CBR YouthConnect Programs


CBR YouthConnect Program History

Over The Years

Incorporated as Colorado Boys Ranch Foundation, our organization and programs are a legacy of resilience.  Over 17,000 at-risk youth plus their families have now been served in 65 years.  We continue to adapt our programs to fit society’s evolving needs and periodic shifts in federal/state funding streams. Read more about our 65 year history.

Originally, we operated as Colorado Boys Ranch in rural southeast Colorado providing residential, foster and group home care in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.  In the 1990’s, we achieved national Joint Commission Accreditation and provided youth from 33 states with award-winning psychiatric residential treatment plus a state accredited specialized school.  In the 2010’s, federal funding reductions plus impact from the national recession, led to our closing campus operations.  Resiliently, we rebranded as CBR YouthConnect; relocated to the Denver Metro area; and applied our expertise to in-home and community-based services for at-risk boys, girls and families statewide.

Covid and Medicaid

In 2020’s, COVID restricted our in-home and community-based services.   At the same time, major shifts occurred in federal and state funding for in-home services.  Providers (like CBR) were coerced to join large Medicaid, mental health systems-of-care with extensive credentialing and referral processes.  Providers were subjected to the Medicaid philosophy of hourly and brief services with emphasis on remote mental health and substance abuse therapies.  We decided not to follow this trend because it is not our passion and would require we abandon our core beliefs and the proven success of our relationship-driven approach.

Collaboration with Paragon BHC

Instead, in 2022, we chose to collaborate with and support Paragon BHC, a new and dynamic Medicaid-credentialed organization.  Gradually, all our staff and in-home cases were absorbed by Paragon and were trained to remotely provide Medicaid mental health and substance abuse services.  Although this ended our being a provider of in-home services, it allowed staff the opportunity to remain employed and become Medicaid credentialed and allowed Paragon BHC to emerge with already developed caseloads.

Did we want to do this?  Not really.  Was this our best option given Medicaid’s philosophy of care.  Absolutely.  We continue to support Paragon BHC and their passion to work as a new-age Medicaid-mental health provider.

Here is a Colorado Sun article highlighting Paragon’s foundation as CBR YouthConnect .

“Our support of Paragon is a great example of how more children and families can be helped when two organizations combine resources and efforts.  It is also gives CBR the opportunity to establish new programs that address the major issues in today’s society”– Chuck Thompson, Past President, Colorado Boys Ranch Foundation

Future Direction

With COVID behind us, we are preparing to re-establish previous community-based and legacy programs with animals, nature, character development and civic responsibility. Our first new program is called HERO-WITHIN.

Community-based programs require collaborations and private funding.  Your on-going financial support helps us sustain these programs.  Please join us as a donor, sponsor or volunteer.

HERO-WITHIN

HERO-WITHIN is an “award and opportunity program” honoring at-risk youth that are remarkable examples of being resilient when facing adversity. These youth are establishing the resilience skills and personal character needed to withstand adversity, bounce back and thrive. Against the odds, they are developing their own “hero-within” – resilience.