See the signs that Jennifer Bauman and Stacey Sullivan, Therapists, are proudly showcasing at our Great Falls Community Office? They’re among the first in a statewide signage rollout happening now through early summer.
These new signs represent more than a visual update—they bring a clean, consistent, and unified face to the brick-and-mortar spaces where caring people at YBGR prepare youth for life.
From our community offices to group home campuses, the fresh new look ensures each site is easily recognizable and welcoming, reinforcing our commitment to youth where our mission hits the pavement in the areas we serve.
As installations continue across the state, keep an eye out for new signs going up in a community near you. Each one is a visible reminder of the hope, healing, and connection happening within.
“There are no shortcuts to excellence. Developing real expertise, figuring out really hard problems—it all takes time—longer than most people imagine. Grit is about working on something you care about so much that you’re willing to stay loyal to it. It’s doing what you love, but not just falling in love—staying in love.” – Angela Duckworth
What if doing well in school and life depends on much more than just our ability to learn quickly and easily?
Well, that’s just what Angela Duckworth, Ph.D., found in her groundbreaking research on grit over a decade ago! She studied everyone from grade school students to West Point Military Academy cadets—even partnering with private companies to explore who stayed and excelled in challenging roles such as sales.
Her work found that the most significant factor for success across settings wasn’t IQ, physical health, social intelligence, or good looks. It was grit!
In one study done with Chicago public school students, Angela found that kids scoring high on a grit scale questionnaire were significantly more likely to graduate—even when matched against characteristics like:
Family income
Standardized achievement test scores
And even how safe kids feel when they are at school
Angela’s Ted Talk, featured at the beginning of this article, was filmed in 2013. Today, we know much more about grit and how to foster it in kids, adults, organizations, and communities.
Earlier this week, students at Yellowstone Academy participated in the ACT exam—a crucial academic milestone and a step forward on the path to college and future opportunities.
ACT Prepares Youth for What’s Next
The ACT, administered on the Ranch campus in Billings, helps students explore post-secondary options and set goals for what comes next. For the kids we serve, it’s more than just a test. It’s a chance to think beyond today—to imagine possibilities and take tangible steps toward them.
Education is provided through Yellowstone Academy, working hand-in-hand with the therapeutic support students receive through YBGR. This experience highlights the strength of that partnership—helping kids stabilize, heal, and re-engage with learning in a way that prepares them for life, not just school.
A Shared Commitment
Moments like this bring our mission to life: Caring people, preparing youth for life. They also align with Yellowstone Academy’s mission: To provide excellence in education through trusting, positive, and supportive relationships.
We’re proud of our kids for showing up, setting goals, and stepping into their future with purpose.
Do you have experience navigating stress? I bet your answer’s yes. I mean, who doesn’t? It’s unavoidable in today’s world. But there are things we can do to mitigate it.
Below are thirteen quotes on the journey through stress and how to traverse it successfully.
13 Quotes on Navigating Stress
Quote 1: I am so emotionally drained. I can feel myself shutting down. – Unknown
Quote 2: I will simply breathe, and it will be okay because I don’t quit. – Unknown
Quote 3: Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is rather than as you think it should be. – Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
Quote 4: Stress acts as an accelerator: it will push you either forward or backward, but you choose which direction. – Chelsea Erieau
Quote 5: Stress is not what happens to us. It is our response to what happens. And response is something we can choose. – Maureen Killoran
Quote 6: The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another. – William James
Quote 7: It’s not stress that kills us. It’s our reaction to it. – Hans Selye
Quote 8: It’s not the load that breaks you down. It’s the way you carry it. – Lou Holtz
Quote 9: Stress is the inability to decide what’s important. – Unknown
Quote 10: You can do anything—but not everything. – David Allen
Quote 11: The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule but to schedule your priorities. – Stephen Covey
Quote 12: In stressful times, it’s okay to not be perfect. It’s okay to cut yourself some slack. Because right now, you might not be your best self. But you are growing, and you are trying your best, and that is good enough. – Ashley Hetherington
Quote 13: I will breathe. I will think of solutions. I will not let my worry control me. I will not stress myself out about things I can’t control or change. – Shayne McClendon
Here are a few ways that trauma can affect children’s overall well-being:
The impact of trauma can range widely, depending on many different factors, including a child’s relationships with caring adults, social supports, and unique personal characteristics.
