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The El Pueblo...an Adolescent
Treatment Community is an exceptional nonprofit with a rich heritage of serving
youth. What began as a small home
for boys, has now grown into a reputable multi-million dollar organization,
employing over 120 employees with fulfilling and meaningful careers, and
providing superior residential treatment to 106 boys and girls, ages 10 – 18,
from Pueblo and throughout Colorado. Ninety-eight percent (98%) of the children living at El
Pueblo have been abused or neglected and their disorders and treatment needs are
a manifestation of this abuse and neglect.
History:
El Pueblo Boys’ &
Girls’ ranch was originally called the Pueblo Youth Center. The Pueblo Youth Center was founded in
1960 by the Pueblo County Commissioners out of concern for the rising number of
boys who were homeless or were in need of a structured and supervised living
environment. The private,
non-profit organization cared for 24 boys and was located on the old County Farm
or “Poor Farm”, as it was called. At
that time, the focus was simply to provide a home for boys.
By 1969, Pueblo Youth Center was providing services
for youth from throughout the state and the name was changed to El Pueblo
Boys’ Ranch. A new facility was
built at Taos Avenue in 1978 and was designed to accommodate up to 48 boys.
During the ensuing years additional and higher skilled staff and new
programs were required. Therefore, El Pueblo Boys’ Ranch (The Ranch) evolved into a
residential treatment program.
The Ranch added the Jack Craddock Education
Building, an on-grounds school in 1987 and opened a Family Ranch Home on
Michigan Avenue in 1992. In
1994 a Family Therapy Program was implemented to help the whole family “begin
the healing” and acquire healthy techniques to handle the stresses of being a
family in the 90’s.
Because of the successful boys’ program, and
after much encouragement by community leaders, child placement agencies, and
government officials, The Ranch added a complete girls’ treatment and
education program in 1996. Until
this time, more than 100 girls were sent outside of our area each year to get
the help they so desperately needed. This
made it difficult for them and their families to participate in the programs
successfully. The name was expanded during this time to, El Pueblo Boys’ and
Girls’ Ranch.
A $3.3 million dollar capital campaign ending
in 2000, was responsible for adding:
·
Four cottages, each providing family-style living for
9 youth
·
An addition to the Jack Craddock Education Building for additional
educational and vocational opportunities
·
A softball field and a multi-purpose recreational
field
·
An agricultural and maintenance facility
·
An administration/chapel building
·
Remodeling of the existing structure
While still working toward our mission:
to serve the needs of at-risk youth and their families.
By creating an environment of safety and loving care, youth and their
families learn the skills they need to become productive members of the
community, El Pueblo Boys’ & Girls’ Ranch grew and changed
tremendously from the organization of 1960.
Under the direction of Patty Erjavec, President/CEO,
the leadership and staff embraced the philosophies of the high performance
teams, working together to develop a model of residential treatment designed
specifically with our resident’s needs in mind. This model, the El Pueblo Performance Program for Youthã, offers each boy and girl an opportunity to
have input regarding his/her treatment program and goals.
They are then able to progress through their treatment program according
to their own behaviors and accomplishments.
The El Pueblo Performance Program for Youthã, teaches skill development, self-development,
social application, and leadership skills which help the boys and girls regain
their self-esteem, self-confidence, and in many areas, to learn a new way of
living and interacting.
Another very successful change in our treatment
program is the Substance Education and Addiction Recover (SEAR) Program.
Every child at El Pueblo participates in a SEAR educational program.
And the boys and girls who have admitted and/or documented substance use
issues participate in an intensive SEAR treatment program.
The boys and girls have shown a high level of involvement and success in
this Program.
TODAY:
2003 was a very busy and exciting year at El Pueblo!
Construction was completed on 4 new cottages, a clinical building and a
new school. As we began looking at all of the progress and
accomplishments we had made in our staff, our programs, our treatment, and on
our campus, we discovered that we needed a name and logo that really illustrated
who we are and what we do. And,
with a new era comes a new look at El Pueblo, an Adolescent
Treatment Community. 
We have grown into a sophisticated residential treatment community providing
sound therapeutic intervention for the young, at-risk boys and girls, which
includes: education, addiction
recovery, mental health therapy, recreation, and daily living skills.
Additionally, El Pueblo is committed to exposing the children to as many
diverse opportunities as possible. El Pueblo is now the third largest
residential treatment center serving Colorado’s kids. To illustrate the changes taking place, the residents and
staff worked together to re-name and re-design the logo. We are very proud of the end result.
As
we embark on our 45th year of operation, the leadership has taken aggressive
steps to make certain that the children of Colorado who are in need of
residential treatment, have the opportunity to receive that treatment in a safe,
structured, caring, and loving environment.
It is the goal of El Pueblo, an Adolescent Treatment Community, for the
children to leave the facility with the tools and skills they need to be
successful, contributing members of their communities.
HISTORICAL TIMELINE
Page last updated:
09/28/2007 - elr | 
A Licensed Provider by the
