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Arrowhead Ranch founded in 1945, is a private, not for profit, non-sectarian treatment facility serving at-risk youth 12-21. Services are open to adolescents regardless of race, color, or national origin. The Ranch is located in a rural setting just outside of Coal Valley, Illinois, only a few miles from the Quad-Cities, a metropolitan area of more than 400,000 people along the Mississippi River.
The mission of Arrowhead Ranch is to motivate at-risk youth to become productive and responsible young men and women by providing the highest quality counseling, education, social services.
Arrowhead Ranch is funded through payments for the adolescents' care by placement agencies and through donations and grants. Placement agencies pay a per diem (daily) rate that covers the expense of providing care for each resident.
In the mid-1940's, community leaders became concerned that troubled boys, placed outside of their own homes, were having to leave the area for other parts of the state. It was thought that the boys would be better served if a facility was opened in Rock Island County. So in 1945 the Rock Island County Boys Farm School opened its doors. The facility was a large farmhouse on a 250 acre dairy farm owned by Rock Island County. The Farm School also rented and operated another 180 acres of farmland.
In 1958, the facility changed its name to Arrowhead Ranch and became an independent, not-for-profit, child care agency. In the late 1960's, Ranch officials conducted a fund drive to raise money to relocate the Ranch to the adjacent property. In 1970 Arrowhead Ranch added dormitories, a school, gymnasium, industrial arts building, swimming pool, and chapel. With these additions, more boys could be served, and enrollment grew to fifty-six; then to seventy-four by the early 1990s. Currently Arrowhead Ranch is licensed to serve 66.
In October of 1992, Arrowhead Ranch completed construction of a physical education center, and two years later, completed renovation of the old gymnasium into an Education Center. A Medicaid Program was implemented at Arrowhead Ranch in May of 1994. In January 1999, renovations were completed to a farmhouse located on Arrowhead's grounds, converting the single dwelling home into an extended aftercare facility for a maximum of 12 residents. In 2002 the William E. Nelson Memorial Automotive Repair Program, began operation. In 2004, Arrowhead Ranch opened its doors to females. The community leaders and board members felt that the need to serve females was important for our at-risk youth.
An important part of Arrowhead Ranch's history is its Annual Round-Up. In 1973 Carl Belknap originated an idea of conducting an annual fund raising event to raise money for ongoing capital improvements. Each year hundreds of volunteers work to hold a fun filled day including carnival games, live entertainment, food & beverages, auctions, bingo, raffles, and a car auction.
Today, Arrowhead Ranch enjoys a reputation as a successful residential treatment facility that has helped hundreds of youths and their families.