29. December 2011 by admin.

Our boys

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20. December 2011 by admin.

AN “almost” PERFECT CHRISTMAS
By: Martin Masar

Sometimes it takes the wisdom of a child to open the eyes of others. In September of 2011, as the leaves of fall were finding their way down to the ground, a group of children at CBR YouthConnect were having a group meeting. One of the youngsters indicated that he did not know the meaning of giving and sharing, because he had never experienced it in his life. He recalled his young years of disillusionment and distrust. He could not have prevented his birth or the years of testing and doctors all trying to help the struggling parents find an answer to his many behavior problems. It was suggested during the group that possibly by giving to others, in any way he felt comfortable, he might be able to experience the feeling of giving. The feeling when your heart swells a hundred times and you know – it was “almost perfect”. The group of children conjured up a plan to ask needed area families to come and participate in the annual CBRYC Christmas Party.
I suppose this is where I come in, as Executive Director my job was to find those needy families. I was certain I would have no trouble finding them and with the help of another service organization three families were eventually identified. We gently contacted each and asked if they would like to come to our Christmas party. We told them there would be plenty of gifts for the children and even gifts for the parents too – no one was to be left out this Christmas.
The families were overwhelmed and tearful. As the Holiday Season approached we began the preparations for the annual event, with planning, parades, and a myriad of other events and activities needing to be coordinated. Oh, and it was decided that no agency funds were to be used for these families. If this giving from our youth to these families were to occur, it would be from our hearts. In the lessons we learn, the greatest act of giving is that which comes from within. Finding that perfect place makes for an almost perfect Christmas.
In the weeks that followed, children and staff from CBR YouthConnect reached deep into their pockets and began purchasing items for the affectionately called “CBRYC Christmas Families”. One 12 year old youngster recalled he was once on the receiving end of this type of kindness. He reached into his pocket and produced a ragged torn one dollar bill. He placed it in the donation box and smiled. This act of kindness had a profound effect on all of us. Then, as if by some magical force from somewhere just beyond the Northpole the donations flooded in.
Several days prior to the annual event, staff members packed up several Christmas trees, lights and ornaments and took them to the family homes. We did not want the families go to another day without a Christmas tree and lights. In one home, found to be barely fit for the family, with plastic covered windows and other bits and pieces of life sewn together to hold the house intact, a child of maybe three or four answered the door.
The staff handed him the Christmas tree, lights and ornaments. His eyes burst open and not sure he was believing what he was seeing, he placed the tree box on the ground and laying beside it studied the picture of the Christmas tree. He excitedly shouted out, “Is this what I think it is - is this it – is this our Christmas tree?” The staff whose eyes were now filled with tears announced excitedly, “Yes, and lights too and ornaments – all for you and your Christmas tree!” The mother proud in her way, fought back tears as she tried in-vain to hush the Christmas spirit within the child.
As the child danced out his excitement, he paused only momentarily to ask his mother “is this now an almost perfect Christmas?” She wiped the tears from her eyes and gently caressing his face replied, “Yes, this is now an almost perfect Christmas.”
Oh, and on that night of nights, the CBRYC annual Christmas party, the children of CBRYC who masterminded this idea met the Christmas Families. It is in those moments, those unexpected times when the eyes of a four year old child meets with the eyes of a 10 year old, the boundaries of life fade and all to a suddenly they are but lifelong friends - drawn together by the magical spirit of Christmas.
It wasn’t until after the festivities were over, the meal devoured, and the gifts unwrapped, that one youngster who had been rather vocal about his experiences with giving approached me. “Nice night Mr. Masar?” he asked. I replied, “Almost perfect, you agree?” He stared away, somewhere beyond the Northpole to a magical and wonderful place and said, “Naw, it was perfect.”
*It takes the kindness of others to reach deep into their pockets and support our children. It takes you. Become the “U” in YouthConnect. Please help CBR YouthConnect. Visit our web-site at cbryouthconnect.org.

**In 2011, 90% of the children residing at CBR YouthConnect, voluntarily reached into their hearts and donated from their meager bank accounts to the CBRYC Christmas Families. For the staff this generous act of giving by the children in their care – was indeed priceless and yes, A Perfect Christmas.

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16. December 2011 by admin.

