Listen to "sent away"from NPR, that is all I have to say…read more Great listen It was an eye opener

Listen to "Sent Away" on whatever podcast app you use. Very surprising this place is still open, or…read morethat nobody has heard of it.

Not impressed. Did keep my child safe. I do not feel that other than that there was any benefit to…read moremy daughter going here. She had to stay a months and a half longer to graduate we I was assured she would be done with school before she turned 18. They didn't push her to make that happen. The do not push to figure out issues and they talk about being relationship driven, NO, my daughter went there and we where all civil and 6 months later we have no contact other than" you can write letters to her". And on top of that she is now 18 and they cannot give us any info about her. I feel for how much they charge there should have been a noticeable difference in the way my child acts. Wish we would have done a better search and possibly found a facility that would better the situation. Just my 2. You do as you see is best for your child.

I am a parent of a child who has been at DRS for almost a year. Prior to this stay, she was at…read moreCopper Hills in West Jordan, UT. The 1 star reviews definitely mirror my daughter's experience at Copper Hills where there was no family therapy (therapist was off screen, didn't talk or encourage my daughter to talk, my daughter would scream or yell obscenities at me or would ignore me), what was advertised as activities never happened, and fellow students were violent and attacked each other as well as the staff. DRS has been the polar opposite! Every director is passionate about their field of expertise. Every therapist is well trained and has helped my daughter as well as me. While many of the cabin staff are college students, they like the girls and hold them accountable. No matter what happens, every person my child has come in contact with on the ranch has helped her through her problems and issues. Every moment is a teaching/therapeutic moment for the girls. The issue that it seems some parents have faced is the willingness of their child to internalize all of the therapy they have available to them. I'm proud to say that my daughter calls me her hero (crazy turn around from the days I was blamed for all of her problems), we communicate often (I wrote to her but she never wrote back to me but she would call me often), we had wonderful family therapy sessions and talked about real life things (we also had sessions where she cried and didn't want to talk to me), she has found a passion for her future where once she thought she wouldn't make it to 17 (now she wants to be a vet after being involved with her calf and being in the equine program). I am over the moon, and my dad and brother both see her growth. She will still periodically dysregulate (she is still a teen after all!), but now she uses the skills she has learned to right herself. A program will only work if the child works the program. The ranch is gorgeous, and they provide activities and outings to those who reach a certain phase. The kids have so many opportunities to get help not only therapeutically but also socially and academically. I have not met any employee who doesn't care for the kids. Any child who has been put in a hold has been either a danger to herself or others. I think we all need to remember that the children at the ranch all have issues so to think that it is horrible that there would be kind of outbursts, holds or consequences is not realistic. Honestly, DRS looks for ways for the kids to own their mistakes and move forward when I might be more inclined to take a privilege away if the same behavior occurred at home. My daughter and I have learned to communicate better, and she can clearly express how she is feeling and that helps me know how to help her better. I feel we have been so blessed to land at DRS, and I would recommend it to anyone in the same position as my daughter who was once described as "circling the drain" with her impulsive and dangerous behaviors and choices. She is no longer that girl, and DRS deserves all of the credit for helping her get to the emotional place she is now. She has received nothing but support, guidance, tough love, and encouragement in her endeavors. I am eternally grateful to all of the staff for giving me back my girl!!