History Of Toutle River Boys Ranch

Toutle River Boys Ranch was founded in 1960. Our primary purpose was to provide troubled boys in Cowlitz County a place to live while attending school, gaining work experience and learning socialization skills. The program grew to provide care and treatment to 40 boys in the group home. The program later developed a foster care program and an in-home services program for boys and girls. At this time the name changed to Toutle River Ranch due to the girls who were now being served. Although the services of Toutle River Ranch were initially intended for Cowlitz County kids and families, by 1997 the majority of kids served were from other counties of the State. After undertaking a major planning effort that included many of the people who originally started the program, Toutle River Ranch reviewed its mission and developed a new direction. To this end, Toutle River Ranch ended its group care and foster care programs in 1996, and in 1997 Toutle River Ranch started the Youth and Family Link program.

Youth and Family Link
The first step toward its new direction was the Toutle River Ranch program doing business in a new way, for the local community, as Youth and Family Link. This program began in 1997 and has since led to the development of similar Link programs in the community. This change from group/foster care to community services proved to be the re-defining point for Toutle River Ranch as well as Cowlitz County. Once again, services for kids and families of Cowlitz County, would be provided by the local, non-profit Toutle River Ranch: A program that was started by local citizens, to help those children in need, who are a part of the local community. Youth and Family Link, a program of Toutle River Ranch provides help to kids and families who need to be connected, or linked, to resources that will help their lives improve. Link staff work with kids in school, the community and at home. Rather than work in an office, Link helps kids and families where they are most comfortable.

Major Accomplishments
1. Local grass roots drive to found Toutle River Boys Ranch to provide help for boys in Cowlitz County.
2. Increased group care program to serve the growing need of boys in Cowlitz County.
3. Survived destruction of original facility on the Toutle River due to Mt. St. Helens.
4. Built new, state-of-the art facility with the support of local citizens and government agencies.
5. Development of Toutle River Ranch campus to include living units, on-site school, gymnasium, vocational training program.
6. Development of foster care and in-home services programs to meet needs of children and families.
7. National accreditation through the Council of Accreditation for Children and Family Services.
8. Started Youth and Family Link: changed major services from group/foster care to community services for Cowlitz County youth and families.