The United States ranks #1 in child abuse deaths . . . . . . in the industrialized world.
When Brian was much too little to remember most things, he lived in a world of abuse and neglect. He suffered from severe physical abuse and torture. Tied to his bed for hours and sometime days, he would lapse into a make believe world where children were happy and fed and cared for and maybe loved too. He remembers screaming and fighting as he was forced into a freezer and the door locked. There in the isolated, dark chill, he would think that maybe this time, like so many other times before, if only he could behave better they would not hurt him. Yet, with each time, there came another round of beatings, and deep inside he found a place of anger, revenge and hatred. Into this world a child named Brian was born. In time, Brain’s behavior did match his abuse and he came to be called incorrigible, disruptive, disordered, deficit, and disturbed. An untreatable child destine for prison.
Upon his arrival at CBR YouthConnect, Brain was heavily overmedicated - a walking zombie of sorts. The medications were used to subdue his violent tendencies. Like the layers of a rose, peddle by peddle and thorn by thorn, the professionals at CBR YouthConnect began to look for the child hiding deep inside. A child afraid of the world and yet yearning to be happy and fed and cared for and maybe loved too. In the 15 months that have passed, Brain is gently and confidently on his way. No struggle such as that which Brian endured is easily over or cured, but in time maybe the hurt and fear will subside.
Brain’s caseworker and legal advocate visited recently. They praised his accomplishments and recognized his growth. During their closing discussions they asked Brain what he wanted for Christmas. Brian replied he did not need anything, for all he had ever wanted he found here. The kindly caseworker replied, but I bet you could use some money, what 15 year old doesn’t want $150 dollars. She handed Brian the money. He looked at the generous offering and turned to his legal advocated and placed the money in her hands. He then said give this to another child who has no home for Christmas.
Sometimes the greatest moments of healing are never for those we intended. The advocated said in forty years no child has ever given the money back. She bowed her head down and wept. They were not tears of sadness, but maybe because Brian had finally found a place in this world where children were happy and fed and cared for and loved too.

It takes the kindness of others to reach deep into their pockets and support our children. It takes you. Become the “U” in YouthConnect. Please help CBR YouthConnect. Visit our web-site at cbryouthconnect.org.

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13. December 2011 by admin.

Count backward from 10 to 1, one second at a time. Ten, nine, eight, go on, finish. Why? Just so you would feel the exact moment when another child across the United States suffers from abuse. Every 10 seconds in the United States a child abuse report is made, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
CBR YouthConnect is a nationally recognized center for hurt children from across the United States. With age ranges from 10 to 21, and 50 plus years of business, we have seen the most horrendous and repulsive forms of child abuse. . . . and it isn’t getting any better. No backyard, no neighborhood and no community are immune from child abuse. We recently admitted a youngster from a charming idyllic mountain community who pristine tranquility was shattered by recognition that one of their own, a 10 year old child, was forced to stand in a snow bank as punishment. A kind individual spotted the child and after considerable time notified the authorities. Prior to admission, the child had several toes amputated.
Today, this child is healthy and well. His healing journey has just begun in the caring and capable hands of the professional experts at CBR YouthConnect. His care and treatment, like so many others who have been hurt, is expensive. The economic struggles of the nation have devastated public funding for our most vulnerable persons – our children.

It takes the kindness of a stranger, who has seen enough, to reach deep into their pockets and support our children. It takes you. Become the “U” in YouthConnect. Please help CBR YouthConnect. Visit our web-site at cbryouthconnect.org.

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13. June 2011 by admin.

Listening for Christmas spirit, I have heard it. At the request of someone that understands the meaning of Christmas, we placed outdoor speakers right outside my office at Admin. This meant that I had to get out onto a ladder with ice and snow everywhere. Would this produce the feeling of Christmas? Many walked by and said that the kids would mess with them or that everyone in the building would be ready to roast me like a Christmas turkey for having to listen to that stuff all day. Today made it all worth my while. I had been listening to traditional Christmas music when I thought I would put on one of my favorite CD’s, the “Polar Express” sound track. It wasn’t long until the famed “Hot Chocolate” song began to play over the speakers. Much to my amazement, boys where outside my door, between classes, singing along. That made it all worth it. My heart filled with joy like a stocking full of toys. That was the Christmas spirit Paula had wanted. Merry Christmas.

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7. April 2011 by admin.

