Savvy thrifters flock to the Idaho Youth Ranch for vintage jackets, niche books and quirky art. But their bargain finds do more than fill closets — they help fund vital services for Idaho families, from mental health support to job training. At the helm of this transformative organization is a proud Bronco, Scott Curtis (MSW, social work, 2002), who has led the Idaho Youth Ranch since 2018.
He considers himself fortunate to have studied in Boise State’s social work program, he said. “The program’s blend of tenured professors, with their significant experience and passion, and adjunct faculty, with their active ties to the work happening in our community, were a perfect combination for my learning and development.” The program’s small size, he added, fostered strong connections between students, forming enduring friendships.
Raised in Meridian, Idaho, Curtis’ resume is a tapestry of community-driven work: a school social worker, a leader at the Treasure Valley YMCA and a teacher.
“As a teacher, I became more interested in those on the margins, those who were struggling … I kept being drawn to those kids who weren’t doing well,” Curtis said. At the Idaho Youth Ranch, founded 75 years ago as a refuge for troubled kids, he gets to answer his calling.
Curtis oversees 550 employees across the state and 24 thrift stores that, in addition to revenue, provide workforce training and jobs. Hays House in Boise, a youth crisis shelter, supplied over 4,400 shelter nights last year. A psychiatric residential treatment center that opened in 2023 in Caldwell, Idaho, is the only accredited facility in Idaho. The nonprofit also runs outpatient counseling offices, tele-mental health services and two equine therapy locations, and it offers paid internships for teens as well. Yet, as awareness of mental health grows, so do the challenges, Curtis said. “People now recognize that behavioral health struggles aren’t ‘someone else’s problem’ — everyone has a story. But that’s a great thing, a healthy thing.”
The generosity of Idahoans continues to inspire him. The Idaho Youth Ranch built the residential center debt-free, thanks to donors. “If you get the right people in the room, you come up with solutions,” Curtis said. “I truly believe building community is the answer. And it happens through compassion.”
By Roya Camp