Eagle Ranch Houseparents

The Hardest Job You'll Ever Love

Houseparenting is a mission-oriented opportunity for married couples who desire to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children and families.

Our Partnership
with Families

A focus on partnership with families differentiates Eagle Ranch Houseparenting from many residential children’s programs. Houseparents help children develop emotional skills by creating a structure-nurture balance that is reinforced through daily life examples, all while collaborating with the child’s family. Houseparents are key in helping teach and implement the tools that children and parents need for a more flourishing future together.

The Eagle Ranch Mission

Eagle Ranch is a Christ-centered nonprofit organization serving North Georgia and Metro Atlanta that takes a whole family approach to partnering with children, families, and individuals to restore and renew their relationships.

Meeting families and individuals at their unique point of need, we provide guidance, caring people, a peaceful place, and meaningful programs such as our residential program, day school program, and various therapeutic services that lead to hope for a more fulfilling life and promising future.

learn more about our history

Want to become a houseparent?

Couples should email their professional resumes with a cover letter (please include the age and gender of any dependent children) to John Cunnings, Boys' Program Director, at johncunnings@eagleranch.org, and we will contact you soon. In your cover letter, please list where you heard about the Houseparent position.
Apply Now

Beautiful surroundings, a caring community

Eagle Ranch is a community of Christ-followers who work to create a supportive, caring, and healing environment. Our beautiful 500-acre campus features inviting homes arranged in a neighborhood-style setting. We encourage outdoor activities with a therapeutic equine center, junior Olympic-size pool, wooded trails, two lakes, playgrounds, a ropes course, tennis courts, basketball courts, and sports fields. We also have a chapel, athletic center, girls’ wellness center, and other facilities for our children and staff to enjoy.

A positive, SUpportive team

Houseparents are a key component in the Eagle Ranch Residential Program. Our residential program provides a structured, therapeutic living environment and school, professional counseling, and spiritual support to each child and their family.

Licensed Professional Counselor

A counselor conducts individual and family counseling sessions as well as parent groups. They also intervene when children have outbursts or moments of more intense struggles.

Program Assistant

Program Assistants provide daily support to houseparents, live on campus, and help lead activities and interactions with children. These recent college graduates become great resources for the children to spend time with and relate to, and are highly valued by our houseparents. Each home has a dedicated Program Assistant.

School & Spiritual Life

The education staff at Eagle Ranch’s on-campus school, along with the Spiritual Life team, provides you and each child with a broader circle of support, addressing underlying issues that may be critical in the healing of the child and family.

Our Staff

Our entire staff is dedicated to the whole family healing mission – we are committed to Christ first and foremost and to our front-line team members to help bring about family renewal and restoration.

Life At Its Best

While our housesparents are serving at the frontlines, we make sure their quality of life is at its best. Some of the benefits houseparents enjoy most include:
  • Reputation for excellence and over 40 years of successful work with children and families
  • Competitive annual salary with health and dental insurance
  • A positive, supportive team and close community environment
  • Housing and groceries are included in compensation
  • Each home features a private houseparent suite
  • Scheduled time off and holiday breaks: 2 date nights/week, 2 weekends/month, holiday and summer breaks (children go home with their families during off weekends and breaks)
  • Working with children and their families toward family restoration. Houseparents get to build relationships with each child’s family, who remain closely involved

Want to become a houseparent?

Couples should email their professional resumes with a cover letter (please include the age and gender of any dependent children) to John Cunnings, Boys' Program Director, at johncunnings@eagleranch.org, and we will contact you soon. In your cover letter, please list where you heard about the Houseparent position.
Apply Now

Houseparents Testimonies

Come to serve, leave transformed

While Houseparents come to Eagle Ranch to minister to children and families, most houseparents have a story of how their own lives are transformed during their time serving at the Ranch.

What Houseparents Are Saying

Smiling parents hug their daughter
“I learned to express my feelings to my parents. I worked through the anxiety, panic attacks and depression I was experiencing. I became more honest with myself and my parents.”
Lily
Two smiling young girls hug their mother
“Jordy has become more self-aware of her feelings and learned how to better express them. I have learned through the program that both the parent and the child have to put in the work to see change.”
CASSIE
A couple smiles with their teenage son
“I was battling screen addiction and was always angry and yelling at my parents. I now have the motivation to engage in other activities, and I have the skills to make new friends.”
CHARLIE
"Walking alongside hurting children and their families changed everything about how our marriage and family functions. Being houseparents gave us a daily front row seat to God's faithfulness, we as a result have been able to follow Christ more boldly and confidently. The gift of sharing the heartbreaking lows and the exuberant joys involved in a family healing is a gift that we cherish deeply. Becoming a houseparent will change you in more ways than you will ever think and it is an opportunity to see just how much you need Jesus in every moment. That dependency in brokenness is more beautiful than any “getting it right” we try to accomplish on our own."
Markie & Daniel Baird
"The best thing about houseparenting at Eagle Ranch is the community that surrounds
you. The staff and volunteers make sure you know that you are not alone in this ministry. If there is ever a time that you are struggling with a student or anything else in the home, God will speak to you through a chapel service, a breakthrough in the life of a family, or just a simple conversation with one of your coworkers. Eagle Ranch has
always been and continues to be the miracle on Chestnut Mountain because God is at work here every day."
Paul & rene' Deeds
"When we felt the call to houseparenting, we thought about all we could do to help the
girls and their families. Little did we know how much God would use this time to grow us! We were challenged to examine our parenting style, explore our own family histories to understand how and why we see the world as we do, and to approach every family with grace and compassion. We also developed deep relationships with
other houseparents and Eagle Ranch staff. These relationships resulted in friendships that have lasted beyond our time working together, and we will be forever grateful for the bonds forged during our time as houseparents.  We thank God for the many ways our faith has been stretched and challenged, and how the lessons we learned continue to shape our lives."
Mark & Tifaney Pruitt
"It's a bit dizzying and very humbling, but God sanctifies and grows me through houseparenting at Eagle Ranch. It has awakened my potential for staying calm in all
situations, dealing with anxiety, setting boundaries, soothing others, problem-solving, etc. As someone who has houseparented at more than one program, I can confidently say that Eagle Ranch is an institution that cares about me as a person, not just my work. Through the care of our community and the challenge of working with families in crisis, I can see and feel the transformative power of God molding me and those around me."
Nathaniel Michael
"There’s nothing like the support and the community of Eagle Ranch. We never feel like we are on an island here – there is always someone there to support and encourage you. It’s a family here. There are hard days, but the Ranch and its leadership is always
looking out for what support we need so that we can be our best selves to help serve these kids and their families."
Tom & Lisa Short

