Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Tucker Seeking Help For Sheriff's Youth Ranches

Sheriff Troy Tucker urges business people of Clark County to join him and other Arkansas sheriffs in their work to help the state's abused, neglected and abandoned children by becoming partners of the Arkansas Sheriff's Youth Ranches.

"The ranch provides a home for young people who often have nowhere else to go," Tucker said.

Founded by Arkansas' 75 sheriffs in 1976, the Arkansas Sheriffs' Youth Ranches have been a home for more than 300 children throughout its 24-year history and has literally touched the lives of thousands more through its statewide referral network and outreach services.

The ranch also sponsors court-appointed special advocate programs for the state's 16th Judicial District and Third Judicial District, covering nine counties in north central Arkansas. Other services include a wilderness therapy program, a child abuse awareness program and a speaker's bureau.

The ranch has two campuses  near Batesville and Hardy  and has just announced construction projects to build two new campuses  one in Crawford County and one in Clark County.

The new campus sites are strategically located so that necessary services will be available to children within a reasonable driving distance.

"The ranch already serves the whole state," Tucker said, "but distance can be a hardship for some families. Adding new campuses strengthens our resolve to see that no child in Arkansas is without a secure place to call home.

"Many people have a misconception about the ranch," Tucker said. "It is not a reform school or a correctional facility. It is simply a place where needy children can find a permanent, safe and loving home with people who not only care for them, but about them."

In their duties as the counties' chief law enforcement officers, sheriffs often get a firsthand look at the abuse, neglect and lack of supervision that far too many children endure at the hands of a society that often has little time for them.

"These children are simply thrown away," Tucker said. "The sad part is if we don't take steps to help them now, we'll have to deal with them later as adults  and with their children and their children's children.

"That's where the ranch comes in," the sheriff said. "It hopes to break the cycle of abuse and neglect and offer these children an opportunity to become productive adults in their community."

Businesses are important stakeholders in the process. Every new productive community member adds to the character of the workforce, which can translate into the production of a better grade of goods and generate increased profits for the company.

"When people have pride in themselves, they'll take pride in the quality of their work," Tucker said. "By investing in these children early on, businesses can literally have an impact on the future of the entire community."

Clark County businesses can join Tucker in supporting the ranch's mission by becoming partners in the business donor program, through which they also become honorary members of the Arkansas Sheriffs' Association.

During the next few days, business representatives will be getting letters from Tucker outlining the program and detailing how they can join the ranch in this special work.

All the money goes directly to support the Arkansas Sheriffs' Youth Ranches, which receives 97 percent of its funding through private, non-governmental contributors, the sheriff said. The tax-deductible donations will help the ranch expand its services to reach more children.

Those who do not receive a letter asking them to join may obtain membership or receive additional information by contacting the Arkansas Sheriffs' Youth Ranches at P.O. Box 3964, Batesville, AR 72503, or by calling 870-793-6841. The ranch also may be contacted at youthranch@globalriver.com. Tucker has extra applications at the sheriff's office.