Sappa Valley Youth Ranch

The Sappa Valley Youth Ranch is located in Oberlin, KS two miles north of the U.S. 83 and U.S. 36 junction in Decatur county.  The area is relatively isolated and rural with the major industry being agricultural business.

The campus consists of several structures including three residential buildings that can house up to 38 youth, one building functions as an educational center and cafeteria, with administrative functions being housed in a small structure on the north end of the campus.  The campus also has several out buildings associated with the ranch setting that function as part of the campus vocational activities.

The ranch generally serves a 17 county region in northwest Kansas.   The ranch also accepts placements of youth from around the state of Kansas.   The youth ranch was established to answer a mandate by the state to create alternative placements for juvenile offenders that meet one of two conditions; a) youth that are being released from the state correctional facility and need a transitional residential setting before returning to their community of origin, or b) youth that don't meet the guidelines for more secure incarceration (e.g., graduated sanctions) but need a structured setting.  The Sappa Valley Youth Ranch is unique in the state of Kansas in that, the ranch houses juvenile offenders in a staff secure setting.  There is no fence, locked doors, or secured windows.

Philosophy Of Operation And Programs

The basic philosophy of daily operations with the youth can be summarized in three words:  development of responsibility.  Throughout the youth's stay an emphasis is placed on the resident to make decisions that will effect the outcome of that youth's placement.  In effect, the staff functions as mentors and resource management personnel for all juveniles in custody.  It isn't very long after a resident passes the orientation phase that they begin to understand that where they go from the ranch can be influenced by how well they complete the program.  The ranch attempts to impact the youth in the development of responsibility by focusing on three areas:  a) education, b) daily living skills, c) vocational skills.

All youth are exposed to an educational component during their stay.   Depending on the youth's level of achievement determines at what stage they will continue their studies.  For example, if a youth comes into custody with sufficient high school credits, they are assigned to a regular curriculum, and can obtain their regular high school diploma.  On the other hand, if a resident has little or no high school credits, and is at least 16 years of age, they are eligible to obtain their G.E.D.   Finally, the ranch can also provide limited special education services if the student qualifies.

Daily living skills (DLS) are a critical component to the overall program picture.  DLS is provided by staff and consists for two major components.  The first component is a practical approach to living.  Many modules focus on the everyday issues of finding an apartment, balancing your checkbook, planning leisure time, nutrition, etc.  The second component deals exclusively with conflict resolution.   All youth are exposed to the anger management program both through class room presentation and roll playing.  Before a youth is allowed to leave the conflict resolution program, he must develop an after care plan such that when faced with anger provoking events, he will have several alternative responses he is familiar with and can implement.

Vocational skills are also emphasized.  The ranch has four on campus vocational programs.  These include meal preparation and planning, maintenance, auto detailing, and furniture refinishing.  The vocational component major emphasis is not to develop marketable skills, although that does occur, the primary focus is to expose the youth to the components of success in the working world.  Skills such as staying on task, task completion, getting along with coworkers, are the areas that are highlighted and monitored.  All youth are exposed to all vocational areas on campus and in some cases eligible for off campus paid positions.