Forever Grateful
A Miracle Farm Boys Ranch family shares how six years of steady, patient care helped their son Cody heal, grow, and find his place.
Read the story
A guide for parents and guardians of boys ages 13 to 17.
If your teenage son is struggling at home, at school, or with the people around him, you may be wondering whether a place like Miracle Farm could help. This page walks through who the Boys Residential Program is for, what life on the ranch looks like, and how to take the first step.
At a glance
- Who it is for
- Teenage boys ages 13 to 17 and their families
- Where
- A 325-acre working ranch in Brenham, Texas
- Cost
- There is no cost for placement at Miracle Farm.
- Placement
- Voluntary. Parents or guardians apply, and your son must agree to take part.
Miracle Farm may be a good fit if
- Your son is between 13 and 17 years old.
- He is going through a hard season with family relationships, behavior and social skills, or school.
- He is willing to agree to admission and to take part in the program.
- He is ready for a working ranch day: school every morning, then a horse program, farm and ranch work, and job skills.
- You want to be part of the change, through family weekends, home visits, and family counseling.
It may not be the right fit if
- Your son needs therapeutic services for a high level of emotional disturbance or a physical disability. Miracle Farm is licensed by the State of Texas as a basic, residential childcare facility and is not staffed or equipped for that care.
- He has a significant substance abuse problem. He would need to successfully complete a substance abuse program before admission.
If Miracle Farm is not the right fit, our admissions team may be able to point your family to another program or resource.
What a weekday looks like
Early morning
Each boy is assigned a horse he cares for during his time in the program: feeding, watering, and cleaning stalls. Then a morning devotional with his houseparents and breakfast in the dining hall.
Morning
School on campus through Premier High School, where boys work toward a Texas high school diploma and can earn college credits through Blinn College.
Afternoon
Learning labs for practical job skills such as welding, construction science, farm and ranch maintenance, and horsemanship. Afternoons change with the season and the weather.
Evening
Dinner at home with his houseparents and the other boys in his cottage, chores, and time to relax before an early bedtime.
Where he will live
The cottages are family-style homes with two boys sharing a bedroom. Each cottage serves six to eight boys and is staffed full time by a married, Christian houseparent couple trained in the Trust-Based Relational Intervention® model (TBRI®), developed by the TCU Institute for Child Development.
How your family stays involved
We believe that God created people to be in relationship. Your son is not the only one who grows here.
- Family weekends. Quarterly weekends on the ranch teach families the TBRI® model. Parents are strongly encouraged to come, and other family members are welcome too.
- Home visits. Time at home gives your son the chance to practice new skills and build new patterns with your family.
- Counseling. Licensed counselors provide individual counseling for boys in residence, along with family counseling.
Questions parents ask
How long do boys stay?
Each boy’s length of stay is set by the goals in his own plan of service. The plan is agreed on by your son, your family, and Miracle Farm staff when he is admitted, and it is reviewed every six months.
Is there a cost?
No. There is no cost for placement at Miracle Farm. Donations toward the operation of Miracle Farm are accepted as a family desires and has the ability to do so.
Do we have to be Baptist?
No. Although Miracle Farm is a Baptist-affiliated agency, it does not discriminate based on religious preference. Miracle Farm is a Christ-centered program, so boys attend local Baptist churches with their houseparents and take part in daily devotionals.
Are boys placed here by the courts?
Not typically. Boys are referred in a variety of ways, including by family members, friends, churches, schools, and counselors. A judge or law enforcement officer may suggest Miracle Farm to a boy’s parents, but placement is voluntary.
What about my son after he turns 18?
Young men ages 18 to 21 who age out of the Boys Residential Program can continue in our separate Cornerstone Residency, which helps them with college or a trade as they learn to live on their own.
Read all frequently asked questions
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Forever Grateful
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Take the first step
Call and talk with our licensed social worker about your son and your family. There is no obligation, and a conversation is often the best way to know whether Miracle Farm could help.