Live-in Teaching Parent Couple: Hope Ranch of Missouri - Stanton, Missouri

Full-Time | Live-In Position for a Married Couple

$66,950 combined annual salary + $5,000 retention bonus + housing and utilities provided

Make a Home. Build Relationships. Change Lives.

Hope Ranch of Missouri is seeking a married couple to serve as Teaching Parents in one of our family-style residential homes.

Teaching Parents live in the home with up to six youth and provide the stability, structure, encouragement and everyday care that help young people heal from abuse, neglect and trauma.

This is not a traditional group-home position. Our Teaching Parents serve in a true family-style role — sharing meals, helping with school and activities, teaching life skills, working through difficult moments, celebrating progress and creating the consistency young people need to feel safe and supported.

If you and your spouse are compassionate, dependable and interested in meaningful work you can do together, we would love to talk with you.

Previous Teaching Family Model experience is not required. Specialized training is provided.

Compensation & Benefits

This position offers a unique compensation package designed for both members of the couple.

• $66,950 combined annual salary

• $5,000 retention bonus after one year of employment

• Private housing provided at no cost

• Utilities included

• 120 hours of paid time off annually for each Teaching Parent

• 100% employer-paid medical insurance premium for each Teaching Parent

• SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with up to a 3% employer match

• Two consecutive days completely off each week

• Separate studio apartment available for use during scheduled days off

• Teaching Family Model training provided

• Opportunity to earn Teaching Family Model Professional Certification

PTO, medical insurance and SIMPLE IRA benefits become available after 90 days of employment.

Because housing and utilities are provided in addition to salary, Teaching Parent couples can significantly reduce normal household living expenses while building a meaningful career together.

Schedule & Live-In Arrangement

Teaching Parents live in the residential home with the youth for five consecutive days each week.

During those five days, the couple serves in a live-in parent role and is responsible for the care, supervision and daily routines of the home, including mornings, evenings and overnight hours.

The schedule follows the natural rhythm of family life and may include:

• Preparing meals

• Helping youth get ready for school

• Supporting homework and school responsibilities

• Transportation to appointments, activities and home visits

• Household routines and chores

• Recreational and community activities

• Evening routines and overnight supervision

Following the five-day rotation, the couple receives two consecutive days completely away from responsibility for the youth.

During those two days, other trained Teaching Parents assume responsibility for the home and youth.

A separate studio apartment is available for the couple to use during their scheduled days off if they choose to remain on campus.

What You'll Do

As Teaching Parents, you will help create a safe, structured and nurturing home for up to six youth.

Responsibilities include:

• Build positive, trusting relationships with youth.

• Provide consistent emotional support, structure and encouragement.

• Model and teach healthy communication, coping skills, responsibility and problem-solving.

• Teach everyday life skills including hygiene, cooking, household responsibilities and care of personal belongings.

• Help youth develop social skills, emotional regulation and appropriate decision-making.

• Establish and maintain consistent routines within the home.

• Participate in school, recreational and community activities.

• Transport youth to appointments, activities, home visits and other approved locations as needed.

• Implement individualized treatment goals and behavior support plans.

• Use positive behavioral interventions and verbal de-escalation strategies.

• Maintain an environment focused on youth empowerment and minimizing the need for physical restraint.

• Administer medications according to agency policy and maintain accurate medication records.

• Complete required progress notes, logs and other documentation.

• Maintain regular communication with parents, caseworkers, therapists, educators and other members of the youth's treatment team.

• Work closely with Hope Ranch leadership, clinical staff, educators and other Teaching Parents.

• Implement the Teaching Family Model in accordance with training, consultation and evaluation.

• Maintain compliance with Teaching Family Model Standards, the TFM Code of Ethics and Missouri Residential Licensing Regulations.

Who We're Looking For

The strongest Teaching Parent couples are able to combine compassion with structure.

We are looking for a married couple who:

• Work well together as a team.

• Enjoy helping children and teenagers grow.

• Can provide both warmth and appropriate boundaries.

• Are dependable, patient and flexible.

• Communicate well with youth and other professionals.

• Can remain calm and consistent during difficult situations.

• Are willing to learn trauma-informed and evidence-based approaches to youth care.

• Understand the importance of confidentiality and professional boundaries.

• Respect the cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds of the youth we serve.

• Want their work to have genuine purpose and lasting impact.

Experience in youth care, foster care, education, ministry, behavioral health, residential care, coaching, mentoring or similar settings is helpful, but not required.

Minimum Requirements

Both members of the couple must:

• Be legally married.

• Be at least 21 years old.

• Have a high school diploma or equivalent.

• Hold a valid driver's license.

• Be eligible to be insured through Hope Ranch of Missouri's vehicle insurance carrier.

• Successfully complete required background checks.

• Successfully complete a physical and drug screening.

• Successfully complete Teaching Family Model training.

• Complete required CPI and agency training.

• Meet all applicable Missouri residential licensing requirements.

• Maintain dependable attendance and punctuality.

• Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Maintain confidentiality, fairness, consistency and professionalism.

About Hope Ranch of Missouri

Hope Ranch of Missouri is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit residential and educational organization serving children and youth who have experienced significant trauma, abuse and neglect.

Our mission is centered on helping young people heal, grow and prepare for successful futures through:

• Safe, family-style residential care

• Education

• Trauma-focused counseling

• Community involvement

• Spiritual development

Hope Ranch uses the Teaching Family Model, an evidence-based approach that emphasizes positive relationships, skill-building, consistency and youth development.

Hope Ranch of Missouri is a non-denominational Christian organization and an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Learn more about our mission at hoperanchmo.org.

Interested in Learning More?

A Teaching Parent position is unlike most jobs. It is a lifestyle, a partnership and an opportunity for a married couple to make a lasting difference together.

If you and your spouse have ever considered using your strengths, experiences and relationship to help young people build safer and more hopeful futures, we encourage you to apply.

Apply today to learn more about becoming a Teaching Parent Couple at Hope Ranch of Missouri.

Job Type: Full-time

Work Location: In person / Live-in residential position

Pay: $66,950 combined annual salary per couple, plus $5,000 retention bonus after one year

Interested? Contact: Nikki' Melvin | Office Manager

Hope Ranch of Missouri, PO Box 963 - 355 Hope Dr., Sullivan, MO 63080

t: 314-443-4187 w: hoperanchmo.org e: nikkim@hoperanchmo.org