In addition to The Ranch, O’Connell Children’s Shelter has two houses within the city limits of Lawrence which serve as residential group homes for youth aged 10-18. The houses act as a stable home for youth in the state’s custody, fostering a safe environment for those who most need stability and support for positive growth.

Often, these young people have faced difficult life experiences, which can result in trauma or other behavioral issues. As a result, we emphasize trauma-informed relationship-building between our staff and the youth we serve. While in our care, youth attend public schools and receive additional tutoring services. We ensure their healthcare and therapeutic needs are met by working with local providers. We offer life skills training and many of our youth work in the community and participate in extracurricular activities.