“I have never been in a position where I felt helpless, like I can’t do anything, you know? I always had a mom and a dad. I never had to experience so much in life. So, when I came to work at The Buckeye Ranch, seeing our youth experience that feeling was new to me. I didn’t think about what these kids could possibly go through.

One youth came to me and said, ‘What are you doing here? You’re just one of those people that just want to come here and judge us.’ I don’t know how to describe the feeling that I had at that moment. I just never had anybody question me like that.

Then one day she had a really bad crisis. I decided to just sit with her. I said, ‘You don’t gotta talk to me, but I’m going to talk to you.’ I started telling her my story and she started opening up. It got to the point where the following day I got so excited to come to work to finish that conversation.

The youth we support have experienced trauma no child should have to go through. They are often just doing what they need to survive. They just want to be heard. They want somebody they can trust. So, we try our best to be the bridge and create a place where they feel safe, so they can heal and become who they were meant to be.

It can be heartbreaking at times, but it can also be exciting. I know that by the time they ring this bell, they’re ready to go. We all circle up, and we say our goodbyes and share words of encouragement. We remind them that they’re strong and can take on the world.

I always hear back from a caseworker or someone telling me that the parents reached out and said their kid changed so much… that they say my name every day, and I say thank you. That’s all I need to know. That they’re okay.”

Effie Muah is a Mental Health Technician supporting the Psychiatric Residential Treatment program within Residential Treatment Services at The Buckeye Ranch, whose mission is to support the behavioral, emotional, and mental well-being of children, youth, and families throughout Central Ohio and beyond.