And often, childhood trauma can even influence children’s ability to form healthy, trusting bonds with caregivers.
Here are a few tips to help you build the trust you need to guide kids with trauma history and help them heal.
Provide structure
Create a routine and ensure that your child understands rules and expectations clearly. Doing so will create a sense of safety and help them thrive.
Use positive discipline
Punitive, physical, or inconsistent discipline can be a trigger for kids with a history of trauma and be counterproductive to your ability to guide them.
Here are some positive discipline methods you can leverage:
Ignore mild misbehavior
Praise good behavior
Frame things as incentives versus pointing out negative consequences
Trust in any relationship is built on consistent positive interactions. Show warmth towards your child, even during conflict and discipline. And if you slip up, make sure to repair the situation with an apology and good communication.
Be sensitive to trauma
Be mindful of a child’s background and avoid putting them in a position where they feel cornered or threatened. For example, if children have a history of sexual trauma, be mindful of their physical boundaries and unexpected touch.
Below are eight indicators of childhood depression that every parent needs to be familiar with.
Signs of Depression in Kids
Deep & Persistent Sadness
Children with depression experience sadness that persists for two or more weeks. And it can be profound! They may have thoughts of suicide or talk about hurting themselves.
Have you recently noticed a decline in your child’s school performance? Kids confronting depression often have a hard time concentrating, making decisions, and can be quicker to anger or emotional outbursts.
Be on the watch for a sudden drop in grades, school refusal, and new behavioral issues cropping up.
Changes in Weight or Eating Habits
Has your child recently lost or gained weight? Significant fluctuations in body size or sudden changes in eating habits may signify depression.
A Shift in Sleep Patterns
Have you noticed a change in your child’s sleep patterns? Maybe they’re struggling to fall asleep, waking in the middle of the night, or even sleeping far more than usual?
Depression can impact kids’ rest and wake cycles. So, pay attention to sudden shifts in your child’s sleep routine. It may be a sign that something more is going on.
Changes in Mood & Behavior
Does it feel like your child’s demeanor changed overnight? Take notice if they’ve suddenly developed a more negative attitude or are expressing feelings of hopelessness, guilt, or worthlessness. And if they seem more agitated, irritable, or are quicker to get upset, it could also be a sign of depression.
Decrease in Self-Esteem
Does your once confident kid now seem to need frequent reassurance? A marked decrease in self-esteem is frequently an indicator of depression. Children with the condition tend to think negatively and very critically about themselves.
Withdrawal
Kids experiencing depression will frequently withdraw socially from friends and family. So, pay attention if your child no longer wants to participate in activities they once enjoyed.
Physical Pain
Depression is more than emotional pain—symptoms can frequently manifest physically. So look out for persistent fatigue, frequent headaches, stomach aches, or any other sudden unexplained discomfort. And remember, it’s essential to rule out underlying medical conditions with a doctor.
We’re Here to Help!
Do any of the signs and symptoms above sound familiar? Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch (YBGR) provides a wide range of wraparound mental health services designed to help kids heal. Contact us online to get a child support today.
Big changes are underway at River’s Edge, one of our therapeutic group homes serving youth in Billings. With generous support from the Charles M. Bair Family Trust, renovations have officially begun—starting with brand-new, energy-efficient windows.
River’s Edge provides essential mental health support and safe housing for youth in need of stability, structure, and care in a family-style environment. These renovations are part of a more significant effort to strengthen the environment where healing happens every day.
