Independent Living Program

What happens to young men and women in the foster care system after they graduate? For many, this is a crisis time in their lives because they no longer have a support system. It has been the policy of Texas Boys Ranch to continue following up with our young people for as long as they will allow. We want them to have more education or skill training, to learn to live independently and to be successful.

Young adults need actual experience in making their own decisions and being independent (with a safety net in place) like paying rent, getting and keeping employment, and budgeting money (among other things).

They need committed, caring adults in their lives to push and encourage them to succeed, to continue to be the external conscience that so many young people need to resist the temptations that bombard teens and young adults today. They need opportunities to fail and to learn from failure without becoming homeless. They need a plan for their future and the means (financial and moral support) to succeed in that plan.

We have launched a structured and effective means of providing that support for young adults. We offer an Independent Living Program to help them adjust to new freedom and responsibilities. We have a house inside Lubbock city limits for boys 18 and older who are "trying their wings" as independent adults. The house allows some privacy for each person. A set of house parents live in the dwelling also to be available for help and advice.