YBGR

18/06/2026

Trauma can change the way a child's brain responds to the world around them.

When children grow up in environments where they don't consistently feel safe, their brains may become highly attuned to potential threats. This survival response can make it more difficult to focus, regulate emotions, trust others, or engage in learning.

These responses aren't character flaws or signs of failure. They are adaptations that helped a child navigate difficult circumstances.

Understanding trauma helps us shift from asking, "What's wrong with this child?" to "What has this child experienced—and how can we support them?"

18/06/2026

Did you know today marks our 69th year of delivering care to kids?

On June 17th, 1957, after purchasing the old O’Rourke Farm west of Billings, we welcomed the first child into our care—planting the roots of what would become Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch.

It started with a bold response to injustice: Young boys, some barely old enough to ride a bike, were being housed alongside adult criminals at the Montana State Industrial School. Franklin Robbie saw it and thought there had to be a better way."

What began as a safe haven grew into a therapeutic residential treatment center for youth. And in 1998, we rose to the need again—expanding into community-based services to meet kids where they live, learn, and grow.

In our first 14 months, we served just 14 youth.

Today, we impact the lives of thousands of kids each year through a full spectrum of mental health services that includes:

🌄 Residential care at the Ranch
🏠 Therapeutic Group Homes in Billings, Boulder, and Great Falls
📍 Community-based services reaching families in nearly every county across Montana

Our scale may be bigger, but the heart of who we are remains the same: Caring People, Preparing Youth for Life—showing up for kids when it matters most.

17/06/2026

The way we perceive children is the way we treat children, and the way we treat them shapes their behavior and who they grow to become.

17/06/2026

First Interstate Bank, thank you for the tremendous impact you’ve made on our mission over the years! We’re so grateful for your continued support. This award is absolutely well deserved.

We are proud to recognize First Interstate Bank as a 2026 recipient of the Yellowstone Foundation’s IMPACT Partner Award.

For more than 60 years, First Interstate has stood alongside the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch long before the Foundation was even established demonstrating what true partnership looks like. Their commitment goes far beyond financial support, with hundreds of thousands of dollars donated and countless volunteer hours invested in the lives of the youth we serve.

From their annual Volunteer Day to their ongoing support of Shumaker Lodge through the Adopt-a-Lodge program, First Interstate employees consistently show up rolling up their sleeves to create safe, welcoming spaces where healing can happen. Their generosity has also helped fund critical campus improvements, including safety and security enhancements and facility upgrades that benefit every child on campus.

Just as impactful is their leadership. First Interstate team members have served on our Board of Directors and committees, helping guide the Foundation’s mission with insight and dedication.

This award honors not just what First Interstate Bank has given but the lives they’ve helped change.

Thank you, First Interstate Bank, for believing in our kids decade after decade.

16/06/2026

Words matter. The language we use shapes the way we see people and the world around us.

A trauma-informed approach invites us to look beyond behavior and become curious about what might be happening underneath.

Instead of:

❌ "Challenging behavior"

What if we considered:

✅ "Communicating distress"

Instead of:

❌ "Attention seeking"

What if it was:

✅ "Connection seeking"

Instead of:

❌ "Defiant"

Could it be:

✅ "Protective"
✅ "Needing autonomy"
✅ "Trying to feel in control"

Instead of:

❌ "Resistant"

What if they are:

✅ Feeling unsafe
✅ Unsure
✅ Not ready

When we change our language, we often change our response.

And when we change our response, we create the conditions for trust, connection, and healing.

Post by Cotswolds Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning

16/06/2026

Check out the progress being made at the Ranch.

Kramlich Lodge is getting new bathrooms, flooring, and more!

Stay tuned for more updates as it nears completion.

15/06/2026

Thank you, Yellowstone Foundation! Grateful for all you do in service of our mission and kids! 💚

🌸 Caring for spaces that care for others.

Last week, team members spent time on the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch campus helping refresh meaningful spaces across the property, including MacFarlane Plaza, the Chapel, and Healing Plaza.

From planting flowers to clearing weeds and preparing the grounds, every effort helped enhance places where youth and families can find peace, reflection, and connection during important moments in their journey.

Thoughtful environments can have a powerful impact on healing and well being. Yellowstone Foundation is proud to support the care and upkeep of spaces that continue to bring comfort and encouragement to so many.

15/06/2026

The questions we ask shape the answers we find.

When a child's behavior is challenging or confusing, it's natural to focus on how to make it stop. But taking time to understand what may be contributing to the behavior can provide valuable insight.

Stress, anxiety, unmet needs, developmental skills, and past experiences can all influence how children respond to the world around them.

The more we understand what's driving a behavior, the better equipped we are to support children.

15/06/2026

A special thank you to Alissa Hill Paraprofessional at Yellowstone Academy, who hand-painted each of the eight tribal flags of Montana.

She paid incredible attention to detail, carefully matching colors, symbols, and designs to respectfully represent each nation.

The eight tribal nations represented are:
◽ Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
◽ Crow Tribe
◽ Northern Cheyenne Tribe
◽ Blackfeet Nation
◽ Fort Belknap Indian Community (Gros Ventre and Assiniboine)
◽ Fort Peck Tribes (Assiniboine and Sioux)
◽ Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians
◽ Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy's Reservation

We are honored to celebrate and recognize the diversity that makes our state and the children we serve so unique.

Alissa's dedication, talent, and pride in this project have created a meaningful visual display that educates and inspires us all.

Projects like this also create opportunities for learning, cultural appreciation, and meaningful conversations.

Thank you, Alissa, for sharing your artistic gifts and helping us honor Montana's tribal communities with such care and respect.

14/06/2026

Behavior tells us something. 🔍

When we look beyond a child's actions and consider the emotions, experiences, or needs that may be driving them, we're better equipped to respond effectively.

A trauma-informed approach helps us understand the story behind behavior—often leading to more productive solutions and better outcomes for kids.