The Idaho Youth Ranch transformation under CEO Scott Curtis represents one of the most remarkable nonprofit success stories in our state’s history. What began as a struggling organization facing financial challenges has become a beacon of hope for Idaho’s youth and families dealing with mental health crises.
The core problem Scott identified upon joining the organization was striking: Idaho had no accredited residential treatment facility for youth with serious mental health needs. This meant families were forced to send their children to out-of-state facilities, sometimes as far away as Arkansas, severing critical family connections during treatment. For parents already exhausted from trying every possible intervention, this geographic separation added another devastating layer to their struggle. As Scott explained, “These aren’t families who jumped straight to residential treatment – they’ve battled, they’ve fought, they’ve done everything possible to make things work.”
The Idaho Youth Ranch’s history dates back to the 1950s when founders the Crows established a ranch for “wayward boys” on 2,500 acres of sagebrush land outside Rupert. The organization’s humble beginnings included repurposing barracks from the Minidoka Japanese internment camp to create the original lodge. Over decades, the organization evolved to include adoption services, outpatient mental health programs, and thrift stores to generate revenue. However, by the time Scott joined as CEO, financial challenges had forced the closure of the original ranch, and the organization was struggling to find its way forward.
The vision for transformation centered on building Idaho’s first psychiatric residential treatment facility on a spectacular 258-acre property near Middleton. The property itself tells a remarkable story – formerly a tree farm established in the 1960s by the Hopkins family (of Christmas tree lot fame), it evolved into a private estate complete with a nine-hole golf course. The result is a natural oasis with forests, ponds, streams, and open spaces that create an ideal healing environment.
Perhaps most impressive was the capital campaign that made the vision reality. Led by co-chairs Mark Miller and Robert Rebholz, the $20 million campaign launched in June 2020 – at the height of COVID restrictions. While conventional wisdom suggested pausing such efforts during the pandemic, Robert Rebholz insisted, “There’s some people that need something to be caring about.” The campaign broke ground in May 2021 after reaching 85% of its goal in record time, demonstrating the community’s recognition of this critical need.
Today, the Residential Center for Healing and Resilience serves youth ages 11-17 from across Idaho. Each resident has a private room – a key design element based on research from similar facilities nationwide. The campus includes residential lodges, dining facilities, a gymnasium, wellness center with 24-hour nursing, and an on-site charter school to address specialized educational needs. Most importantly, family involvement is central to the program, with parents participating in weekly therapy sessions and family activities.
The impact is already evident. The center’s first graduate, who initially could barely leave her room due to anxiety, left after eight months “walking around the campus like an elder statesman” and helping newer residents. From serving youth across 13 Idaho counties to seeing parents drive weekly from as far as Sandpoint for family therapy, the center is fulfilling its promise to serve the entire state.
