Alabama Sheriffs' Youth Ranches Plans Dothan Campus

The organization announced a new facility in the Cowarts community to serve foster children in the Wiregrass region.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Philanthropy

A wide view of a rural pasture in Alabama with a single residential home in the distance under a warm, golden sunset. — The Alabama Sheriffs' Youth Ranches plans to build a new campus in Cowarts, Dothan, to provide stable housing for foster children. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you support establishing new foster youth facilities in your community to keep siblings together?

The Alabama Sheriffs' Youth Ranches has revealed plans to establish a new location on over 100 acres in the Cowarts community of Dothan. This campus will provide a stable home for foster children while ensuring siblings can stay together.

Why it matters

The facility is designed to support the Wiregrass region by offering a specialized environment for foster children. By keeping siblings on the same campus, the initiative aims to maintain family connections during their time in care.

The new site covers over 100 acres and will feature two separate homes for foster children. The organization has been operating in Alabama since 1966.

The players

Alabama Sheriffs' Youth Ranches

This organization has operated residential programs for at-risk foster children across Alabama since 1966.

The details

The upcoming campus features two dedicated homes divided by gender, with a focus on allowing siblings to reside at the same location. Organizers are currently focused on securing volunteers and necessary funding to make the facility operational.

The Alabama Sheriffs' Youth Ranches began operations in 1966.
Local leaders started planning for the new Houston County site in 2025.
The project was officially announced on October 29, 2026.
Construction crews expect to break ground before the end of 2026.

Market Landscape

This project represents an expansion of the established footprint of the Alabama Sheriffs' Youth Ranches' statewide residential model. It strengthens the network's presence in the Wiregrass region by replicating a proven organizational design.

Community members and local businesses can currently support this project through volunteer work and donations. These contributions are necessary to move the facility toward its projected groundbreaking date.

The takeaway

This expansion brings targeted foster care resources to the Houston County area while prioritizing the housing of siblings together. Residents looking to assist should contact the organization as they move into the pre-construction fundraising phase.