At times, working at CBR YouthConnect you get to a point where you think you could not be more proud of “Our Boys” and then you experience just one more thing that makes you so proud to be affiliated with such wonderful and talented young men that it brings tears to your eyes. Once again it has happened. The boys in the Art’s and Craft’s class participated in the 55th Annual Otero Art’s Festival. With over 2,000 participants this year, representing 27 schools, CBRYC had a number of submissions from 14 boys, with 11 of those entries earning ribbons! This represents 30% of all the children at CBRYC. Once again I say gosh, I just couldn’t be more proud of “Our Boys!” We must congratulate all of the boys and also the staff who poured their hearts and dedication into completing the projects and getting them ready for submission into the Art Show. Marianne Hale and Corky McKenzie along with the help of Debbie Henderson and many unit staff helped in making this Arts Festival another memorable occasion! We must celebrate the milestones in the lives of these boys. It takes something different from a teacher - it requires a connection to the student. When our boys find that something inside that comes alive with the Arts, we once again have changed a life forever.

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10. December 2010 by admin.

A JUNTA — Residents of CBR YouthConnect are helping others — from the kitchen.

Youths at the psychiatric residential treatment center, formerly known as the Colorado Boys Ranch, are taking part in the center’s new Catering Connection program. They’re baking pies, breads and desserts to donate to holiday meals in the community. And they’re helping needy students in the Arkansas Valley by filling backpacks with food through Care and Share’s Backpack Program, which provides free lunches.

The youths are Patrick Lundahl, Tyler Crotsenberg, Christopher “Kit” Lyons, James McDonald, Israel Farrell and Skyler Lane. They are enrolled in the Principles of Food Technology class at the treatment center. It’s an academic class that meets every day — four days of book work and one day of cooking — and for which students get credit and a certificate.

“They have to earn their way into the class,” says instructor Kristi Hartless. “They have to show appropriate behavior, they have to meet their (treatment) program goals. They’re the cream of the crop, the ones who have more initiative.

“We’re teaching different aspects of food service: cooking, waiting on people, dishwashing. We’re giving them skills so when they leave they might have a chance at a job.”

The class and the catering experience have other real-world applications that the boys understand, says Martin Masar, executive director of CBR YouthConnect.

“They did a (role-playing) session on how to handle an angry customer,” Masar says. “These kids have been hurt and abused all their lives and some of them have anger problems of their own. What a powerful clinical tool — to show them that they can wait on people with a smile.”

Masar also says that volunteering to help other people causes a person to open his heart to receive emotional rewards, feelings such as compassion, happiness, excitement, hope and love, and that these emotions have healing powers.

This is the first year youths are helping in the catering program, according to Tammy Talmich, the catering manager.

“We have four kids in the class who work in the kitchen during the day, helping prep food, clean up, whatever we need them to do. They handle the situations so wonderfully. Most of the time they go and do the task and do it in a timely manner.”

The youths will make 600 dinner rolls for a community Christmas dinner and might bake gingerbread men, too, Talmich says.

“They’ve made everything from flatbread to stromboli (meat- and cheese-filled pastry) to desserts. We want to teach them to make candy.

“They’ve done some catering at the ranch. We had a business dinner and one man said he thought it was a professional catering firm. They did an excellent job; they were very service-oriented.

“The kids have such pride in themselves.”

Talmich says she sees a real change in one young man when he enters the kitchen.

“He is very standoffish — he has a lot of trust issues and doesn’t like to interact with others. But put him in the kitchen and he’s smiling and laughing. He made some of the best pumpkin cheesecake I’ve ever eaten — from scratch. The kids requested it for our dinner here at the ranch.”

Talmich says he has the talent to go on to a career in the food industry “if he puts his mind to it.”

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28. December 2009 by admin.

