Company Profile
Company Overview
The Fred and Mabel R. Parks Youth Ranch, an emergency youth shelter and counseling center for abused, at-risk and homeless youth between the ages of 13 to 17 opened it’s doors on March 1, 2011. Located at the ranch are The George Counseling Center, a temporary shelter and a new recreation center. Youth referred to the shelter by TX Department of Family and Protective Services, Juvenile Probation or the community are able to receive shelter, care and counseling for up to 90 days. In 2009 the Parks Youth Ranch Board of Directors determined that in order to provide quality programs the best approach would be to form collaborative partnerships with other non-profits who had experience and expertise in child welfare services. A partnership was formed with Arrow Child and Family Ministries to provide services at the shelter and the George Counseling Center.
Company History
Parks Youth Ranch a 501 (c) 3 was incorporated in 2004. Several members of St. Laurence Catholic Church in Sugar Land, TX formed the corporation, which was then known as Fort Bend Homeless Shelter, Inc. The organizational name was changed in May 2009 to Parks Youth Ranch, Inc. For four years the issue of homelessness in Fort Bend County was studied, 4 large community meetings were held, a feasibility study was done, surveys conducted and agency collaborations were formed. During this time it was decided that the greatest homeless population in need of shelter and services was our homeless youth population. In the fall of 2008 the current Board of Directors was formed and began to move the project forward.
In October 2008, the Fred & Mabel R. Parks Foundation awarded Parks Youth Ranch, Inc. a $500,000 capital campaign challenge grant. The George Foundation approved a $300,000 capital grant towards the match and as result in January 2009 an 8-acre site in Fairchilds, TX was purchased. Construction began in January 2010. The ranch is located at 11614 FM 361 Richmond, TX 77469.
Construction of the 20-bed shelter and the George Counseling Center was completed in December 2010. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services awarded the shelter the license to operate the end of February 2011 and on March 1, 2011 the first client was referred to the shelter.