--- title: Valley Springs Youth Ranch EBP Case Study description: Valley Springs Youth Ranch hit a roadblock when trying to find an evidence-based curriculum that was kid-friendly. 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Soon after, Karen said, she discovered The Change Companies, which has [Interactive Journals](https://www.changecompanies.net/interactivejournaling/) designed for youth intervention and treatment. Currently, Karen is using the *Keep It Direct and Simple* series with her clients at Valley Springs Youth Ranch. [![Free Demo: Atlas See how Atlas connects assessment, planning, intervention and measurement into one system. Evidence-based programming for clients.  AI-powered tools for staff.  ](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/20881724/interactive-144129354591.png)](https://blog.changecompanies.net/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLJIis4Dc57jr4TL4B622uhlhao56g%2F7uc1ibA4ECfwchq7BASFtOmZe8%2FA45dcVktCDotiurPD%2FXA8w%2FPyMNzFheWqNoxC5s6LKZKxdMn4EbHmRy7Oyv69SUe9QkxGQV2xZoXM4orEYxbOUmcTIq1wUWTf5cI9ZQzF%2B9lR39pC%2Bv%2BO8ygF1SFvo&webInteractiveContentId=144129354591&portalId=20881724) Designed for adolescents in behavioral health and addiction treatment programs, the [*Keep It Direct and Simple*](https://www.changecompanies.net/products/series/?id=3) Journals teach participants the tools and skills to make meaningful, lasting change in their lives. The program helps participants explore the problems that brought them into treatment and uses a non-judgmental focus on positive, strength-based strategies. > *“It moves them through a process that becomes a pattern and helps them begin to understand what’s causing their problems.” * “It gives them comprehension and a pattern of thinking, which they don’t come in (to treatment) with,” she continued. “The information circles around to pick up little bits of what you’ve started to explore with the kids, so it becomes more of a whole picture. And it ties back to what they are thinking, feeling and behavior is. That kind of learning is what our kids need.” The 10 Journals help adolescents weigh the costs of alcohol and drug use, accept their feelings, determine what healthy relationships look like and explore common problem-inducing thoughts, among other concepts. Karen said the structure and appearance of the *Keep It Direct and Simple* Journals — from the clarity of information on a topic to the creative graphics illustrating behavior change — is pivotal in helping her clients at Valley Springs Youth Ranch effectively work their way through the material. “It moves them through a process that becomes a pattern and helps them begin to understand what’s causing their problems — repeated behaviors and attitudes,” Karen said. “They need a way to try to understand that. We’ve got to teach them that, and these [Journals](https://www.changecompanies.net/products/series/?id=3) help us teach those connections. It turns behavior change into something that’s doable.” Learn more about how [The Change Companies supports juvenile justices with our end-to-end solution](https://changecompanies-20881724.hs-sites.com/solutions-for-juvenile-justice). ![The Change Companies](https://blog.changecompanies.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Internal/Logos/Social%20Media%20Logo.png?width=150&name=Social%20Media%20Logo.png) #### The Change Companies For over 30 years, The Change Companies has delivered cutting-edge behavior change tools to over 26 million individuals in addiction treatment and justice services. We combine the latest change research with end-user feedback to continually improve the design and delivery of innovative solutions, such as our evidence-based practice of Interactive Journaling®, our programming platform, Atlas, and our live and on-demand skills-based training programs. 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