On Wednesday, December 16th, one of our therapists approached me to update on several of her cases. We discussed one particular young child who was about to be discharged. She indicated that his funding had expired and negotiations with the referral source were unsuccessful. In addition, this young child could not, for whatever reasons, return to his home. The CBRYC treatment team recommended he be placed in a step-down level of care. The therapist received notice that there were no available beds in any of the potential receiving facilities. His referring Colorado County decided it best to place this young child in a juvenile detention center over the Christmas Holidays until a receiving bed could be found. CBRYC offered the County an absurdly reduced daily rate, in order to keep this young child here until such time as a more appropriate facility could be found. We certainly expected them to jump at this offer and felt this was certainly more appropriate and humane than sending him to a juvenile jail for Christmas. The County replied they would not fund anything. Thereafter, we contacted the mother of this child. She was very distraught. We offered her an even more reduced rate, if she would like her child to remain with us over the holidays. She was extremely pleased and very emotional. Keeping in mind, I had never met this young child; my day quickly progressed into the usual things that occupy my time. Sometime later a young child came to the office waiting room and shyly asked for me. I went to him and introduced myself. I remember he grabbed the sleeve of my jacket as if to make sure he got my attention. He timidly gave me his name and said he was the one who was about to be placed in detention. His eyes opened up and he said thank you and that he really wanted to stay at CBRYC over the holidays. He said this was the best Christmas present he had ever received. He went on to say, “My mom cried.” We exchanged pleasantries and I told him I was so happy he could be with us. I told him I would look for him at the Holiday party on Friday evening. As he smiled, his deep dark eyes locked with mine. Later that evening, as I pondered the day’s events and remembered the deep dark eyes of that child, I heard a song that suddenly meant so much more to me.

“Away in a manger, No crib for His bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head…….
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And take us to heaven - to live with Thee there.”

As with the last 50 years and for the next 50 years, at CBRYC our “children” will never be an economic burden or an “accepted causality” – but indeed our most precious gift.

Martin Masar
Executive Director

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26. October 2009 by admin.

More troops than ever are leaving their homes and families for the harsh and demanding terrain of war. With this increased mobilization, more families are being moved as well. Children taken from schools and supplanted into other, maybe even foreign-based military schools. Additionally, many parents face the stress of having little to no support for these youths, who are often confused and reacting to their respective environments. Parents may in fact be overwhelmed by the hurricane of changing responsibilities and additional resistance from the youths.
In 2008, nearly 13,000 military marriages ended, and a study done by the Armed Forces & Society shows that American military veterans are more than 62% more likely to have had a failed marriage. These shocking statistics reveal the very real and domestic casualty that can be: the American Military family. But it does not have to be. Is there some way, any way, to assist these families that struggle so much already? Is there someone who cares enough to not let these families end up as another statistic?
There is such a place. CBR YouthConnect wants to give back a small portion of the sacrifices of America’s Military and their families. We are proud to be able to offer such a service, and WE WANT TO HELP! As an approved TriCare provider, CBR YouthConnect has ensured that not only will these families be supported and cared for, but will receive just and honest treatment for youths that have fallen off the right path. Moreover, CBR YouthConnect has seen, treated, and served dozens of Military families in need of a little help.
CBR YouthConnect is a nationally recognized and accredited residential treatment facility located in La Junta, Colorado. The CBR campus itself was at one time a military establishment during World War II and still enjoys hosting Armed Forces Day celebrations. CBR YouthConnect has been serving thousands of youths from all over the world for the last 50 years! CBR YouthConnect is also always looking forward in the best ways to help youths in need of a little guidance.
CBR YouthConnect offers not just a structured and guided Education program, but many other on campus activities as well. Among these are Horsemanship, Woodshop, and Animal Care. In addition, our widely recognized New Leash on Life Program offers youth the chance to train and care for a dog, many of which were mistreated or abandoned.
CBR YouthConnect President Chuck Thompson expressed his personal excitement for helping Military families: “For…50 years, our organization has grown and evolved to meet the needs of society, and to now be able to provide our mental health and educational services to our U.S. military service members and their families makes us very proud.”

Thanks to you, the American Military, and our Nation.

God bless America!

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5. August 2009 by admin.

On Oct. 2, CBR YouthConnect will celebrate 50 years worth of experience helping troubled boys and girls in unique settings, giving them the ability to be productive and responsible members of society.
One of the leading methods in treating youth to reconnect with society has been to first teach them how to connect with animals.
On Wednesday, Denver businessman Steve Fuller, president of Colorado Boys Ranch Foundation, reviewed for the La Junta Rotary Club how Colorado Boys Ranch was started from scratch by a group of state judges and La Junta businessmen who saw the need to help some 4,000 “delinquent” boys get a second chance in life. Fuller also told the Rotarians how CBR YouthConnect has evolved into one of the nation’s premier psychiatric residential treatment facilities.
Fuller weaved into about 40 minutes a story that is long and complicated, full of challenges, changes and countless positive outcomes. But one thing has remained constant: From its humble beginnings until today, the Boys Ranch has learned that caring for animals often is the key to helping troubled youth reconnect in positive ways with the people around them.
“It’s an exciting time for CBR YouthConnect,” Fuller said. “There is great potential here for research down the road, especially in animal-assisted therapy. We’ve already had some teams come to study how we do things, but there are no standards for it across the nation.”
In other words, CBR YouthConnect sets the standard in animal-assisted therapy for helping boys at the ranch north ot La Junta, which Fuller said will continue to house only boys, and for girls who are part of new programs evolving in the Denver area. One of those programs “Pawsitive Connection” has paired more than 340 girls and boys with dogs to train help them to help people with disabilities.

