How will Colorado Boys Ranch benefit from the name and logo change?
The name change will give recognition to our progress and encourage
others to support our Mission. Over the past decade, Colorado Boys
Ranch (CBR) has been naturally evolving, growing and improving the
number and quality of services we offer to boys from across the United
States. This progress has accelerated at a particularly fast rate over
the past three years, resulting in very high accreditation and
performance ratings for CBR. With such success have come new
opportunities to expand our vision and scope of services to include
more youth and their families on an even greater scale. We have evolved
beyond the boundaries of Colorado and beyond the definition of a
'ranch.' As CBR YouthConnect, we remain committed to our heritage,
core values and leadership structure - we simply want our identity to
better match who we have become.
That's why in 2003, CBR leadership felt confident that CBR was
evolving into an organization that could extend its therapeutic
connection to serve more communities across the nation. Out of this
emerged an expanded vision and a new name that would better encompass
our mission and scope: CBR YouthConnect. CBR YouthConnect remains a 501
(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Why was the name "YouthConnect" chosen?
The two words were chosen with great care. "Youth"
is who we serve. "Connect" is what we do. The name YouthConnect
more accurately reflects the purpose and identity of CBR: connecting
youth and their families with the knowledge, relationships and
resources they need to become hopeful, productive citizens. It also
helps differentiate us from other "boys' ranches" throughout the
nation. The word "connect" was specially chosen because of the key
role it plays in fostering relationships, understanding and insight -
the ingredients that are necessary for providing healing, hope and
positive change.
What does the new logo symbolize?
Each element of the new logo contributes to the YouthConnect identity.
The oak tree, grown from a small acorn, symbolizes strength, growth and
stability. The root system connects the organization's core values,
knowledge base and heritage to relationships and understandings through
people to people, people to animals and both to nature and the world.
All of these elements, plus the logo's earth colors, reflect the
organization's agricultural heritage. The youth look ahead with
anticipation to their future with a blue sky overhead.
Will the new brand affect CBR's mission and philosophy?
Our 45-year mission and philosophy remains steadfast
and solid. Through the funding and support of our umbrella
organization, YouthConnect International (Colorado Boys Ranch
Foundation), we are simply building upon our strong heritage to expand
our vision and continue advancing our mission of "achieving
excellence in providing troubled youth with the means to become hopeful
and productive citizens" on an even greater scale.
The philosophy and approach to treatment and education at CBR
YouthConnect also will remain the same. As CBR YouthConnect, we will
continue our stance that there is no one-size-fits-all formula when it
comes to the treatment of our youth. CBR YouthConnect will continue to
emphasize a customized approach within the context of an ethical
environment based on research, individual opportunity and choice. Our
name may be new, but our mission and philosophy will remain unchanged.
What impact will the new brand have upon CBR's programs and services?
Our new logo emphasizes the importance of
relationships, opportunity and youth being involved with animals.
Helping boys develop personal responsibility for their behaviors and
growth is still very important to us. The new YouthConnect brand and
organizational structure will better facilitate the advancement of
these programs and services by linking the future work and research of
YouthConnect Institute and YouthConnect Alliance with the leading-edge
treatment taking place at CBR YouthConnect. This will enable CBR to
expand upon our current foundation to offer even more innovative
programs and services to our youth.
What programs and services does CBR YouthConnect offer?
All of the current Colorado Boys Ranch programs will continue to be
offered. These include more than 200 applied learning opportunities and
non-traditional programs and therapies - each one designed to help
youth enhance their skills, attitudes and relations with others.
Programs and services range from animal-assisted programs to family
therapy to an accredited school system. Each program and service
offered by CBR YouthConnect is designed to contribute to a boy's
overall treatment plan, helping him learn, grow and develop as an
individual.
For a description of CBR YouthConnect programs and services, click here.
How many youth does CBR YouthConnect serve each year?
In 2005, CBR YouthConnect will serve approximately 165 youth, ages
10-21, from all ethnic, cultural, geographic and socio-economic
backgrounds.
What is the relationship between CBR YouthConnect and YouthConnect International?
Just as Colorado Boys Ranch Foundation (CBRF) has been
the umbrella organization providing financial support for Colorado
Boys Ranch, YouthConnect International - the new name for CBRF - is the
umbrella organization of CBR YouthConnect. It is responsible for
generating the resources that help support all of the organization's
programs and services.
How is CBR YouthConnect planning to share its knowledge on a more national and international scale?
For several decades, CBR has been helping troubled
boys from different ethnic, cultural, geographic and socio-economic
backgrounds. We have learned much and believe it is our responsibility
to share and exchange information with other professionals nationally
and internationally. We frequently receive national and international
inquiries about our program design, requests for professional
internships on our campus, and invitations to share our knowledge and
experience at conferences and workshops. Staff members travel to
countries around the world, providing the latest research, treatment
and education to help troubled youth and their families. We are
committed to increasing this valuable outreach.
What are YouthConnect Institute and YouthConnect Alliance?
In addition to providing resources for CBR
YouthConnect, YouthConnect International also serves as the umbrella
organization for two emerging branches: YouthConnect Institute and
YouthConnect Alliance. These two arms of YouthConnect International
ultimately will play a critical role in supporting and exporting the
treatment that takes place at CBR YouthConnect. YouthConnect Institute
will serve as the research, professional education and consultation
branch of the organization. It is responsible for conducting research
and acquiring and sharing knowledge through scientific exchange.
YouthConnect Alliance serves as the advocacy arm for educating the
public about the needs, potential and benefits to society of helping
troubled youth and their families.