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Rabiner Treatment Center is thriving

Support from area schools is producing a bright future

The Rabiner Treatment Center has been helping troubled boys for more than a half century. It was launched in the early 1960s by the Iowa State Police Association. Originally, the center was named the Jerry Rabiner Memorial Boys Ranch. The beautiful rural site that is home to the center was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Louis Rabiner in memory of their son, Jerry Rabiner, who was killed in an auto accident in 1953.

Since it began serving Iowa, the mission of the Rabiner Treatment Center has been to instill hope in youths and families. It teaches self-discipline, responsibility, commitment and pride through an innovative treatment and growth experience. RTC continues to be sponsored by the ISPA.

The young folks Rabiner helps are mostly between 10 and 18 years old. These youths are referred to RTC with a wide range of diagnoses and/or histories of criminal behaviors. The center’s programming, which includes residential and nonresidential care, meets a wide variety of client needs.

This has been a challenging year for Rabiner. It suffered a setback when it was not awarded a contract for group services from the Iowa Department of Human Services. It ends 2017, however, with a strong financial support system and is poised to expand significantly the reach of its services.

A consortium of schools has been created to partner with RTC. This arrangement allows youngsters from participating school districts to take advantage of Rabiner’s day treatment program. The center expected 18 schools to sign up, but so far 21 schools are involved — and more have expressed interest.

This new consortium gives Rabiner greater financial stability. Schools that join pay tuition costs up front in order to get the benefits of the school. Manson Northwest Webster is the fiscal agent for the arrangement. The new fiscal arrangement helps guarantee that Rabiner’s services will be available when needed.

Rabiner has a three-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. The excellence of RTC’s programs has just been recognized by the state of Minnesota. Rabiner has recently received certification to serve students referred from the Minnesota juvenile courts.

As 2017 is drawing to a close, Rabiner Treatment Center is in sound financial condition and is not only ready to continue serving Iowa, but also is gearing up to help young folks in neighboring Minnesota. The consortium of schools is an innovative way to keep RTC strong. Leaders at Rabiner and in the various school districts worked collaboratively to produce an arrangement that benefits everyone. The Messenger applauds the hard work that made this creative arrangement possible.

Rabiner Treatment Center is huge asset to our region. It helps young people prepare to be successful adults. Keeping it strong should remain a major community priority.

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