Investing in the Future of River’s Edge
Thanks to HB 872 grant funding through the State of Montana, the next phase of improvements at River’s Edge includes new roofing, siding, and doors. These upgrades enhance safety, reduce energy costs, and support long-term sustainability—ensuring the home can continue to serve Montana kids for years to come.
Renovations like these reflect our commitment to building safe, welcoming environments where youth can thrive. As we continue improving our facilities across the state, the work at River’s Edge marks a meaningful step forward in strengthening access to care.
Parenting a foster child with trauma history can be challenging.
Trauma profoundly influences brain development, impacting children’s behaviors, ability to regulate emotions, and even their capacity to form healthy relationships.
And for many, it’s coupled with attachment issues, rooted in everything from abuse and neglect early on in life to repeated moves due to broken-down placements.
Here are some signs that may indicate a child is struggling with attachment.
Parenting children with attachment issues rooted in a history of trauma can be a formidable task. To put it simply—it’s not easy to be a foster parent.
But the work is so critical. The bonds foster parents build with kids help them heal and serve as the foundation for healthy connections in adulthood.
We want to guide you on the path to parenting kids with trauma history. So, here are a few tips to help build trust and influence children’s behavior.
Tips on Parenting Kids with a History of Trauma
Meet Needs
Your #1 goal is to find out your foster child’s needs and meet them. And the best way to find out is to ask. When doing so, be direct, using exact language. For example, “What’s going on?” “What are your needs?” “How can I support you?”
Say “Yes”
Kids in foster care have little power over their lives. So, often that manifests in a desire for control.
You can go miles when it comes to building trust with children by focusing on dishing out “yes” more than “no.” The optimal ratio is 7:1, saying “yes” 7 times for every “no.”
Be a mirror. Secure attachment is characterized by a healthy rhythm between children and their caregiver’s behavior. For instance, if a baby coos, their mother will coo back, or when a toddler laughs, their father laughs too.
How much do you know about the history of Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch (YBGR)? The timeline above brings it to life.
Tucked behind the dining hall, the Ranch library holds more than just books—it showcases a powerful visual display of our history. This timeline reflects decades of impact, growth, and transformation.
In the photograph above, Jake Mullins, HR Recruiter, stands beside this timeline, underscoring its significance. More than just a collection of dates, it tells the story of the mission that has guided us for over 67 years. Through challenges, growth, and change, our commitment to youth and families has remained steadfast.
More Than a Timeline—A Legacy of Caring That Stands the Test of Time
Much has changed over the years, but our historic slogan continues to ring true. Still painted on the back of the sign above the entryway to campus, it serves as a lasting reminder: “It sure makes a difference to know someone cares.”
We are grateful for the many caring individuals across YBGR who continue to carry our mission forward: “Caring people, preparing youth for life.”
Your work makes a lasting impact—just like the history we continue to write every day.
Recognize this little lady? It’s Laurie Moore, Program Manager at the Ranch! Last month, Laurie celebrated an incredible 43 years at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch (YBGR).
When asked for a photo, Laurie opted for a baby picture over a recent one—so we’re rolling with it! But don’t let that sweet face fool you. Laurie is tough as nails when it comes to serving kids with integrity and standing by her team. She embodies our mission: Caring people, preparing youth for life.
A Lifelong Commitment to Kids and Community
Laurie’s dedication runs deep. Over the years, she has not only invested in the lives of countless youth but also mentored teammates as they grow into caring professionals. She has watched YBGR evolve—from a small refuge in Billings to a statewide network delivering mental health care across Montana.
Thank You, Laurie!
Laurie, your commitment to our mission, your crewmates, and the kids we serve is nothing short of inspiring. Your work has shaped lives, strengthened our purpose, and left a lasting impact on countless youth.
Words can’t express our gratitude for your sacrifice, service, and loyalty over the years. We are so fortunate to have you on our team!
