Houseparent - Liberty Youth Ranch

 

Houseparent - Liberty Youth Ranch

About Liberty Youth Ranch

Liberty Youth Ranch (LYR) is a Christ-centered, nonprofit organization that provides a loving, nurturing home for children in need. Nestled on a peaceful 156-acre campus in Bonita Springs, Florida, LYR has served vulnerable children for over 20 years. The mission is to equip children for independence, success, and multigenerational impact, offering holistic, Christ-centered care tailored to each child’s needs. As part of the mission, Liberty Youth Ranch maintains a debt-free, 156-acre master-planned community, operates a social enterprise, and partners with organizations to experience whole family healing.

Position Overview

Liberty Youth Ranch is seeking Christian couples to serve as Houseparents, providing full-time care for children in a family-style home. Houseparents are the heart of our ministry, creating a stable, Christ-centered environment where children can grow emotionally, spiritually, and academically. This role is more than a job—it’s a calling to make a lasting difference in the lives of children by modeling faith, love, and responsibility.

Primary Duties And Responsibilities

Spiritual Development of the Child

• Foster an understanding of living by biblical principles while encouraging a child to an individual faith in Jesus Christ.
• Model healthy family relationships by incorporating Godly values and a Christian worldview.
• Actively participate in a local church and encourage the children to participate in its activities. Attendance is required for Sunday worship, and houseparents should consider the value of the children's participation in other church activities.
• Conduct daily family devotions with the children.
  
  

Emotional Development

• Create a safe environment where the children can work on struggles and practice new behaviors.
• Become familiar with each child’s social history to understand the child as an individual.
• Develop a relationship with each child, actively listening and offering individual counseling and support.
• Develop and maintain an accepting and empathetic relationship with the child’s family.
• Work closely with the LYR team to help the children achieve the goals established when the children first came to Liberty Youth Ranch.
  
  

Social Development

• Manage the children in the house parent's home, ensuring the children all feel heard and can express themselves.
• Help the children develop habits of proper behavior, dress and safety at social and recreational activities.
• Teach children appropriate methods of forming and enhancing interpersonal relationships.
  
  

Intellectual Development

• Education
• Provide structured time daily for schoolwork and ensure the children have the necessary study materials.
• Assist children with homework and school projects.
• Work in close cooperation with teachers and school staff.
• Discipline
• Teach children the choice/consequence model and consistently hold the children accountable for the choices the children make.
• Comply with LYR’s discipline and behavior management policy.
• Immediately report serious offenses or incidents and follow up with a written incident report.
  
  

Physical Development of the Child

• Housekeeping and Sector Maintenance
• Instruct the children on how to do the laundry and household chores.
• Supervise the children in completing household chores, assist when needed, and help the children develop good housekeeping habits.
• Daily Care
• Prepare and serve nutritionally balanced meals.
• Model and practice good table manners and encourage an atmosphere of “serving one another” during meals. Eat meals together as a family.
• Ensure that each child is properly fitted for shoes and clothing.
• Encourage the development of good personal hygiene habits such as bathing, brushing teeth, changing clothes, shampooing hair, cleaning nails, etc.
• Know any special health needs of children (e.g. allergic reaction to bee stings, medicines, special medicines needed, etc.). Ensure required medication is taken at the proper time and in the prescribed amount.
• Ensure that medical and dental appointments are scheduled.
  
  

Ranch Chore and Sector Maintenance

• Accomplish assigned Ranch chores.
• Maintain that part of the Ranch grounds that comprise the houseparent home’s assigned sector.
  
  

Staff Relations

• Participate and cooperate with all members of the childcare team.
• Provide documentation when required – progress reports, fire drill reports, accident/incident reports, monthly bank account information, etc.
• Respond timely to all staff requests for information.
  
  

Other Duties

• Maintain the home and keep furnishings in good order.
• Keep the home van in good running condition, practicing preventative maintenance and informing the director of facilities of needed repairs.
• Advise the director of facilities promptly when repairs to the home or furnishings are needed.
• Delegated responsibilities - any other responsibilities that may be assigned.
  
  

Qualities

• Regularly attend church and have a clear Christian testimony.
• Enjoy participating in the Christian community.
• Strong desire to serve others.
• Flexible and adaptable. Able to adjust to sudden schedule changes.
• Teachable spirit and desire to learn.
  
  

Requirements

• Mature, Christian couple with a strong commitment to one's faith and a desire to serve children in a ministry setting.
• Share a clear sense of calling from God to work with children in crisis and model a healthy family environment.
• Applicants must possess a high school diploma (higher education is preferred).
• Good physical and emotional health to meet the demands of caring for children in a structured home setting.
• Willing and able to perform manual work, including household chores, yard work, and general home maintenance.
• Strong moral character and ability to maintain confidentiality and integrity in all interactions.
• Valid driver’s licenses and clean driving records to provide safe transportation for children.
• Live in Ranch assigned home, maintaining good records and the home budget.
• Able to balance Ranch responsibilities with those of your own family.
  
  

What We Offer

A collaborative, supportive, purposeful Christ-centered environment focused on making a meaningful impact.

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Private housing, utilities, groceries, and vehicles provided.
• Commitment and opportunity to contribute to the growth and development of a Christian community with a multi-generational impact. believes in the support and encouragement of one another and everyone LYR serves.
  
  

To Apply

No phone calls, please. Couples should submit professional resumes with a cover letter.