Carmel teen support foundation adds small group programs
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A central Indiana not-for-profit was founded to bring teens with mental health issues into an environment they find enriching and therapeutic. Now, Carmel-based Ben’s Ranch Foundation is expanding its programming to bring together small groups of 14- to 18-year-olds with mental or emotional health conditions to both improve their health and gain work experience.
Ben’s Ranch started as a program where teens were connected to work opportunities on farms, ranches, stables and therapeutic riding facilities. Teens with conditions like depression, anxiety, trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder could participate in part-time paid internships.
The new program would include six, three-hour segments where participants can learn about farmhand work and other soft skills. The sessions would be at a variety of locations on Saturdays or weekday mornings.
Cost of the group program is $300. Household income waivers and discounts are available, the foundation said.
“We’ve really come to appreciate all the benefits of getting teens together for a few hours to work, learn and interact with peers and adults,” Brose McVey, Ben’s Ranch Foundation Founder and Executive Director, said in a news release. “Getting away from cell phones, getting outdoors and doing physical work has a magical effect on young people, particularly those who are hurting inside.”
Ben’s Ranch said the small group programs are aimed at improving teen’s mental and emotional health, providing relief from stressful environments and preparing them for future work.