About the Charis Program
In the many years of working with teens and adopting several teen programs, we realized the most effective ones are those that are relationship based. Through building strong personal relationships with our teens, we are able to discover the underlying issue enabling the teens to be in a state of confusion. Teens are than able to open up to us and begin the healing process.
Our program is year-round where teens can complete the program within 9–12 months. This timeframe depends on multiple factors, such as the state of the teen at the time of admission, the teen’s ability to accept responsibilities for their actions, progression of emotional thinking to logical thinking, and how soon the teen recovers from regression during the program.
The Charis team understands that each teen is unique and so we use a level system that is structured and goal oriented for all our teens, but the accomplishment of each level is completed as an individual. The accomplishment of each level determines the more responsibilities and awards each teen receives. Through this process, we are able to determine the maturity in the teen’s emotional, physical and spiritual being.
Along with the Charis levels, the teens are involved in daily activities and community events. These daily activities and community events are strategically structured to build up the teen and provide an opportunity for our Charis team to get to know the teen better. It is also a neat and fun way to challenge the teens while helping the teens heal. Activities include horseback riding, rock climbing, swimming, skeet shooting, tennis, basketball, kickball, softball, weightlifting, karaoke, art, and cooking. Charis is involved with the community through local churches and other teen programs that bring in motivated speakers, Christian concerts, and other self-esteem and self-confidence building programs.
All activities and scheduled events at Charis revolve around the need for the staff to develop a deeper relationship with each resident while providing healthy, challenging, fun opportunities for the building of self-esteem and self-confidence.
Charis also uses the Animal Connection Program with our teens. The program is set up to allow the teens to take responsibility in caring for and respecting life. This program brings the teen to an area of unselfishness, sacrifice, and commitment. Through the animals, we are able to break down the stubborn barriers that prevent trust from developing and in turn sets limits to the healing process. Many of our teens find themselves caring of animals more than they thought and it is a tremendous turn around in their attitude and behavior.
Teens are required to attend weekly individual and group counseling sessions through licensed counselors that partner with Charis. Because Charis is very particular in matching the teen up with the right counselor, it is imperative that we have a variety of licensed counselors on our team. A great deal of time is spent in getting to know our partnered counselors and Charis is very selective of our partnered counselors.
While we are focusing on our teens at Charis Ranch, the parents’ involvement is also required. It has been our experienced that once the teen completes the Charis program and is joined back into the home, the teen regresses due to no changes being made at home. Parents must attend parent retreats at Charis Ranch, follow Charis’ policies in the residential program, and be willing to make adjustments to their parenting style. We also encourage parents to gain more wisdom and knowledge on dealing with struggling teens through the resources we recommend and to incorporate the Belief System into their home.
Charis uses a Belief System that is created by Mark Gregston, Founder and Executive Director of Heartlight Ministries. The Belief System is designed to help parents create moral boundaries, rules, and appropriate consequences. This system helps achieve discipline techniques that are effective without destroying the relationship between the parents and their teen, while leaving room for the teen to grow in a healthy manner.
In considering discipline, Charis Ranch does not support corporal punishment in any form, on or off the ranch. Simply put, “Children are not our property to do with whatever we please. They are lent out or barrowed to us to do what God is calling us to do with His child for His purpose and in His way.”
In speaking of His way, Charis Ranch does not force any religion or the gospel on the teens just as Christ would not force himself on us. We are firm believers in how we introduce Christ to our teens. Through our Christ-like actions of unconditional love and grace extended out to the teens, weekly Bible studies, spiritual retreats, and church attendance the opportunity for the teens to know Christ on their own personal level is available.
As for the academics part of Charis Ranch, we use the local surrounding school in the Midland ISD when it’s appropriate and beneficial to the teen. When it’s not, Charis uses the Texas Tech ISD online, distance, homeschool program. There is a fee to use the Texas Tech ISD, but it is necessary when the teen is not quite ready to enter into a public school system.
Charis Ranch is concerned with the individuality of the teen and focuses on what is best for that teen. The Charis team is constantly asking questions and getting to know the teen and we refuse to give up on a teen. With that being said some teens will benefit greatly from being at Charis Ranch while some are better served at other teen programs and we have the heart and wisdom to let God do what he does best—TAKE OVER.