The boys and girls come from residential treatment centers across the Denver metro area to participate in the animal-assited therapy program provided at CBR YouthConnect facilties.
Fuller said he knows there is a tremendous amount of money available across the nation that CBR YouthConnect can tap into to continue to build its animal-assisted therapy. He also knows many colleges and universities are interested in studying how CBR YouthConnect not only manages the program, but also how it achieves some amazing rates of success in turning around the lives of troubled youth.
Under the guidance of Chuck Thompson, who served many years as the chief administrator at the ranch, still serving president of the CBR Foundation, some other new programs have evolved that might be unfamiliar to folks in the La Junta area.
Fuller said Thompson connected several years ago with Tri-Care, the U.S. military’s primary healthcare provider and insurer, to help serve military families, especially during times of increased deployment of forces overseas, which splits apart families and can increase the need for help with youths. Fuller said Maj. Gen. Arnold R. “Bob” Thomas got excited about that connect and has been a member of the foundation’s board since.
More recently, Thompson and the staff discovered a highly successful youth program in the Philadelphia area called George Jr. Republic. It specializes in “preventative aftercare,” which helps youngsters in the juvenile justice system stay in their homes through a variety of specialized services. The Philadelphia juvenile justice system has helped hundreds of children avoid placement in psychiatric residential treatment facilities.
Thompson brought the program back to Colorado by first sending a group of CBR YouthConnect counselors to Pennsylvania last year to learn how it could be successfully recreated here. Thompson is now introducing the preventative aftercare program to counties across Colorado.
“The judges love it. Social workers love it, and the program is exploding,” Fuller said.
Some things have remained the same here as they always were at the ranch north of La Junta. Bob Cody, a member of the original CBR board of directors, still serves on the CBR Foundation Board. The ranch still has an executive director, Martin Masar, who has demonstrated the ability to make tough choices like his predecessor, Thompson. Under Masar‘s guidance, Colorado Boys Ranch has continued to operate in the black during the current tough economy.
Also under Masar, CBR YouthConnect has continued to maintain its heritage, and will continue to stand for Colorado Boys Ranch, Fuller said.
The rebranding as CBR YouthConnect in 2002 helped establish a new direction for Colorado Boys Ranch, including rebuilding its appeal in Colorado to philanthropic organizations that were most interested in seeing Colorado youth helped.
Under CBR YouthConnect, a unique blend of psychotherapy, environments enriched by animal-based therapy, and neuroscience has evolved to give boys here, and both boys and girls in the Denver area, a well-rounded and balanced therapy experience.
Colorado Boys Ranch today can boast of accreditation from some of the state’s and nation’s leading groups. They include:
– Joint Commission on Accreditation and Healthcare Organization;
– North Central Association Commission on Accreditation of School Improvement;
– TRICARE/TriWest, which provides healthcare services to U.S. military families;
– National Association for Children’s Residential Centers;
– Colorado Association of Family and Children’s Associations; and,
– Colorado Division of Mental Health Certification.
A recent study of former CBR youth reported a 92.5 percent treatment success rate, which was based on eight different criteria, including whether the youth was reunited iwth his family or guardians, or was able to live independently.
That kind of success can be attributed to many factors, including the fact the organization has continued to evolve to meet the needs of a changing society. But Colorado Boys Ranch (CBR YouthConnect) also can trace its success back to its humble beginnings, when it first met the needs of boys who needed a second chance at life, rather than just another long stay inside a cell block.
To read the full story of those humble beginnings, how CBR developed here, and how it changed and imprved through the 1950s, ‘60s, ‘70’s, 80’s and 90’s, pick up a copy of the 50th anniversary edition of “The Rancher,” the publication of Colorado Boys Ranch Foundation.

http://www.lajuntatribunedemocrat.com/homepage/x863180898/Exciting-future-storied-past

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