Who We Serve

McCrossan Boys Ranch is dedicated to providing a place for boys to grow into men. We reach out to boys between the ages of 9 and 20 who have experienced conflict in their lives. At the Ranch we are fortunate to have our boys surrounded with dedicated and caring individuals that are living examples to the life the boys are striving for. Through values, goals, education and skills we prepare our boys to live a balanced life outside the Ranch.  

Raising a child can be difficult. Each day there are teenage boys who are struggling. Struggling with behavioral and emotional difficulties, problems at home and school, dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts, coping with ADD/ADHD or trying to overcome substance abuse or other addictive behaviors. Boys who are failing in school and need academic help.

Other boys at the Ranch come from broken homes. They have experienced more abuse, violence or neglect than many of us could ever imagine. Absent parents. Boys born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome -some with birth defects. They have been denied medical care. Boys who have faced physical, mental and even sexual abuse. Boys growing up in poverty and even on the streets.

Here are some of the main issues we see at McCrossan Boys Ranch:

At-Risk Youth: 

When a teen engages in dangerous behavior (for example, substance abuse or bullying), these acts are usually warning signs of larger problems. These are youth in need of an intervention. 

Juvenile Delinquency:

Boys who have had run ins with authority or the law. Types of common delinquency we see are theft/shoplifting, larceny, assault, gang involvement, vandalism, disorderly conduct, possession of illegal substances and curfew violations or truancy.

Self-Injurious Behavior/Self-Mutilization:

When children harm themselves (for example, by cutting or burning the skin), it’s important to act quickly. Self-injurious behavior is a growing trend among teens and can be a warning sign of larger problems.

Substance Abuse:

At McCrossan’s, we recognize the seriousness of teenage drug and alcohol use. We also know it is important to look past the usage and focus on the cause. McCrossan Boys Ranch has working relationships with local institutions specializing in outpatient and inpatient substance abuse along with working with local AA/NA groups.

Adolescent Depression:

Many teenage behavior problems mask depression. Even mild depression can lead to self-abusive behavior. We work closely with our youth to address personal issues and find the optimal treatment.

ADD/ADHD: 

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can have a profound impact on a child’s behavior. The extent to which these conditions affect a child with an ADD or ADHD diagnosis will vary; therefore, we customize the therapeutic program for each child to meet his needs. Our accredited on-campus school specializes in working with kids with this diagnosis.
Behavioral Problems:

Behavioral problems can be outward symptoms of greater struggles a child is dealing with. Acting out, fits of anger or rage, inappropriate conversations, lying, bullying, manipulation, lack of motivation, difficulties managing emotions, destructive behaviors, starting arguments and not responding to discipline are all common issues we work with at McCrossan’s. These can be signs of deeper issues such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Conduct Disorder (CD) or other problems.
Sexual Promiscuity:

Children who sexually act out are often using this behavior to mask other serious issues. The key to understanding sexual promiscuity is to look beneath the behavior and try to understand the root cause.
Academic Problems:
McCrossan Boys Ranch has a special program designed to help get kids caught up in school. They work with youth on some of the autism spectrum disorders or those who have had issues with truancy. The Ranch school has teachers who are trained to handle a number of different kinds of behaviors and provide excellent educational opportunities so each youth can reach their full potential and earn a high school diploma.