance.