YBGR

YBGR : Caring people, preparing youth for life. Nonprofit mental health center caring for kids since 1957.

On October 6, 2024, Youth Dynamics officially joined Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch (YBGR)—now delivering expanded care to kids and families under the YBGR name. Below you’ll find more about our mission, values, and the full continuum of care we provide:

Our Mission

“Caring people, preparing youth for life.”

Our Values

As we carry out our mission, we lead with our values FIRSt:

Faith

Faith

means being sure of successfully achieving our mission based on our trust in a loving creator. Integrity

Integrity means doing what is right, putting the needs of others above our own, and living by the highest values. Relationship

Relationship means being committed to one another in a mutually respectful, dignified, healthy, and honoring manner. Stewardship

Stewardship means using any resource or talent entrusted to us to fulfill our mission. Our Continuum of Care

We provide a full continuum of mental health care for youth and their families, grounded in our mission and values. From community-based and in-school services to therapeutic group homes and PRTF residential care, we deliver seamless support tailored to each child’s unique needs, addressing a wide range of mental health conditions using evidence-based treatment models. Community-Based Services

Community-based services bring care to youth where they need it most—at home, in school, and in their community. From mentoring and case management to home support, outpatient therapy, family reunification programs, CSCT, and more, we ensure every child receives the right care at the right time in the least restrictive environment. Therapeutic Group Homes

When youth need more structured treatment than can be provided in the community or are stepping down from PRTF care, our Therapeutic Group Homes in Billings, Great Falls, Helena, and Boulder provide a supportive, family-like setting. PRTF Residential Care

For youth requiring more intensive therapeutic support, our historic PRTF campus in Billings delivers treatment in a structured, safe environment led by a multidisciplinary team of therapists, psychiatrists, nurses, and educators. Families are essential partners, actively engaging in treatment and discharge planning.

👏We are celebrating Pattie Freer Program Therapist, for her 20 years of dedicated service with kids and families through...
05/06/2026

👏We are celebrating Pattie Freer Program Therapist, for her 20 years of dedicated service with kids and families through our Great Falls Community-Based Services.

Spanning her career, Pattie has served in many significant roles, including Mentor Program Manager, Area Program Manager, Targeted Case Manager, and Home Support Specialist.

"I've always wanted to be a therapist, since I was in elementary school," Pattie shares.

So, while serving in her other roles, Pattie earned her Master's Degree and became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, making her dream of becoming a therapist come true!

Her newest title is Program Therapist, and she loves it.

That passion continues beyond our kids and families through her private practice.

Recognizing the limited mental health resources available in the rural communities surrounding Great Falls and further north, Pattie feels called to help wherever she sees a need.

Whether she's teaching coping skills through therapy or helping kids develop patience, focus, and confidence through diamond art projects, Pattie's impact is felt by countless children and families.

Thank you, Pattie, for 20 years of compassion, expertise, and dedication to strengthening Montana's kids and communities.

We appreciate you!

We have some news to share about our Lewis & Clark Therapeutic Group Home.Beginning June 10th, services will transition ...
05/06/2026

We have some news to share about our Lewis & Clark Therapeutic Group Home.

Beginning June 10th, services will transition from Helena to our Boulder campus.

This transition creates new opportunities for collaboration and expanded access to resources and programming, while ensuring that youth continue to receive the same therapeutic group home support they receive today.

We're grateful for the caring people who make our work possible and look forward to continuing to serve youth from our Boulder campus.

Thank you for your continued support.

Children pay attention to more than the words we say.They notice our reactions when they make a mistake. They notice how...
04/06/2026

Children pay attention to more than the words we say.

They notice our reactions when they make a mistake. They notice how we respond when something feels difficult. They notice whether we focus on what went wrong or whether we believe they can work through it.

Over time, those moments send powerful messages.

When our children look into our eyes, do they see frustration or confidence in their ability to learn and grow?

Do they see doubt or someone who believes they can handle what's in front of them?

Believing in our children doesn't mean lowering expectations or pretending challenges don't exist.

It means communicating, through our words and actions, that they are capable of facing them.

We recently asked our team how they give back beyond the workday.Across Montana, they reported 2,279.5 hours of voluntee...
04/06/2026

We recently asked our team how they give back beyond the workday.

Across Montana, they reported 2,279.5 hours of volunteer service—coaching youth sports, serving on school boards, delivering meals, and more!

Our mission of Caring People, Preparing Youth for Life isn't limited to the workday.

We don't just serve our communities—we're part of them.

We're proud of our team! 💛

What we look for, we tend to find.When we're stressed, overwhelmed, or hard on ourselves, it's easy to focus on what's n...
03/06/2026

What we look for, we tend to find.

When we're stressed, overwhelmed, or hard on ourselves, it's easy to focus on what's not going well. The mistake. The attitude. The thing our kids should be doing differently.

But children are never just their hardest moments.

The same child who forgot their homework may have shown kindness to a friend. The same child who struggled to regulate their emotions may have kept trying long after they wanted to give up.

Noticing those moments doesn't mean ignoring challenges. It means seeing the whole child.

Sometimes the first step in recognizing our children's strengths is giving ourselves permission to recognize our own.

Growth isn't about perfection—it's about learning to see progress, effort, and potential in both ourselves and our kids.

Great care starts with great people! Last week, our Quality Improvement team visited River's Edge Group Home in Billings...
03/06/2026

Great care starts with great people!

Last week, our Quality Improvement team visited River's Edge Group Home in Billings and received a full tour from Mariah Mosdal, Mental Health Worker.

One thing stood out right away—Mariah and her team's care in their work with our kids.

Thank you to Mariah and the entire River's Edge team for all they do each day to support kids in our care.

And thank you to our QI team for stewarding our mission, Caring People, Preparing Youth for Life, and ensuring we're delivering it with integrity.

No doubt, together, they embody our mission, "Caring People, Preparing Youth for Life."

Pictured are Genevieve Garibay, Quality Improvement Manager; Frances Romey, Quality Compliance Specialist; Liz Duhame, Quality Compliance Specialist; Stacey Burton, Quality Compliance Specialist; and Mariah Mosdal, Mental Health Worker.

A common misconception is that kids become stronger simply by facing hard things. In reality, adversity without support ...
02/06/2026

A common misconception is that kids become stronger simply by facing hard things. In reality, adversity without support can leave children feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or alone.

What helps kids grow isn't the challenge itself. It's having people in their corner while they work through it.

A disappointing grade.
A conflict with a friend.
Not making the team.
Struggling with something new.

These moments can become opportunities to build confidence, perseverance, and resilience when children have the support to keep going.

Resilience isn't built by avoiding adversity. It's built when adversity is met with connection.

First win in the books! 🎉A huge shoutout to our employee softball team for earning their first victory of the season wit...
02/06/2026

First win in the books! 🎉

A huge shoutout to our employee softball team for earning their first victory of the season with an exciting 11–9 win!

From big hits and great plays to teamwork and determination, everyone brought their best to the field.

We're proud of the way this team supports one another, competes with heart, and has fun along the way.

Congratulations on the win—we can't wait to see what the rest of the season holds! 🥎👏

What does emotional safety actually mean?It doesn't mean protecting kids from disappointment, frustration, or failure. I...
01/06/2026

What does emotional safety actually mean?

It doesn't mean protecting kids from disappointment, frustration, or failure. It means helping them know they don't have to face those experiences alone.

A child who feels emotionally safe is more willing to take healthy risks, ask for help, make mistakes, and try again. They know that a setback won't cost them love and connection.

Growth requires challenge. Emotional safety gives kids the confidence to lean into that challenge instead of avoiding it.

That's where resilience begins.

Congratulations to Dave Eckroth on 30 years of making a lasting impact in the lives of kids at Yellowstone Academy. Sinc...
01/06/2026

Congratulations to Dave Eckroth on 30 years of making a lasting impact in the lives of kids at Yellowstone Academy.

Since starting his teaching career in 1995, Dave has taught 5th through 12th grade. Today, he teaches 11th and 12th-grade students, continuing to encourage their growth, resilience, and independence.

When asked about his favorite part of the job, Dave shared, “My 100% best experience is when a kid called back years later to tell me he has grown into a young man who can handle adulthood.”

Moments like these reflect the lasting influence he has had on generations of students.

Outside the Ranch, Dave has led a remarkable life of service and exploration. He has dedicated 34½ years to the U.S. Army National Guard, including a deployment to Afghanistan.

He is also an award-winning author, archaeologist, and genealogy enthusiast whose passion for history has taken him on hundreds of archaeological digs.

Thank you, Dave, for 30 years of dedication to kids and education. We appreciate the positive influence you bring to your team and to your students.

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