Help for Troubled, Abused or Neglected Boys

The Burke Center for Youth has been offering help for troubled boys for almost 40 years. We have a residential treatment facility that helps boys who are struggling with behavioral and emotional problems - these boys include:

• Troubled Boys from Stable Families - Sometimes, the events of our children's lives seem out of our control. You may provide a stable, loving environment for your son. For whatever reason things seem to be falling apart around you. We understand that you love your child - you love them so much that you are seeking help. Pathfinder's Ranch can help your family heal, and give your son the help he needs.
• Abused and Neglected Boys - The Burke Center provides a stable, caring and rehabilitative environment for abused and neglected children as well. These children have no one - Pathfinder's Ranch will give them a stable, nurturing environment.

Pathfinders Ranch Boy's Treatment Program

Pathfinder’s Ranch is a Boy’s Residential Treatment Center located in Driftwood, Texas. We work with boys struggling with significant behavioral and emotional problems. Often they have experienced traumatic events which have led to their inability to manage their behaviors effectively. Boys range in age from eleven to eighteen. Our treatment program is designed for youth who need a very structured setting and constant supervision. We have a ratio of one counselor to five boys during waking hours and during sleeping hours, we maintain a ratio of one awake-counselor to less than fifteen boys. This program is for boys who have been unable to have success living in a family environment. Some have suffered abuse or neglect and some are on juvenile probation with court-ordered residency. Other boys have been placed by parents who realize that intensive treatment is warranted. In any case, our goal is to work on helping boys to learn to have successful relationships with others.

While at Pathfinders, these youth receive 24 hour supervision and care, therapy and education to help them to prepare for independent living. The boys attend an on-site classroom conducted by The University of Texas Charter School. Their days are also filled with recreation events, therapeutic interventions, assigned chores, and community volunteer projects. All youth spend ample time outdoors participating in camping, scouting, and horse-riding adventures. Through the day to day living and special activities, our staff is dedicated to developing positive relationships with each child.

Therapeutic Modalities

The Pathfinders Ranch team utilizes a multi-disciplinary approach with aspects of psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral , and didactic models. Our clinical team is at the core of our treatment success. Collectively, they have more than 125 years of experience working with adolescents in a treatment setting.

Modalities include:

• Weekly individual psychotherapy sessions
• Weekly group therapies - Substance abuse, anger management, sexual issues
• Family therapy provided as often as once weekly - Family members who live far away may still participate through web cam
• Monthly or twice monthly visits with Psychiatrist

Because television and video games are usually a source of distraction from the task at hand we have removed them from daily life here at the ranch. Though we have occasional movie night and allow residents to earn the use of handheld games, we are generally busy with experiential programming. Our counselors are outside with our boys almost all of the time. Additionally, we have many community run programs on our campus with trained volunteers providing instruction and programming in their area of expertise. Our Horsemanship program, Music program, 4-H program and Boy Scout Troop 111 are programs led by volunteers. We also have a non-denominational Chapel Service led by a different community church each week of the month.

Contact the Burke Center today for more information.