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Effie has been driven to pursue her dream of making more healing possible for youth and families from a young age. Born in Ghana and raised in the United States, she has been on her way to realizing her personal mission for years.  

Following completion of her bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration in 2022, Effie began pursuing her master’s degree while providing direct care for community members. She longed for a career opportunity that would allow her to continue providing direct care, while developing programs that would make healing possible for generations to come, by addressing the real-time needs of youth and families in her community. 

Thankfully, in August 2023, she was connected with The Buckeye Ranch, where she found just that. 

Creating Better Opportunities to Provide Healing for Generations through the Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility Program

Effie was hired into The Buckeye Ranch as a mental health technician supporting Residential Treatment Services.  

“I am passionate about helping people make the best decisions for themselves and the advancement of their futures,” shares Effie. “I want to do what I can to assist people in making informed decisions that benefit their futures and am driven by a desire to positively impact their lives for years to come.”

She knew that she joined The Buckeye Ranch at a critical time, which would allow her to provide vital, urgent support that youth in our community desperately needed. In the U.S., there is 1 mental healthcare provider for 340 people who need treatment, which means only 1 in 3 youth are receiving the mental health support they need to be set up for success to grow into healthy adults. 

To support this need, The Buckeye Ranch and Nationwide Children’s Hospital partnered to develop the first Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) in Ohio. The program will serve as a step-down from inpatient care, such as the Care provided at Nationwide Children’s Big Lots! Behavioral Health Pavillion, addressing the need for higher acuity care for youth in our state and expanding the continuum of Residential Treatment Services at The Buckeye Ranch. 

In coming to The Buckeye Ranch and learning about the opportunity to help build a first of its kind program in our state that addresses the real-time needs of families, she knew she found her calling … a chance to be a part of altering our community’s capacity to support youth in crisis for years to come. 

Building Our Community’s Capacity for Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility Care 

Effie has been a part of the development of the Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility program in Ohio at The Buckeye Ranch since the beginning. The program launched on November 7, 2023, and she’s been supporting the youth in the program every step of the way.  

As a mental health technician, Effie monitors the behavior of youth in The Buckeye ranch’s care, provides youth with emotional support, and assists youth with daily living activities like bathing and dressing. She also collaborates with medical staff to report any patient behavioral changes or challenges, facilitates therapeutic activities, ensures patient safety, and also de-escalates any crises that may arise for the youth in care. 

“PRTF holds an esteemed position in my professional journey. It has undergone considerable development, and I am privileged to have contributed to this process from its inception,” shares Effie. “I’ve had the honor of supporting this program for over a year and a half, during which time I’ve been able to witness it inspire individuals to cultivate a profound sense of belonging, connection, and support in their healing journeys.” 

Each day offers unique opportunities for Effie to realize her dreams of helping youth in our community heal through growing The Buckeye Ranch’s Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility program in Ohio. She shares, “I am committed to providing stability, support, and guidance during critical periods. It is rewarding to witness the small victories of those I help, knowing that I contribute to their positive development. Even when faced with challenging behaviors and complex situations, it is fulfilling to see them overcome obstacles and reach their potential.” 

Finding Strength in One Another 

As a new program, it has not come without challenges. Ohio is in a current behavioral health workforce crisis, making staffing an incredible challenge as the team builds the program. 

“This work is hard. I’ve seen several staff members resign because of how tough it is. Losing team members as we build this program creates significant challenges. These instances tested my commitment to the organization, leading me to question my own competencies some days,” reflects Effie. 

But her drive to support the youth in the PRTF program’s care kept her going, alongside the support of other team members that provided invaluable encouragement during challenging days. “Each day, the youth I care for remind me how important I am in their healing journey. I know that my work means something – it changes lives, and that keeps me going. Despite moments of doubt, I remained confident we would overcome challenges together. We have fostered a sense of community that resembles a family unit and it’s incredibly meaningful to staff and youth alike.”

When it comes to supporting healing, Effie believes that taking a family-centered approach to mental health care makes a tremendous difference for youth. “It sets them up for long-term success,” shares Effie. “It is critical to bring folks that will support them after they complete our program along in their healing, so they understand how to be there for them once they return home.” 

Working at The Buckeye Ranch has provided Effie with a profound sense of purpose and fulfillment. “I’ve learned so many lessons in empathy and communication skills, and overall, I have a better understanding of human behavior. The strong relationships I’ve built with the youth have significantly influenced their success in the program and throughout the rest of their lives,” she shares. 

“Working here and helping this program to grow has made me a better human and mental health professional. Ultimately, has led to personal growth and an increased awareness of my own mental well-being.” 

Days of Healing and Restoration Ahead 

Over the first year that the program has been in operation, Effie has seen many youth go through the program and graduate successfully. “Youth supported by PRTF and their caregivers have reported positive feedback on personal growth and skill development, contributing to youths’ ability to find success and create impact in our community.”  

Having the opportunity to celebrate youth as they leave The Buckeye Ranch’s Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility program in Ohio is a light for every staff member. It’s an opportunity for the youth and care team to reflect on how far they’ve come and set goals for milestones ahead. “When a youth in residential care at The Buckeye Ranch successfully completes their program, we host a special bell ringing ceremony to celebrate them. During this bell-ringing ceremony, staff members and other youth on campus join to say their goodbyes, share positive sentiment about their progress, and offer advice to help them transition to life outside of care. It’s really special.” 

And Effie is looking forward to many more bell ringing celebrations to come. 

Presently, The Buckeye Ranch is working on a $35M expansion and renovation project on the Residential Treatment Services campus in Grove City. Upon completion in late summer 2025, the project will add a new 57,000 sq/ft building on campus, which will allow for an increased total capacity for Residential Treatment Services at The Buckeye Ranch of 96 total beds for Residential Treatment Services, increasing our current capacity for PRTF from 6 to 20. The construction will also increase capacity for Qualified Residential Treatment Program care to 72 total beds, add 4 crisis stabilization beds, and support renovations of our existing campus buildings, including our school building and our dining areas, to accommodate the additional youth on campus.  

“The future looks bright for our PRTF program. I believe that The Buckeye Ranch’s PRTF program is growing into one of the most influential treatments in our state,” explains Effie. “We care deeply about youth in our care and their healing, and we work hard to make sure they’re receiving supportive treatment while with us, as well as appropriate linkage to after-care supports to achieve continued success after discharge. There’s truly no place like The Buckeye Ranch.” 

You can learn more about The Buckeye Ranch’s Psychiatric Residential Treatment Program or Residential Treatment Services by visiting our website. If you have interest in supporting the campus expansion, you can do so by making a gift today.