Candidates for Liberty Youth Ranch are children between the ages of 4 and 17 who are truly destitute and face seemingly insurmountable challenges.

The primary target: orphaned, abused, abandoned, neglected, and homeless children – children who have little hope of reconciliation with their parents, are in need of a loving home, and who need to have the opportunity simply to be children. Children whose parents, guardians or relatives have the means and are able and willing to raise their children will be not be eligible.

Liberty Youth Ranch will always remain committed to providing services to this vulnerable and important group. These children desperately need a comfortable, stable, structured, and supportive living environment. They may have demonstrated an inability to function and handle the emotional demands of a foster home.

Guidelines:

• Non-delinquent girls and boys between the ages 4-17
   

• Must live within FL’s District Eight: Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, & Lee Counties
   

• Must be able to function successfully in a public school
   

• No active suicidal or homicidal threats, ideation, or behavior currently or in recent history
   

• No current drug/alcohol dependencies
   

• No history of sexual offending behavior or sexual perpetration
   

• Youth with mild to moderate emotional and/or behavioral problems, such as depression, anxiety, oppositional/defiant behavior, lying, stealing, school conduct problems, academic underachievement, poor social skills, issues related to past abuse, poor anger management, poor self-image, etc. Children/adolescents exhibiting more severe problems will be evaluated on an individual, case-by-case basis.
   

• Children will be referred to Liberty Youth Ranch by the Florida Department of Children and Families, judges, community ministries and agencies (i.e., Emergency Shelters, Boys & Girls Clubs, Salvation Army, YMCA, etc.), churches, school counselors, families, and word-of-mouth.
   

• Youth committed to the FL Department of Juvenile Justice will not be eligible for admission to Liberty Youth Ranch. 
   

• There will be no charge for admission or restriction to Liberty Youth Ranch based on race, class, religion or creed.
   

The following are examples of situations from which children are considered for admission to Liberty Youth Ranch 

• Parents Who Are Not Willing or Able to Care for Their Children. 
   

• Parents or Extended Family Are Unable to Raise Children Due to Circumstances such as Death, Illness, Prison, State Intervention, etc. 
   

• Failed Adoptions.
   

• An Alternative to the Foster Care System