more success stories

Jamie served as an Assistant Counselor (now known as a Program Assistant) for many years. Eagle Ranch changed his life - watch the video to hear how.
Tania tried everything to get help for her son, Jean Marc. It wasn't until their time at Eagle Ranch that they experienced an overwhelming life change.
Elizabeth Tiley served as a relief staff member in Eagle Ranch's first girls' home and a parapro at the school. Taking lessons learned from the Ranch, Elizabeth went on to become a counselor and foster parent.

Want to become a houseparent?

Couples should email their professional resumes with a cover letter (please include the age and gender of any dependent children) to John Cunnings, Boys' Program Director, at johncunnings@eagleranch.org, and we will contact you soon. In your cover letter, please list where you heard about the Houseparent position.
Apply Now

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the right fit for houseparenting?

Eagle Ranch houseparents are couples who have been married for at least three years and who feel called to serve the next generation and their families. Our houseparents have come from a variety of backgrounds. Many have worked with youth before through ministry, teaching, and other jobs, but this is not a prerequisite. Some of our houseparents have come to us after retiring from other careers. The common thread is a desire to make a difference in a Christ-centered community.

Do we need experience or training?

No prior experience in houseparenting or residential care of children is necessary. We provide full training and surround houseparents with a support team.

What are houseparent responsibilities?

Houseparents are a key part of the whole family healing approach. Houseparents care for the children in our residential program physically, mentally, academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. While day-to-day responsibilities differ, consistently, houseparents prep meals, oversee chores, assist with schoolwork, implement the choice-consequence model, and help build socio-emotional skills with the children in
their care.

What kind of children will be in our care?

Eagle Ranch accepts children with mild to moderate behavioral problems. Each child has a parent or guardian connection who has made a commitment to be involved with the program. Our goal is for family restoration, so we are not a permanent care facility.

Where do the children come from?

The children who enter our residential program are brought by their families within a 50-mile radius of Flowery Branch, GA. Parents, grandparents, and guardians will reach out directly to Eagle Ranch for help in stabilizing their family situation. Government agencies do not refer to us, though we do get referrals from community therapists and school administrators.

How many children will be in our care?

As a houseparent, you will have up to five children in your care in a home. Each child receives their own room and bathroom.

How long are children in the residential program for?

Children in our residential program stay anywhere from 18-24 months. Our goal is family restoration and reconciliation, so children do not stay longer than two years.

What are the living arrangements for houseparents?

Houseparents live in one of our on-campus homes and are matched with the best available home that is the best fit for their needs, skills, and preferences. We have six boys’ homes that are located on one side of our campus, and four girls’ homes that are located on the other side of campus. Our homes are in a neighborhood setting and are regularly updated and maintained. A dedicated, private houseparent suite is in each home and is not shared by any other staff. These are 2-3 bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment-like areas that also include a laundry area separate from the children in your care.

Can I have my own children and still be a Houseparent?

You can have up to two of your own children living with you in the home while serving at Eagle Ranch. We want to ensure you have the capacity to care for the children assigned to your home, while still having time with your spouse and family.

Can I have another job while I serve as a Houseparent?

We consider houseparenting full-time mission work. Depending on various factors, houseparents can have another job as long as it doesn’t interfere with the work and focus of the children and families in their care.

What will my schedule look like?

During the school year, you will help children prepare for school and assist getting them to our on-campus school. During the school day, you will have occasional meetings and duties, but will have free time as well. After school, you will help children with homework, prepare a family-style dinner, oversee the children’s chores, and spend quality time together. On weekends that children are on campus, you will be responsible for meals, activities, and taking children with you to the church of your choice in the community. During the summer, a structured activity program is in place. Twice a week, we provide a night off for houseparents. Additionally, children go home every other weekend, on holidays, and during summer breaks, enabling houseparents to invite friends and family over, travel, or enjoy other activities of their choice.

What support do we receive?

Eagle Ranch builds care teams that include houseparents, licensed counselors, teachers, and Program Assistants. Each home is assigned a Program Assistant, who is a recent college graduate interested in pursuing a career working with children and/or families. These assistants live on campus in separate quarters but are key support for caring for children.

What is the compensation of Houseparenting?

We offer a very competitive salary and benefits package. Housing and food are covered as part of your compensation. Please refer to our Summary of Benefits document for further details. We are happy to discuss specifics about our salary and benefits with candidates who are being interviewed.

Want to become a houseparent?

Couples should email their professional resumes with a cover letter (please include the age and gender of any dependent children) to John Cunnings, Boys' Program Director, at johncunnings@eagleranch.org, and we will contact you soon. In your cover letter, please list where you heard about the Houseparent position.
Apply Now

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