Maryland Youth Ranch gets revision, aims to help youth struggling with drug abuse
By Breann Harwood
The Maryland Sheriff’s Youth Ranch, located in Urbana, once served as a place where young boys could come to receive group home services. It provided guidance, support, and ultimately, life changing programs.
“The Ranch showed me a different side of life,” Cedric Spencer said. “It wasn’t all peachy, but it helped me to get my head on straight. I had guidance and I liked that I always had a roof over my head, food to eat, and they got me back in school. I lived there for nine months and at the end it showed me I didn’t want to live the lifestyle I was living before.”
The Ranch thrived for 41 years as a foster care placement for homeless, at-risk, and troubled children in the Maryland area. However, due to a lack of boys being referred to the Ranch because they were placed in foster homes instead of group homes, Board members decided that it was no longer feasible...