ABOUT CHRISTIAN ENCOUNTER RANCH
Founded in 1970, Christian Encounter Ministries (CEM) offers long-term residential treatment for young people who have experienced abuse, neglect, family breakdown, and/or other kinds of turmoil, including problematic substance use. The center is located on an 86-acre ranch in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, northeast of Sacramento, northern California.
The center is currently accepting young women aged 16 to 25 and young men aged 16 to 21. All new residents must be free from pending legal action, must not have a history of violent behavior, and must come to the ranch voluntarily, willing to participate in programming.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
The average length of stay is 14 to 18 months, though the duration of treatment varies according to the individual client’s needs.
The program focuses on helping residents to establish a relationship with God through discipleship, worship, and studying the basics of Christian faith. The program is rounded out by counseling services, schooling, and social interactions. Counseling is primarily offered in once-weekly sessions with an assigned counselor, in Christian-oriented therapy.
In addition, all residents participate in a wilderness experience, of which there are several per year. Under the supervision of experienced leaders, expeditions take residents away from distractions, to enable them to deepen their relationships with Jesus. Such trips include a two-week backpacking trip in the Tahoe National Forest at the end of summer, and a four-day igloo backpacking trip in winter.
Residents must also complete chores and maintenance work around the property, as part of a bid to instill in them a strong work ethic and sense of responsibility. Since the facility is a ranch, chores include caring for animals such as pigs.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
The 24/7 care team includes a “a team of mature interns.” Counseling is provided by marriage and family therapists, and Christian staff members provide mentoring and spiritual guidance. The single individual polled by Best-rehabs.com to date gave the facility five out of five stars for its staff’s level of training and experience.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
The ranch house is an attractive property overlooking a lake, and the center makes use of its rural setting to offer extracurricular activities such as ski days and a ropes course. There’s also a high school on-site that’s authorized by the State of California to grant high-school diplomas. Class sizes are no larger than 12 clients.
The single individual polled by Best-rehabs.com to date gave the facility five stars for its cleanliness and meals and four stars for its accommodations and exercise/leisure offerings.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
Best-rehabs.com has not yet received any reviews directly from alumni of this facility, and secondary review sites yielded mostly positive coverage at the time of this writing: the facility had three-five star ratings on Yelp and a 4.6-star average rating based on 30 reviews on Facebook, where the center can manage its own page. In addition, the on-site high school had a one-star rating and three five-star ratings on Google. The positive reviewers repeatedly spoke in glowing terms, and credited the facility with their successful lives and long-term sobriety. “This is a place where I was met by people who showed me God’s grace and acceptance and also provided me with direction. Their genuine care for me extended beyond my time as a student,” R.M. wrote in a representative review on Facebook. There were, however, two strong notes of complaint among these reviews, including a Facebook review from S.G. describing treatment as “nothing Christ like, dividing and devastating.”
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
The single loved one polled by Best-rehabs.com to date would recommend this facility. “They focus on preparing them for life,” the anonymous reviewer wrote, giving the facility two stars for its holistic offerings and its connectivity, and four or five stars in all 13 of the remaining treatment metrics. Five-star ratings were awarded to, among other things, the center’s treatment effectiveness, family participation, and ability to treat co-occurring disorders.
WHAT STAFF SAY
At the time of this writing, secondary review sites yielded just two reviews of the ranch, both for five stars, and both left by interns/students on Indeed.com. Both described fulfilling work with the ranch’s residents and an overall positive experience. “It is a interesting place, it is very driven to help teach teenagers how to act in the work environment and in a shared living space environment as well,” one reviewer wrote in a representative review.
FINANCING
CEM receives donations from individuals and groups that allow it to offer services to low-income families. Financial assistance may cover up to 90 percent of fees, and there are also opportunities to defer payments. The single individual polled by Best-rehabs.com to date gave the facility five out of five stars for its affordability.
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]