For immediate release: Monday, August 8, 2022
BOYS TOWN, Neb. – Boys Town is pleased to announce it was recently awarded an $82,000 one-year grant from United Way of the Midlands. Thanks to the generosity of the United Way donors, two Boys Town programs will help families in need of important services.
“We are very grateful for the support United Way of the Midlands continues to provide Boys Town,” said Father Steven Boes, Boys Town President and National Executive Director. “This grant allows us to continue helping families in need of important services.”
Boys Town Iowa Providing Crisis Intervention & Family Strengthening Services Program received $32,000 United Way of the Midlands has awarded Boys Town Iowa’s in-home family strengthening programs. These programs include In-Home Family Services (IHFS) and Common Sense Parenting (CSP) classes in Pottawattamie County, and the work of Boys Town’s Family Consultants with families who are in or near crisis.
Over the last year, these programs served 2,451 children by preserving families, preventing children from being removed from their home, and safely reunifying children with their families who had previously been placed outside the home. Amy Carson Thompson, an IHFS consultant at Boys Town, has seen the positive results of these UWM-funded programs in the lives of Iowans. According to Thompson, “One young boy, had literally nowhere to live and no support system to address his growing anxiety. It was a desperate situation.” However, thanks to these programs funded by UWM, the child found a safe home with a family member and the skills to cope with and address his behavioral issues. “The child is outgoing and cheerful, now living with his grandparents and cousins,” she added.
The Boys Town Omaha School Collaborative: LIFT Together Program received $50,000. Boys Town, in partnership with East Omaha Schools, LIFT Together with Boys Town offers services that focus on the strengths of youth and families to keep them safe, in their homes, in school, on track to graduate, and productive in their own communities. Services provided by LIFT Together include School Support Services, Care Coordination Services, and Common-Sense Parenting. Boys Town LIFT works to ensure youth are not at risk of entering the juvenile justice or child welfare systems. One particular child was referred to Boys Town School Support Specialist Cristina Diaz by a LIFT Together Community Partner at the CUES/ALL Saints school. The youth was referred by school administration because of regular defiance towards teachers, failure to follow instructions, as well as talking back and poor self-control. Ms. Diaz was able to deescalate the student’s problem behaviors by working with her on social skills and empowering her to find new ways of coping with frustration through role play. The School Support Specialist engaged staff to provide the student with praise for her good behavior as well as feedback on what she could be doing better. Because of one-on-one attention and constructive feedback; the student has made better choices, has positive relationships with teachers, and has become a leader to her peers. Along with improved behavior and relationships with staff, the student also had significant improvement with her grades. Last spring, she worked with school staff to tour High Schools which continued her motivation to make positive progress. All Saints Assistant Principal Dr. Kimberly Oliver said “She was diligent in making a change and worked very hard to be the best version of her. She showed tremendous growth and it was beautiful to see the young woman emerge that those around her could see all along. She began to walk out her journey as a leader and I am so excited to see what she does in the future!”
About United Way of the Midlands:
United Way of the Midlands (UWM) has served the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro for more than 95 years. Guided by best practices and community input, it approaches poverty in a specific way – a “united” way. With the support of volunteers, community partners and donors, UWM invests donor dollars efficiently and effectively in our local community. These dollars fund basic needs, education and financial stability programs at local nonprofits, creating a circle of support for people in need. Please visit unitedwaymidlands.org for more information.
About Boys Town
For 100 years, Boys Town has been a beacon of hope for America’s children and families through its life-changing youth care and health care programs. In 2021, almost 500,000 children and families across the United States were impacted by Boys Town programs. This includes those who received services from Boys Town’s residential programs as well as those served by the many varied programs that comprise the Boys Town Integrated Continuum of Child and Family Services, including In-Home Family Services, health care services provided by Boys Town National Research Hospital and the Boys Town National Hotline. You can find more information about Boys Town online at www.Boystown.org.
