Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranch in East Manatee turning into camping and community program
The Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches on Wednesday announced plans to discontinue residential group home services at its Bradenton area location and convert the campus into a camping and community services program.
The Sheriffs Youth Ranch, located on 65 acres at 751 Rye Wilderness Road, was once known as the Manatee River Youth Ranch. It was founded in 1984 through the joint efforts of residents, the Kiwanis Club of Bradenton and the Manatee County Commission.
In 1991, the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches merged the program into their statewide network of family-style residential childcare facilities.
The changes will be effective June 15.
Sheriff Rick Wells, a board member of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, said youth ranches have always been a safe haven for at-risk children in Manatee County.
“ I am extremely disappointed that Department of Children and Families and partnering community based care agencies have chosen to place more children into the overburdened foster care system, instead of the safe and loving environment offered at the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches,” Wells said in a press release.
Youth Ranches President and CEO Bill Frye said the impact of the federal Family First Prevention Services Act led to the need for the change.
“Because of the Family First Prevention Services Act, which restricts federal dollars from being used to place children in residential group homes, we have seen the Department of Children and Families and the community-based care lead agencies significantly reduce the number of children placed at our Bradenton/Sarasota campus. Over the past year, our residential placements have dropped from 20 children to two,” Frye said.
“While the majority of our funding comes from private donations, we cannot continue to operate this campus with four children when we have other residential campuses with homes available. Although we are deeply saddened with this decision, we recognize that we need to remain good stewards of our donors’ support, and we will be changing the Bradenton campus from residential care to community programming,” Frye said.
“There is a growing need in Manatee and surrounding counties for summer programs for disadvantaged children. As we have been operating a successful summer day camp for many years, it is our goal to increase our summer programs, along with weekend events, to meet the growing needs of children and families alike. We have long been an active partner with various groups, and we are now asking for the public’s support of our transition as we strive to serve children and families with community-based programs,” Frye said.
Frye called it disheartening for the DCF and CBC agencies to change their philosophy to avoid placing children at high-quality, family-style residential group homes.
“Especially when we have beds available and a track record of success. However, we are hopeful that our other three campuses around the state can remain an option for foster youth. Our doors are open, we urge DCF and child welfare officials to keep programs like ours, which have served children for over 60 years, as part of our state’s system of care,.” Frye said.
The Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches is dedicated to improving the lives of at-risk children through its three residential child-care campuses in Live Oak, Bartow and Safety Harbor and its four youth leadership and summer camping programs. Founded in 1957 by the Florida Sheriffs Association, the Youth Ranches have served more than 165,000 children and families.
The mission of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches is to prevent delinquency and develop lawful, productive citizens.
For more information, visit youthranches.org.
