nj.com

Salem Health Wellness gives Ranch Hope grant

CARNEYS POINT TWP. The Salem Health and Wellness Foundation has awarded a grant in the amount of $126,959 to Ranch Hope. The grant funds will be used to help support operations that were disrupted following a major fire on Sept. 1.

The emergency funding provided by the grant will help make available interim administration offices, re-establish the communications infrastructure at the Alloway campus and assist in the planning and design of a new administration building.

It is hoped that grants and contributions from generous individuals and other sources will help Ranch Hope raise additional funds for its programs and fully recover from the substantial losses resulting from the fire.

Ranch Hope was founded in 1962 by the Rev. and Mrs. David L. Bailey. With the assistance of Hiram Strang, a local dairy farmer, Rev. Bailey was able to purchase a 100-acre farm in Alloway. On May 25, 1962, the non-profit corporation, Ranch Hope, Inc. was formed.

Since its founding, Ranch Hope's main campus has expanded into a 130-acre facility. Programs and staff have increased as Ranch Hope has grown.

The services of Ranch Hope incorporate residential, behavioral treatment for boys and girls at the Strang School and the Shelter of HOPE. Ranch Hope's Residential Treatment Center accepts referrals for adolescent males between 9 to 16, and girls between 13 to 17 years of age. The youngsters, who require support in addressing emotional, behavioral and educational needs, receive treatment and care in a family environment, and are supervised 24 hours a day.

The Ranch Hope program provides individualized treatment that helps young people progress as quickly as possible to a less restrictive level of care and ultimately succeed in a home environment. The current on-campus resident population is 55. Another 12 girls are residents of Victory House, and the Shelter houses 10 boys and 6 girls. Another 60 young persons are served by Ranch Hope outpatient programs annually.

The young residents of Ranch Hope experience high levels of family involvement, supervision and support from caring adults, an academic and skill-focused curriculum, individualized treatment plans, positive peer influences, enforcement of a strict code of discipline, the building of self esteem, a family-like atmosphere, integration of a service network beyond the campus and comprehensive discharge planning.

The residents learn self-control, self-discipline and receive positive reinforcement in order to develop a positive self image. Depending on their individualized educational plan, students may attend the Strang School on the Alloway campus, their sending school district, the local public high school, or local public vocational school. Strang School is a regionally accredited, special education school approved by the New Jersey Department of Education that offers a wide range of courses for students in grades 4 through 12.

Foundation Board Chairwoman Sr. Carol Adams, CSJP said that the grant "recognizes that Ranch Hope is a unique and valuable asset to the quality of life in South Jersey. It improves the lives of children and families as no other organization in this region. The Foundation is pleased to assist the Ranch Hope staff in helping children reach their potential."

The Salem Health and Wellness Foundation (SH&WF) was established with the net proceeds resulting from the sale of The Memorial Hospital of Salem County (MHSC) to a subsidiary corporation of CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. The CHS subsidiary, Salem Hospital Corporation, Inc, now owns and operates MHSC.

Thomas A. McGoff, executive director, noted that several other grant proposals from qualified organizations are moving through the Foundation's review process. Application materials and full information about the Foundation's areas of interest and procedures are available on the organization's Web site at www.fdncenter.org/grantmaker/salem/.