Our Mission

“To inspire hope and healing by empowering families; serving with integrity; and celebrating diversity, resiliency, and community.”

Residential Treatment for Boys

Short Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP)

Progress Ranch is a nonprofit public benefit 501(c)(3) agency. We are licensed by the State of California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division as an STRTP provider.

We offer intensive treatment programs in residential homes that provide mental health services to boys ages 6 through 13. Counties and Private Health Plans refer boys who need short term residential treatment because of significant behavioral challenges.

We are located in the welcoming community of Davis where boys live in comfortable, safe, family-style homes. Boys may stay with us up to 6 months or as-needed. During this time, we offer a unique environment that focuses on age-appropriate activities, healing, and developing healthy trusting relationships and skills.

Our goal is for each boy to be able to experience permanency and thrive with the natural supports in their foster, adoptive, or birth family community. Families are encouranged to learn and grow alongside their children.

Services

What We Do

Target

We provide high quality programming to boys ages 6 through 13, who have significant behavioral challenges and need short-term residential treatment. Our attachment-based model supports healing and growth in a nuturing enviroment focused on permenancy and indivudalized care.

Who We Serve

Target

We provide culturally relevant, trauma-informed treatment that is age and developmentally appropriate. Boys are placed at Progress Ranch for a variety of reasons including (but not limited to):

Leadership committed to our children, employees, and community

Board of Directors

Jackie Rutheiser

President

Jackie Rutheiser was a Senior Policy Advocate for 15 years for the California Alliance of Child and Family Services, a statewide advocacy organization representing over 155 accredited private non-profit agencies providing services and programs for vulnerable children, youth and families. In addition to her policy and advocacy work, from 2012-2014, Ms. Rutheiser co-chaired the California Capitol Foster Care Month event to increase the awareness of the need for permanency, families and services for California’s foster youth. Jackie also has 20 years’ experience in local, state and national politics in staff positions for national political leaders. Prior to her work in the State Capitol, Jackie was a managing partner in a political research and campaign strategy consulting business and was the Research Director for the National Health Care Campaign for then First Lady Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee.

Howard Himes

Vice-President

Howard received his master’s degree in social work from Fresno State while interning with the Fresno County Child Welfare Services. The next 27 years saw him in a variety of roles within the agency, from program manager all the way to director of the Fresno County Social Services Agency. While now retired from his role as director of the Napa County Health and Human Service Agency, Himes still works part-time as a consultant, with a focus now on the nationwide opioid crisis.

Katherine West-Schroeder

Treasurer

Since the early 1980s Katherine has worked with child and family agencies, initially with FamiliesFirst in Davis from 1983 through 1994, and then with Seneca Families of Agencies from 1995 until her retirement in July 2019. Katherine served as CFO at both FamiliesFirst and Seneca, then subsequently served Seneca as COO from 2005 through 2019. Over the course of her career, she became known statewide for her expertise in developing integrated funding streams to support complex programs designed to serve youth with complex needs and their families.

Julia Alemany

Secretary

Julia Alemany is a researcher who strongly believes in the power of data to tell a story. They work with a wide range of organizations—public, non-profit, private, and philanthropic—to help them improve their programs for children and families, and build their capacity to use data effectively and in a meaningful way. Her work includes conducting formative and summative evaluations, developing and testing theories of change, and devising continuous improvement strategies.

Clyde Froehlich

Board Member

Clyde Froehilch earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and Athletic Coaching, and a Standard Secondary Teaching Credential. Because of his affinity for experiential and outdoor education, rather than traditional classroom teaching, Clyde accepted a position as Director at a children’s summer camp and outdoor education center. Clyde is passionate about community service and about providing opportunities for all children to have healthy childhood experiences for growth and play.

Bronwyn Murphy

Board Member

Bronwyn is a graduate of UC Davis and began her career as a foster youth tutor, social skills trainer and teacher at a treatment center for teens. She earned a Level II Education Specialist credential and taught and supported middle school students as a resource and inclusion special educator in Sacramento. Bronwyn is a local pastor active in the faith community and will be ordained by her denomination in July 2023. Bronwyn and her husband and three children are fans of the beach, dogs, desserts, sushi, and road trips. She is patiently waiting for the 49ers to win their first Super Bowl this millennium.

Gordon Ulrey

Board Member

Gordon Ulrey comes to Progress Ranch with over 40 years of experience in the mental health field. He received his Ph. D. in Clinical/Developmental Psychology from Boston College in 1974. He has had professorships at Boston College, Harvard University, University of Colorado, Wright Institute School of Psychology, and UC Davis to name a few. And he has been an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychology and Psychology Private Practice in Davis since 1984. Gordon has intensive training in pediatric psychology, neuropsychology and providing psychological services for children and adults with a wide range of developmental disorders, psychological and related medical conditions. His experience includes interdisciplinary out-patient and inpatient clinics. He is also trained in neuropsychology services for children and adults.

Management

Alyssum Maguire

Executive Director

Alyssum Maguire has been working in the child welfare and behavioral health systems for more than twenty years. She earned a master's degree in Public Administration and has consistently promoted excellence in care, stakeholder engagement, collaboration, and communication built on a foundation of mutual respect and authenticity. Throughout her career, Alyssum has empowered people with lived experience in child welfare and behavioral health to have a voice in policy and practice. As such, she has been involved with major legislative initiatives at both state and local levels. As a strong advocate and partner, Alyssum is committed to ensuring that children and youth receive excellent care and support so they can experience stability, nurturing, and joyful childhood experiences.

Matt Lemcke

Director of Operations

Matt has enjoyed a variety of work throughout his career including bookkeeping, hospitality, retail management, and the Character department at Disneyland. He brings an artistic focus to his work through his background in film and live performance but also a drive to build organizations and teamwork through his leadership and MBA studies. Matt is honored to be a part of the Progress Ranch team and help support the hardworking front-line workers in their endeavors to help our vulnerable children and families. When not at work Matt enjoys playing bass, running, and spending time with his wife and baby girl. Matt holds a SHRM-CP Certificate from the Society for Human Resource Management.

Lori Burciaga

Clinician

Lori began her career in 2007 following receiving a master’s degree in counseling at the University of Phoenix. She has worked with many agencies, in different settings that included foster youth in higher level group homes to least restrictive settings, domestic violence agencies, community counseling agencies and inpatient psychiatric facility. Over the years, she has worked with children, adolescents, adults, families with a wide range of emotional and behavioral symptoms providing services that span from therapy for mood disorders, depression, anxiety, and trauma to parenting support and beyond. Lori believes that therapy is a shared journey with the purpose of developing a cleaner version of yourself while increasing emotional balance.

Kourtney Hamilton

Manager

Kourtney Hamilton has supported children and adults with mental health challenges, trauma and developmental disabilities for over a decade. Kourtney is passionate about being an advocate and voice for the children she has the privilege of supporting. Which she believes gives an opportunity to create a better quality of life through a trauma informed approach. Kourtney is a strong believer in positive thinking, leading by example and doing the right thing by our little humans.