People who generously donate to a program like the Hill Country Youth Ranch have a right to know, not only how their gifts have been used, but also about outcomes in the lives of children. Has this been a good investment?

Friends have often said that if just one child has been spared loneliness, ongoing abuse, or being left out of the opportunities the rest of us take for granted, it’s all been worth it, and it has. But we want to know about all our children, over years of time. Just how many of them have healed and gone on to live productive lives?

For over 26 years now, we’ve been keeping track, and the evidence is dramatic about the difference we’re making. National statistics show that, without intervention, less than 30% of severely abused children escape the cycle of repeating the abuse or criminal behavior of parents. The prisons of the nation are full of "Wednesday’s children."

Based on five "outcome measures", we know that 75% of our alumni are successful in the first 10 years after leaving us. After age 30, the success rate jumps to over 90%. Sometimes our "works in progress" take time to assimilate all they’ve learned, but nevertheless "get it" before it’s too late.

The five outcome measures are: 1) school success (finish high school eventually if not while in residence); 2) find gainful employment (not living on welfare); 3) show decreased contact with law enforcement (do not return to justice system, even if they have an early encounter); 4) psychological stabilization (live free of mental health system); and 5) socialization (establish long-term friendships and/or family, including children).

In this newsletter, we provide examples to illustrate these outcomes. The stories mix our celebrations of breakthrough accomplishments by alumni with glimpses of activities by current residents that are setting them on a path to success.

Again and again, children show themselves to be the good soil where miracles can happen, if given a chance. The world of values they discover at the Youth Ranch, free of violence and neglect, is new to them and takes time to absorb. It also takes time for children to accept being loved. Their healing, in fact, is a life-long journey. We start with each child just where we find him or her, valuing progress as it comes over time.