COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT BALD RIDGE LODGE

BRL serves young men who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, or trauma. Our Group Home serves residents ages 12–21. Our Independent Living Program serves young men ages 18–26 who are aging out of foster care or experiencing homelessness.

Our Group Home is a 12-bed residential facility where young men live in a safe, therapeutic, home-like environment. Residents receive counseling, educational support, mentoring, life skills training, and access to healthcare. Staff are present 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. While at BRL, young men attend public school, participate in extracurricular activities, get their first jobs, learn to drive, and experience the normal milestones of teenage life.

We don't have house parents or live-in staff, and we understand why people ask. It's a natural image to have of a home for boys. Instead, Bald Ridge Lodge is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year by dedicated Youth Care Specialists who work rotating shifts, ensuring there are always 2–3 staff present when residents are home. Administrative and management staff also work from the building during the day.

While all of our young men deserve and wish for a loving family setting, when that is not available, we find that BRL residents benefit from having many caring, consistent adults in their lives. Our Youth Care Specialists build strong, safe, and therapeutic relationships with each young man, helping him heal, learn healthy boundaries, develop meaningful relationships, and prepare to thrive as adults. For boys who have experienced broken trust and trauma, learning to build healthy relationships with a variety of caring adults is itself a powerful and important part of their growth.

Launched in 2018, our Aftercare Program supports former residents of both our Group Home and Independent Living Programs after they leave BRL, whether they've reunified with family or are living as adults on their own. The program provides coaching, case management, and connections to community resources to help alumni maintain stable and successful lives. Contact our office at 770-887-1220 to be connected with an Aftercare Specialist.

Launched in 2023, the ILP provides housing and case management for young men ages 18–26 who are seeking independence but are not yet financially or emotionally ready to be fully on their own. BRL assumes initial financial responsibility and gradually reduces oversight as residents take on increasing personal and financial responsibility. A Life Coach works closely with each young man to build social, emotional, and financial independence.

Residents are placed at BRL through the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) or the Forsyth County Juvenile Court. Families and individuals cannot self-refer directly into the Group Home; placement is coordinated through the state system. Referrals to our Independent Living Program may come through DFCS. Young men who are unhoused and without family support may also apply to participate directly.

This is a common misconception we're happy to clear up. The young men at Bald Ridge Lodge are not here because of delinquency or criminal behavior. They are here because of things that happened to them such as abuse, neglect, and trauma that were not their fault and not of their choosing. They were removed from their homes by the child welfare system for their own protection and placed with us to heal, grow, and thrive.

Like any young person who has experienced significant trauma, our residents may sometimes struggle with behaviors that are a direct result of what they've been through. We meet them where they are, walk alongside them, and provide the therapeutic support, structure, and relationships they need to move forward.

Our boys are not defined by their circumstances. They are young men with potential, resilience, and futures worth investing in and that is exactly how we treat them.

At Bald Ridge Lodge, we track our impact carefully and are proud of what our young men accomplish. In our most recent program year, 83% of Group Home residents experienced successful outcomes, 100% of eligible residents were promoted to the next grade or completed graduation/GED requirements, and 69% of residents showed measurable improvement in emotional regulation, a foundational skill for long-term success.

Beyond the numbers, our residents earn high school diplomas and GEDs, secure employment, obtain driver's licenses, attend college and trade school, enlist in the military, reunify with family, and transition to foster or adoptive homes. In our Independent Living Program, graduates have secured jobs, earned promotions, and achieved stable, independent housing.

Our goal is to change the trajectory of each young man's life in a way that impacts not just him, but future generations. To see our most recent Annual Program Outputs & Outcomes Report, visit this link.