Admissions & Enrollment at Discovery Ranch South
It is not easy to reach out for help. We are here to help you understand your options, whether you have been searching for an answer to help your daughter for months or a recent crisis has occurred.
When you call Discovery Ranch South, you will speak to a member of our admissions team who will learn about your child, answer any questions that you may have, and help you determine if our program is the right fit for your daughter. If we determine that it isn’t, we will connect you with other appropriate resources.
Call us at 855-667-9388 to speak with one of our Admissions Consultants. Every conversation is confidential and free of obligations. Our goal is to help you find answers.
Our 3-Step Guided Admissions Process
We simplify the transition into residential care so you can focus entirely on what matters most: your family's healing.
Step 1: Talk With Our Admissions Team
We will listen to what has been happening with your daughter, learn about her therapeutic, behavioral, and academic needs, and answer your questions. We will also discuss your family’s goals for treatment and how Discovery Ranch South’s treatment model will help your daughter so that you can decide whether it is the right next step.
Step 2: Customized Evidence-Based Treatment Approach
Once you submit an application, our clinical, medical, and academic team will review your daughter’s records to make sure that Discovery Ranch South is the appropriate environment for her to heal. We work closely with you to create a treatment approach tailored to your daughter, and we'll walk you through the enrollment paperwork and answer any questions before you make a decision.
Step 3: Seamless Transition & Enrollment
Sending your daughter to a residential treatment center is a decision that affects the entire family. Our team will work with you to come up with a plan for your daughter’s arrival that is safe and supportive. Our team will coordinate the details with your family, answer last-minute questions, and make sure you know what to expect during the admissions process.
Admissions Criteria & Clinical Fits
Discovery Ranch South provides highly specialized, 9-to-12-month residential treatment for teen girls dealing with complex mental health and behavioral challenges. To maintain a safe, therapeutic environment, our students typically meet the following criteria:
A student may be admitted for treatment if they meet the following criteria:
- The student must pass a complete physical evaluation with our pediatrician. The Medical Director must approve students that are on psychotropic medication*. The student’s psychological or mental state must be at a level that their safety will not compromise the safety of other students or staff.
- The student must speak English in order to effectively communicate with the therapist, peers, and counselors. The inability to speak English will result in treatment barriers that will affect the treatment outcome.
- The student must be 13 to 17 years of age.
- Students with communicable diseases may be denied.
*All medications are cleared during the pre-admission process. If there are special circumstances with your child's health, let us know.
Who Is Not A Good Fit For Discovery Ranch South
At Discovery Ranch South, we address complex emotional and behavioral issues. However, we have limitations and do not work with certain situations and diagnoses. We are transparent about our focus and strive to provide effective treatment within our scope of practice.
We do not work with the following situations and diagnoses:
- Students under the age of 12
- Medical Instability or any problem requiring prolonged or intensive medical care or monitoring. For example:
- Eating disorders severe enough to require a feeding tube
- Diabetes
- Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
- History of Physical Violence
- Pregnancy
- Parental Non-Participation
- Non-English Speaking
- Severe Autism
- IQ Below 90
- Anti-Social or Conduct Disorder
- Psychosis, Schizophrenia, or Schizoaffective Disorder
If your teenager struggles with any of these issues, you may find help at FindTreatment.gov
Choosing Discovery Ranch South means choosing a program that is committed to helping your child thrive again. We understand the unique needs of teenagers struggling with mental health issues, and our experienced team is here to provide compassionate, evidence-based treatment to support their journey towards healing and growth. Don't wait to take action - enroll your child at Discovery Ranch South and give them the opportunity to regain their sense of self and build a brighter future. Contact us now to learn more about our program and how we can help your child and family.
Insurance & Financial Support
Paying for residential treatment is, understandably, one of the biggest concerns that families have.
Discovery Ranch South is a private-pay program, meaning that our families pay for treatment directly, while our insurance team works hard to pursue reimbursement from insurance companies when possible. Many families also utilize financing or other funding options to help cover the costs of their daughter’s treatment.
Across our family of programs, our specialized internal utilization teams achieved an 97.6% success rate in helping families secure initial coverage if their policy contains out-of-network behavioral health benefits.
We'll walk you through your options and help you understand what may be available based on your family's situation.
- Out-of-Network Insurance Advocacy: How our team fights for Single Case Agreements (SCA) and In-Network Exceptions (INE). Please note that insurance may not cover the entire cost of services or the recommended length of stay.
- Healthcare Lending Partnerships: Low-interest tuition loan options and fast qualification through industry leaders like Prosper Healthcare Lending and Optimum Practical Financial.
- Alternative Funding Pathways: Our clinical partnership with the national nonprofit Choose Mental Health, alongside our targeted state contracts and Medicaid support.
- Qualified Medical Tax Deductions: Foundational IRS Section 213(a) codes and tax court precedents (like the Griesdorf and Urbauer cases).
Verify Your Insurance Now: Before diving into financing options, we recommend starting a free, secure audit of your out-of-network behavioral health benefits. Visit our master Health Insurance Page to initiate a no-obligation Verification of Benefits (VOB).
You Are Not Alone
Discovery Ranch South is there for you and your family.