Programs and Services

Sunland Center's primary focus is to provide training and support to residents in attainment or maintenance of skills needed for daily living.

Intermediate Care Facilities

The Supporting Others and Acting Responsibly Program (S.O.A.R.)

The S.O.A.R. program was developed for residents being served at Sunland Center who have achieved success in the Agency’s secure forensic programs and are ready to move into a non-secure setting. The S.O.A.R. program has the ability to serve over 100 residents and is part of the Intermediate Care Facility managed by Unit 2 Administration. The program entails six (6) homes and provides services to both male and female residents. The program provides a wide variety of learning activities in both structured and informal teaching situations.

Residents in the S.O.A.R. program benefit from and enjoy all the supports and activities provided by the Center. Each resident in the program actively participates in programming through-out the day to gain enrichment in their lives and to assist in development of job skills that will benefit them once they are able to transition into a community setting. The programming is individualized for each resident and entails educational learning, on the job training, and focused behavioral services. The program also includes community integration thru outings to local restaurants, shopping and entertainment venues.

The S.O.A.R. program’s primary mission is to provide the highest quality services to residents in order to enhance the lives thru opportunities for personal development and the eventual possibility of transitioning to a community setting.

Thiel Center

The Ellen A. Thiel Autism Center was dedicated on July 26, 2007 to provide services to adult residents diagnosed with Autism. The namesake of the Autism Center, Ellen A. Thiel, was known as a pioneer in the development of educational curricula for people with intellectual disabilities during the 60s and 70s. The Thiel Center strives to provide an environment that is safe, enriching, stimulating and comforting to adults with Autism.

The residents of Thiel are provided access to both work and recreational activities on center that assist in stimulating personal development. Also, leisure activities such as beach trips, shopping, and other social outings are part of the Thiel experience. The goal for the Thiel Center is to become a model for Autism related treatment and provide the highest quality of services for its residents.

The Sunland Ranch

The ranch offers a wide range of training and therapeutic options to enhance the quality of life for residents. The first enhancement offered at the ranch is our comprehensive vocational training program. Participants in this area receive training in planting and cultivating agriculture, harvesting techniques, and ranch animal care. The crops and ranch animals are sold periodically which provides an opportunity for residents to have professional interaction with staff and the general public by providing the desired items and collecting payment from customers.

A second option offered at the ranch is the therapeutic equine program. This program offers those individuals with significant challenges the opportunity to learn tolerance of a variety of stimuli through petting, grooming, walking, and riding horses in a controlled safe environment.

Other activities offered at the ranch include wagon rides, attending local rodeos and ranching expos. The services offered at the ranch are enjoyed by residents and staff Center-wide.